We’re in this together. It can be inspiring or otherwise helpful to situate our efforts within others to make the world a better place.

Who Is Engaging, What They’re Up To, and Why

Groups and organizations
  • Independent non-profits (e.g., United Way, Habitat for Humanity)
    • Government-linked or run groups and offices
      • Religious groups
      Individual volunteers (on their own or partnering with a group)
      • Students (K-12, 4-year college, community college, or graduate; solo, in classes, or via clubs)
        • Professionals providing services free or at reduced costs (e.g., docs volunteering at free medical clinics)
          • Eagle Scout candidates
            • Mitzvah candidates
              • Other adults
              Funders
              • Individual or corporate donors (of money, goods, or other support)
                • Grant providers (government-based groups, private foundations, corporations, other) providing general funding to groups or specific initiatives
                Facilitators
                • Volunteer or service project advisors (religious, academic, volunteer, other)
                  • Groups pooling/sharing information across efforts
                    • Consortiums of schools or other groups sharing notes/best practices (e.g., Campus Compact between colleges)
                      • Statewide clearinghouses and databases (e.g., of volunteer opportunities)
                        • Other resource providers (e.g., 3Levels.org) to assist and amplify existing efforts and facilitate new ones
                      Consultants (e.g., service-learning program designers/implementers)
                      Educators
                      • College, training students to work for non-profits, government, other
                        • Staff development professionals teaching skills to facilitate S-L or other community/civic engagement at schools or in workplaces
                        Daily living assistance
                        • Food (obtaining, nutrition)
                        • Shelter (emergency, long-term)
                        • Clothing and other essentials
                        • Transportation
                        Professional services
                        • Medical screenings and care
                        • Legal support
                        Education and empowerment
                        • Literacy
                        • Leadership skills
                        • Job training and placement
                        Democratic representation and participation
                        • Voting access
                        • Registration
                        • Census completion
                        Human rights protection and advocacy
                        • Human trafficking
                        • Worker exploitation
                        Protection and health promotion
                        • At-risk communities
                        • Wild animals or pets
                        • Habitats
                        Technological innovation or engineering-based problem-solving efforts
                        Other ways to categorize efforts:
                        • Population(s) involved
                          • Kids, elderly, other ages
                          • Immigrants
                          • Homeless
                          • Ex cons
                          • Endangered species
                        • Topic
                        • Geographical scope/range
                          • Within a school
                          • Local/municipal
                          • County or state
                          • Regional or global)
                        • Duration of action
                          • One-time events
                          • Annual fundraisers/other activities
                          • Long-running and ongoing service provision
                        • Type of interaction
                          • Direct – working with people in a community
                          • Indirect – by supporting community organizations
                          • Advocacy – promoting actions in the public interest
                          • Research – finding and reporting information in the public interest
                        To connect
                        • To oneself and others
                        • To the natural word
                        • All three (why 3Levels.org exists)
                        To apply course work and build
                        • Knowledge and skills
                        • Connections and networks
                        • Portfolios
                        • Community and environmental health
                        To “pay it forward” (give others opportunities we’ve had)
                        To express
                        • Feeling part of society or a specific community
                        • Wanting to contribute to something bigger
                        To demonstrate faith-related values or responsibility
                        To fulfill a requirement
                        • For school graduation
                        • Completing a legal agreement
                        To increase the impact and personal meaning of a school project
                        To have a fulfilling career
                        • Working for a service organization
                        • Contributing to others’ lives
                        To emulate, continue, or share in the work of others engaged in service