Volunteer San Diego is committed to helping you serve the community. You may volunteer at projects listed on our calendar or take the next step and create your own service project. Look here for: project ideas & planning tips grants and awards

Project Ideas and Planning Resources

California Service Corps: Offers examples for you - students, teachers, parents - of different service projects and where to search for volunteer opportunities.

Examples of Projects Created by Students: These inspiring projects were created by students from around the country. Look for projects by issue (e.g. homelessness, raising money for a cause, etc.) to inspire your next project.

Eye-On:  Each of these service-learning briefs focuses on a different issue - environment, literacy, violence, youth and education, poverty, and technology - providing ideas for service, celebration activities, local contacts and potential partners in the San Diego area.

FamilyCares.org: Promotes compassion through hands-on family projects that help others in need.

Idealist.org: Website for youth and teens with tips on different ways to take action in the community. You can also find funding, and other resources.

Kids Care Clubs: This Points of Light Foundation program posts different service projects each month. The collection of project ideas includes step-by-step instructions, compassion and issues education, meeting activities and information on possible partners. These projects are great for groups of students ages 5 -13, but all ages can find the resources very useful.

On-site Project Ideas: Great list of project ideas from Hands On Atlanta, especially if you don’t have transportation to get to a project site, have a large number of volunteers, or have very young volunteers (under 10).

Points of Light Foundation: Offers project ideas and project planning resources appropriate for all ages, groups and individuals.

PBS Kids: Website for youth with ideas on different, age-appropriate service projects.

SAGE (Students for the Advancement of Global Entrepreneurship): Links secondary school student organizations to mentors from local universities and businesses. Its purpose is to advance youth business and social entrepreneurship in an ethical and socially-responsible manner.  Check out their resources.

SAVY Grants: Go to our grants page to find helpful resources or apply for a Volunteer San Diego SAVY Grant.

Savy Toolkit: Already part of a youth group, troop or club? This FREE leadership and service toolkit will guide your group through planning and implementing service projects. Your group members volunteer together and have fun while developing and demonstrating leadership skills. This toolkit has many project ideas that are easy for you to start volunteering now!

USAWeekend: Project idea generator designed for Make a Difference Day, but you can use these ideas for other projects.

YouthVenture: Searchable database of successful projects organized by Youth Venture Teams.

Send us details on a successful project you, your family, class or group has done and we’ll share your good ideas right here on our website!

National Days of Service Days of Service occur throughout the year and are typically sponsored by a national organization. Each focuses on a theme that targets a specific group. Many Days of Service sponsors produce a toolkit that can provide you with ideas for service projects, tips on funding and ways to promote volunteering. Here are the toolkits for several Days of Service, which you can use to plan your projects year-round: Cesar Chavez Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Family Volunteer Day Global Youth Service Day.

Ready to create your own project?
SAVY Clubs: Already part of a youth group, club, or church group? This leadership and service model will guide you through planning and implementing service projects as a group while developing and demonstrating leadership skills. You can also start your own club.

Youth Service America offers an interactive website called Project Plan-it that guides you through all the steps of organizing a project from start to finish. Users will be able to create a project plan, funding proposal, press release, reflection plan and more!

Back to top