Family Volunteering
Please call our office at 512.358.6943 or email here with any questions!
How old should my child be before we start volunteering with generation serve?
Many of our activities are appropriate for children as young as 3 years old. Every child is different though, so you are the best judge on when you think your child is ready to volunteer. Feel free to contact us if you are unsure if an activity would be appropriate for your child and we can help you make this determination. Some of our activities do have certain age requirements or recommendations. This will be noted in the activity description.
WHY DOES YOUR CALENDAR FILL SO QUICKLY?
The good news is that a lot of families in our community see the value in the service that we provide and are passionate about volunteering together. This results in our calendar often filling within a few hours of the monthly posting. Our capacity is limited; however, as we continue to grow, so will our programs.
how can I get into activities if the calendar is full?
- Check the calendar periodically throughout the month. The calendar fills quickly when the notification email goes out at the time of our monthly posting. However, each week we have cancellations and spots open on the calendar. If you check the calendar throughout the month, you will often find spots open and you are welcome to sign up at that time.
- Check the calendar on Thursdays and Fridays. Our reminder emails go out two days before an activity, so we see a lot of cancellations for weekend activities on Thursdays and Fridays.
- Consider a Family Sponsorship. Family Sponsors receive early access to the calendar prior to the general public as a benefit of their support.
Why do you take photos at activities?
We take photos at our service activities and provide participating families with a link to our private photo site afterward so they can view and download the photos for personal use. This provides families with an opportunity to reflect on their service experiences and to share them with family and friends. We also use some of the photos to promote our programs and to help demonstrate our organization's impact in the Austin community. When you complete our release/waiver to participate in our activities, you are giving us permission to take photos of your family; however, if you prefer to not be photographed at an activity, please let your Activity Lead know.
what if I can't make it to the activity i signed up for?
We understand that things come up and that children get sick from time to time. However, we ask that you are thoughtful when signing up for our activities to make sure that you will be able to attend. Our partners depend on our volunteers to show up and get the work done to support their missions.
When you determine that you will not be able to attend, please log in to the Activity Calendar and cancel your RSVP.
When you determine that you will not be able to attend, please log in to the Activity Calendar and cancel your RSVP.
will my activity be cancelled due to bad weather?
Our outdoor activities may be cancelled because of rain or other inclement weather conditions. All participants will be notified of a cancellation at least one hour before the activity begins, so please check your email before leaving for the activity if the weather looks questionable. In addition, the Activity Calendar will be updated to reflect any cancelled activities. You are also welcome to contact us prior to your activity.
can i sign up for a group of families or children?
No. We ask that each individual family sign up for activities on their own. This way, we have a better understanding of who will be attending each activity and we can plan volunteer tasks accordingly. Additionally, individual family sign-ups allow us to communicate important details of the activity and send email reminders directly to the participating families.
I would like to organize a service activity for my group. Can you help?
We are happy to provide advice / guidance on volunteer activities that might be suitable for your group and help you get started on planning your group service activity. Just contact us for that advice or check out our Group Resource Guide.
Can a babysitter/non-parental caregiver bring a child to an activity?
Yes. Please include any adults that might attend an activity with your child(ren) when you complete your online registration / waiver for your family. The online form will guide you through this process for registering all family members/caregivers. If you have already completed your online registration and need to add someone to that registration, please get in touch with us about getting them added.
how do you determine the number of PEOPLE WHO CAN ATTEND EACH activity?
We work closely with our partner organizations to determine the number of families to recruit for each of our activities. The number of spots we offer depends on the nature of the tasks, the space limitations of the area in which we are working, and the amount of work that needs to be completed.
how do you find your partner organizations?
We discover opportunities by researching and networking throughout the community. We also receive recommendations from volunteer families, board members, and donors. You can also view our partner page for more information.
If I'm not a family sponsor, can I still reserve spots?
Yes! Family Sponsors receive early access to the calendar each month with the option to reserve a limited number of spots. Their support makes it possible for us to grow our calendar of activities to provide opportunities for more families. After Family Sponsors are provided with the opportunity to RSVP for activities each month, the activities become available to all families to RSVP on a first-come-first-served basis. We welcome donations to our program when you sign up for an activity. We suggest a $15 per child/$30 per family donation per activity.
To enable as many families as possible to participate in our activities, we ask that each family sign up for only one volunteer activity per child during the 48-hour period after the activities have been accessible through our website each month. After this period is over, families are welcome to sign up for additional activities that month as openings become available.
To enable as many families as possible to participate in our activities, we ask that each family sign up for only one volunteer activity per child during the 48-hour period after the activities have been accessible through our website each month. After this period is over, families are welcome to sign up for additional activities that month as openings become available.
can my child get credit for his/her community service?
We are happy to sign any documentation your child may need for community service hours expected of him/her at school or by other organizations. Please allow 5-7 days for us to complete any needed forms. We are also a certifying organization for the Presidential Service Award. We present this very special award to children who qualify by accomplishing a truly exceptional number of volunteer hours within a year. Don't worry about tracking your activities and hours yourself - we keep track of all of that for you!
can i volunteer directly with any of the organizations with which you partner?
Yes. Some of our partner organizations welcome volunteers of all ages, while others have age requirements. You can contact them directly to learn more about their current volunteer needs and to see if there are any age requirements.
how is volunteering with generation serve different from volunteering directly with one of your partner organizations?
Generation SERVE works closely with our partner organizations to identify and organize volunteer activities that are both meaningful and age-appropriate. We also establish ongoing relationships with these organizations, which provides consistent and reliable family volunteer service, maximizing the value we bring to their organization.
We make it easy for busy families to incorporate family volunteering into their lives, while providing an educational component that they would not receive if volunteering directly with one of our partners. Each of our activities is staffed by an Activity Lead to ensure the activity runs smoothly and educate participants on the partner, their clients and how the activity will make an impact. We also provide any necessary supplies that might be needed for the activity, including in-kind donations for our nonprofit partners.
We make it easy for busy families to incorporate family volunteering into their lives, while providing an educational component that they would not receive if volunteering directly with one of our partners. Each of our activities is staffed by an Activity Lead to ensure the activity runs smoothly and educate participants on the partner, their clients and how the activity will make an impact. We also provide any necessary supplies that might be needed for the activity, including in-kind donations for our nonprofit partners.
MY CHILD IS A TEEN. CAN HE/SHE ATTEND AN ACTIVITY ALONE?
All activities on the Family Volunteering tab of our calendar are intended for an adult to participate with their child(ren). However, you can click on the Teen Service Days tab of our calendar to find our drop-off, teen-only opportunities. We offer these Teen Service Days where teens can volunteer alongside their peers without parental supervision.
Also, our summer Teen Leadership Program is primarily a drop-off program where teens volunteer, lead and learn alongside their peers. You can view all our teen programs and opportunities on our Teen Service page.
Also, our summer Teen Leadership Program is primarily a drop-off program where teens volunteer, lead and learn alongside their peers. You can view all our teen programs and opportunities on our Teen Service page.
How Do I cancel my RSVP?
We know the struggles of balancing a busy family calendar. If you register for an event but cannot make it, don't worry - go ahead and cancel. Our partners depend on us, and another family is always happy to fill in.
To cancel your RSVP:
To cancel your RSVP:
- Log into your account
- Click on "My Account" at the top
- Select the "Upcoming Activities" tab
- Choose the activity you want to cancel
- Scroll down and click "Cancel RSVP," located on the right-hand side of the screen
- Presto! Your RSVP is canceled.
Donor
how is generation serve funded?
All of our funding comes from donations provided by individuals, families, foundations, and businesses that care about our mission. We do not receive funding from the nonprofit organizations that we support with our volunteer activities. View our financials page to learn more about where our funds come from.
If you are aware of a funding opportunity that might be a good fit for us, let us know! Please contact us at [email protected].
If you are aware of a funding opportunity that might be a good fit for us, let us know! Please contact us at [email protected].
how can I donate to generation serve?
There are several options for donating directly to us. Gifts can be made online or by mail.
Often, contributions can also be made through employer charitable giving campaigns. Check with your company to see if they have a match program so you can double your impact!
We also host fundraising events throughout the year, such as Amplify Austin, a city-wide, 24-hour day of giving. Participating in these special events is another way you can support our mission.
- Make a one-time donation or monthly recurring donations.
- Become a Family Sponsor.
- Become a Business Donor.
- Make an in-kind donation. View our AmazonSmile wish list.
Often, contributions can also be made through employer charitable giving campaigns. Check with your company to see if they have a match program so you can double your impact!
We also host fundraising events throughout the year, such as Amplify Austin, a city-wide, 24-hour day of giving. Participating in these special events is another way you can support our mission.
What will my donation support?
Your gift will help fund our Family Volunteering activities, our Service Learning Program, and our Teen Leadership Program. Each service activity costs an average of $300. This includes the activity supplies, human resources needed to plan and manage the activity, and donations made to our partner agencies such as food, plants, and art supplies. Your contributions help us to expand our services to include more opportunities for volunteer youth to become more engaged in the community.
what percentage of your funding goes directly to your programs?
Approximately 79% of the donations we receive goes directly into our programs, benefiting our volunteer families, youth, and the nonprofit organizations we support. The remaining 21% of donations fund our administrative and fundraising expenses. To learn more about our fundraising and expenses, please view our financials page.
will generation serve accept a matching gift from my company?
Yes! If your employer or a family member's employer has a matching gift program, this can be a great way to provide additional support to us. Please check with your company's human resources department for the specific instructions for your employer's program. We would be happy to provide any information needed. Some companies also have volunteer service incentives and will make a donation to a nonprofit when the employee has completed a certain number of community service hours.
do you accept in-kind donations?
Yes! Please view our AmazonSmile wish list for items that would be helpful in offsetting our program costs.
is my donation tax deductible?
Yes. Generation SERVE is a 501c3 nonprofit organization so your donation is tax deductible to the extent allowed by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Should you need it, our EIN number is 27-0452295.
do you have an annual report?
Yes, please view our financials page to see our most recent annual reports.