San Diego Volunteer Opportunities
Serve with purpose and find your community with the Ignatian Volunteer Corps (IVC). We provide countless volunteer opportunities in San Diego, connecting compassionate, experienced adults with nonprofits across the region that need consistent, mission-driven support.
Whether you’re newly retired, semi-retired, or want to know how to make a difference, IVC San Diego offers a meaningful path to serve people in need, grow spiritually, and build community with others committed to faith and justice. IVC members typically volunteer one or two days per week and are matched with organizations where they can have a lasting impact.
How We Serve in San Diego, CA
IVC San Diego partners with a wide range of local nonprofit organizations across the region. Corps members are placed in roles based on their skills and interests, providing meaningful volunteer help in areas such as:
- Education and tutoring
- Housing and homelessness services
- Refugee and immigrant support
- Community outreach and advocacy
- Food distribution and nutrition programs
- Elder care and companionship
- Administrative and program support
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.
Curran Gaughan,
Regional Director
How to Get Involved with the Ignatian Volunteer Corps
Joining IVC San Diego 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.
Request IVC for Your Nonprofit
IVC San Diego partners with faith-based and secular organizations that serve vulnerable populations throughout the region. Our corps members volunteer professional expertise, life experience, and a dependable weekly commitment to roles that matter.
Benefits of partnering with IVC San Diego include:
- Volunteers who serve 1–2 days/week for 9–10 months
- A personalized placement process to meet your agency’s needs
- Mission-aligned individuals committed to consistent, compassionate service
- Ongoing support from the IVC regional director and leadership team
Whether you’re running a shelter, school, senior center, or community outreach program, IVC volunteer corps members can help you extend your reach and deepen your impact.
Why Choose IVC San Diego?
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 San Diego:
- 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 San Diego
Find a fulfilling way to give back or seek long-term volunteer support; IVC San Deigo is here to help.
Contact IVC San Diego Today