Volunteer Opportunities in Chicago, IL
Make a difference in the lives of others and your own. The Ignatian Volunteer Corps (IVC) connects experienced adults aged 50+ with meaningful volunteer opportunities in Chicago, IL that support people in need throughout the area. Our programs are ideal for the recently retired, semi-retired, or people looking to explore new life opportunities.
We partner with trusted nonprofit organizations that need skilled, reliable, and compassionate volunteers. Through IVC, you’ll join a community of others who are committed to service, reflection, and social justice.
IVC Chicago is proud to have a strong and ongoing relationship with local charities and nonprofits. These partnerships allow our corps members to volunteer in diverse, impactful roles, like helping in food pantries and senior services and offering administrative support.
IVC members are placed in roles that align with their talents and interests, ensuring a rewarding experience. With secular and other faith-aligned organizations, IVC members serve people experiencing poverty, homelessness, isolation, or systemic injustice.
You don’t need to be Catholic to join. What you do need is a desire to serve, an open heart, and a commitment to personal growth and reflection.
How We Serve in Chicago, IL
IVC members serve with nonprofit partner agencies across the Chicago metro area. These organizations count on IVC members to support mission-critical work in areas like:
- Education and tutoring
- Healthcare and mental health services
- Housing and homelessness prevention
- Immigration and refugee support
- Senior companionship and care
- Food access and nutrition services
Join us for behind-the-scenes support or direct interaction. IVC will help you find a service role where you can make a difference. Specific, professional training isn’t needed, just a willingness to serve others and grow. IVC brings volunteers with experience, dedication, and compassion to help those in need.
Tom Galvin,
Regional Director
Cathy Buescher
Program Manager
Old St. Patrick’s Jack Wall Mission Center.
711 W. Monroe St.
Chicago IL 60661.
630-290-3857
chicago@ivcusa.org
How to Get Involved with the Ignatian Volunteer Corps
Joining IVC Chicago is a thoughtful and supported process designed to help you make the most of your service.We’ll be with you every step of the way. To get involved, follow these steps:
- Reach Out: Fill out our interest form or contact our Regional Director to start the conversation.
- Discern: Through conversation, we’ll learn about your background, interests, and availability, and discern a match for you with a nonprofit that needs your help.
- Start Serving: Upon acceptance to the program, you can serve one or two days a week, making a consistent impact while enjoying flexibility.
- Reflect and Grow: Join our community gatherings to connect, reflect, and deepen your experience.
You’ll never serve alone. IVC Baltimore is a supportive community of people who care, reflect, and serve together.
Request IVC for Your Nonprofit
Are you a nonprofit looking for reliable, mission-aligned volunteers? IVC Chicago partners with nonprofits throughout the region to place qualified adults 50+ into ongoing roles that make a real difference. Our corps members volunteer decades of experience, compassion, and consistency to every assignment.
As an IVC partner agency, you’ll receive:
- Carefully selected volunteers based on your needs
- Ongoing support from the IVC regional office
- A consistent presence (corps members commit to volunteer for 9–10 months)
- Access to a values-aligned network of volunteers who support your mission
Why Choose IVC Chicago?
IVC isn’t just an opportunity to serve—it’s a community rooted in purpose and faith. In addition to their service, corps members gather each month for reflection and prayer, with the option of one-on-one spiritual support. This Ignatian approach to service—finding God in all things—sets IVC apart from other opportunities.
By bringing professional and life experience to their service, corps members strengthen nonprofit partners and help create a more just society. Many members tell us they receive even more than they give, finding deep meaning in both their service and their shared community.
Here’s what makes IVC unique in Chicago:
- Thoughtful Matching: We take time to know you and our nonprofit partners to ensure a placement that aligns with your skills, passions, and values.
- Experienced Members: Corps members bring a lifetime of professional and personal experience, adding real value to the organizations they serve.
- Spiritual Growth: Monthly reflection gatherings and retreats, rooted in Ignatian spirituality, help connect service with deeper meaning.
- Dependable Commitment: Members serve one or two days a week for a full academic year, providing consistency partner organizations can count on.
- Community Connection: You’ll join a welcoming group of peers who share your commitment to service, reflection, and justice.
Explore Stories of Service
Experience Making a Difference in Chicago
If you hear the call to serve or are seeking volunteers for your nonprofit, IVC Chicago is here to help you take the next step. Join our faith-based, purpose-oriented, and service-based community.
Contact IVC Chicago Today