If you’re interested in volunteering in the Southwest Austin and Dripping Springs communities, check out this list of local nonprofit organizations that offer a wide range of opportunities.
This list is not comprehensive. Organizations are listed in alphabetical order.
Alzheimer's Texas
The group seeks to eliminate Alzheimer’s disease through the advancement of research, and to enhance care and support for those with the disease, their families and caregivers.
- Sample activities: facilitating support groups, planning special events, representing the nonprofit at health fairs, serving as advocates and social media ambassadors
- Donations accepted: monetary gifts
- 7000 N. MoPac, Ste. 200, Austin
- www.txalz.org
This nonprofit was founded in Austin in 1975 and connects local youth and young adults ages 16-35 to education, paid career training and support services through two main programs, Texas Conservation Corps and YouthBuild. Program participants learn new job skills and implement these skills to address community issues such as building micro homes for unhoused individuals, disaster response and recovery, environmental resiliency projects, and helping people access affordable housing and healthcare.
- Sample activities: support students as a Mentor or Tutor
- Donations: monetary donations, corporate sponsorships, in-kind donation
- 1901 E. Ben White Blvd., Austin
- www.americanyouthworks.org
Any Baby Can is a Central Texas nonprofit that offers in-home services for children facing a scary diagnosis, first-time moms and parents who need extra support to take on life’s challenges.
- Sample activities: childcare, assembling kits, running a phone bank, organizing storage
- Donations accepted: monetary and in-kind donations
- 6207 Sheridan Ave., Austin
- www.anybabycan.org
Austin Animal Center
Volunteers at the city-run, no-kill shelter are required to attend a training session and commit to six hours a month. The municipal shelter for the City of Austin and unincorporated Travis County offers a variety of services and opportunities 7 days a week.
- Sample activities: greeting adopters at the shelter, providing outreach, giving enrichment to dogs or cats, serving as adoption ambassadors, providing medical assistance
- Donations accepted: monetary gifts accepted online, item donations dropped off at shelter or ordered through Amazon wish list
- 7201 Levander Loop, Bldg. A, Austin
- www.austintexas.gov/austin-animal-center
Austin Habitat for Humanity
Austin Habitat for Humanity is a nonprofit organization dedicated to building and rehabilitating homes for low- to moderate-income families. It also operates ReStores, which sells donated home goods to fund its mission while providing housing and financial counseling to empower families to achieve homeownership.
- Sample activities: constructing new homes, working on home repair projects, volunteering at any ReStore location and donation centers
- Donations accepted: gently used or new building supplies, appliances, furniture, home goods, clothes, electronics
- 500 W. Ben White Blvd., Austin
- www.austinhabitat.org
Austin Parks Foundation
Austin Parks Foundation partners with the community to make public parks, trails and green spaces better through volunteerism, innovative programming, advocacy and financial support.
- Sample activities: city-wide volunteer event It’s My Park Day (first Saturdays in March and November), individual workdays held throughout the year (first Saturday monthly)
- Donations accepted: monetary gifts
- 1023 Springdale Road, Ste. 10D, Austin
- www.austinparks.org/volunteer
Austin Partners in Education
This nonprofit serves Austin ISD middle and high school students through individualized academic and mentoring programs to help break down barriers to postsecondary education.
- Sample activities: weekly one-on-one mentoring, middle school math tutoring
- Donations accepted: monetary donations
- P.O. Box 17402, Austin
- www.austinpartners.org
Austin Zoo
The nonprofit zoo hosts family-friendly events and educational programs for all ages, and offers long-term volunteer opportunities.
- Sample activities: volunteer work in animal habitats, laundry, trash pick-up, raking, maintenance
- Donations accepted: monetary gifts
- 10808 Rawhide Trail, Austin
- www.austinzoo.org
CASA of Travis County
CASA volunteers advocate for children who've experienced abuse or neglect in Travis County. Volunteers must complete a personal interview, background and reference checks, and a 39-hour training.
- Sample activities: spending 15-20 hours a month getting to know a child, their family and situation; gathering information to make recommendations to a judge in their best interest
- Donations accepted: monetary gifts
- 7600 Chevy Chase Drive, Ste. 200, Austin
- www.casatravis.org
Central Texas Food Bank
The food bank is the largest hunger-relief organization in Central Texas, serving more than 93,000 people every week.
- Sample activities: sorting food donations, assisting with the mobile food pantry, working in a community garden or kitchen
- Donations accepted: monetary gifts
- 6500 Metropolis Drive, Austin
- www.centraltexasfoodbank.org
Con Mi MADRE
This local nonprofit focuses on developing social-emotional learning and college-readiness for students in sixth grade through undergrad and their families.
- Sample activities: events assistance, guest speaking
- Donations accepted: monetary gifts
- 1825 Fort View Road, Austin
- www.conmimadre.org
Dripping Springs Community Library
The library is a nonprofit government entity that provides free services to residents living within or employed in Hays County and Dripping Springs ISD. Nonresidents or persons not employed within the county or district can apply for a library card for a small fee. The library offers over 72,700 items, such as books, eBooks, audiobooks, magazines, DVDs and other media.
- Sample activities: event assistance, homeschool teaching, chess club volunteering
- Donations accepted: monetary gifts
- 501 Sportsplex Drive, Dripping Springs
- www.dscl.org
This nonprofit is a volunteer-run food bank in Dripping Springs.
- Sample activities: sorting and distributing donated food
- Donations accepted: monetary gifts, nonperishable food items
- 28708 RR 12, Dripping Springs
- www.helphands-drippingsprings.org
Foster Village
This nonprofit organization focuses on supporting foster families in the Austin area.
- Sample activities: meal delivery, buddy-system assistance, shifts at resource center
- Donations accepted: monetary gifts
- 15400 Fitzhugh Road, Dripping Springs
- www.fostervillageaustin.org
Foundation Communities
This nonprofit provides affordable, attractive homes and free on-site support services for thousands of families with kids, as well as veterans, seniors, and individuals with disabilities.
- Sample activities: Tax Help program, Learning Centers program (student help), “Home for the Holidays” program (sponsor a household by providing gifts during the holiday season)
- Donations accepted: monetary gifts
- 3000 S. IH-35 frontage road, Ste. 300, Austin
- www.foundcom.org
Health Alliance for Austin Musicians
Health Alliance for Austin Musicians provides access to affordable health care for the Austin area's low-income working musicians, with a focus on prevention and wellness.
- Sample activities: collect donations, raise awareness at community events, support events, deliver items to providers and sponsors, various administrative tasks
- Donations accepted: monetary gifts
- 3036 S. First St., Austin
- www.myhaam.org
This nonprofit is dedicated to preserving natural areas, such as rivers and scenic vistas, as well as working farms and ranches in the Texas Hill Country through community, collaboration and engagement.
- Sample activities: volunteers can help with monthly Violet Crown Trail cleanups.
- Donations accepted: one-time, monthly or annual donations online.
- 1601 S. MoPac Expressway., Ste. 150C, Austin
- www.hillcountryconservancy.org
Keep Austin Fed
Keep Austin Fed is a food rescue organization that collects surplus food from businesses throughout Austin and redistributes it to communities facing hunger.
- Sample activities: food rescue driver, food sorting and organizing at cooler hub, assist with community food giveaways
- Donations accepted: monetary gifts
- 3903 S. Congress Ave, P.O. Box 40760, Austin
- www.keepaustinfed.org
LifeWorks
LifeWorks focuses on solving youth homelessness in Central Texas by providing housing, education and mental health services.
- Sample activities: redecorating youths’ homes, gardening, landscape cleanup, gift card drives
- Donations accepted: monetary gifts
- 835 N. Pleasant Valley Road, Austin
- www.lifeworksaustin.org
Meals on Wheels Central Texas
The nonprofit distributes 3,000 meals every business day to homebound older adults and people living with disabilities across Travis and Williamson counties.
- Sample activities: provide lunchtime home meal deliveries to homebound older adults, operate senior lunch and activity centers, in-home care services, help with home repairs, assist with grocery shopping
- Donations accepted: monetary gifts
- 3227 E. Fifth St., Austin
- www.mealsonwheelscentraltexas.org
Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas
This regional nonprofit serves thousands of patients each month with health care like birth control, breast and cervical cancer screenings, annual wellness exams, and more.
- Sample activities: period supply kit assembly events, book clubs, workshops, tabling at local outreach events, supporting organization events, social media content creation
- Donations accepted: monetary gifts, period kit supplies
- 201 E. Ben White Blvd., Bldg. B, Austin
- www.ppgreatertx.org
RED Arena
The organization serves children and adults with disabilities through equine-assisted therapies, therapeutic riding sessions, reading programs, job training programs and summer camps.
- Sample activities: grooming horses, fundraising, walking beside riders
- Donations accepted: monetary gifts, purchases from the RED Arena gift shop or Amazon wish list
- 2435 W. Fitzhugh Road, Dripping Springs
- www.redarena.org
The Salvation Army
The Salvation Army has been in Austin since 1889. Best known for its Red Kettles, Family Stores and disaster relief efforts, the organization is also the largest nonprofit provider of family shelter in Travis County. Other relevant programs include the Angel Tree holiday toy drive, and Back to School supply and clothing drive.
- Sample activities: tutoring in shelter, bell ringing, Angel Tree volunteering
- Donations accepted: donations through online wish lists, Angel Tree donations, clothing
- 4700 Manor Road, Austin
- doingmostgood.org/vol
Sunrise Homeless Navigation Center
Sunrise offers pathways to housing for people experiencing homelessness through low-barrier access to wraparound services. The organization has helped more than 4,275 households move into safe, supportive housing and serves more than 8,000 people each year.
- Sample activities: sorting donations, assembling hygiene kits, making first aid kits, hanging clothing, serving in the cafe
- Donations accepted: monetary and in-kind gifts
- 4430 Menchaca Road, Austin
- www.sunrisenavigationcenter.org
Swan Songs Musical Last Wishes
Swan Songs fulfills musical last wishes by organizing private concerts for individuals with a terminal illness or nearing the end of life. At no cost to the family, a favorite style of music or regional musician is brought directly to the home or care facility. Committed to supporting live music in the community, Swan Songs compensates its musicians for each performance.
- Sample activities: concert liaison, event volunteer, administrative support
- Donations accepted: monetary gifts
- www.swansongs.org
We Are Blood
The sole guardian of the community blood supply, serving more than 50 medical facilities and EMS agencies across 10 counties in Central Texas.
- Sample activities: donate blood, volunteer to assist at blood drives and events, serve refreshments at donor centers and drives, provide office support, transport blood donations
- Donations accepted: blood and platelet donations are welcomed; monetary gifts accepted
- 4300 N. Lamar Blvd., Austin
- www.weareblood.org
