City Cast Madison logo

Volunteer Opportunities in Madison

Posted on August 8, 2024   |   Updated on September 30, 2025
Ava Wojnowski

Ava Wojnowski

People prepping an aid station at the Madison Ironman.

The Ironman in Madison is a huge event that needs a ton of volunteers. (Ava Wojnowski / City Cast Madison)

There are many ways to give back to our community in Madison. Here are 11 different volunteer opportunities in the Madison area. Let’s do our part, Madison!

Upcoming Volunteer Opportunities

Ride the Drive will be taking over the city on Aug. 11. From setup crew positions to balloon inflators, a variety of positions need to be filled. The event will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., but volunteer shifts vary depending on position.

The Glen Golf Park is looking for volunteers for Aug. 17 from 8-10 a.m. This entails helping clean up weeds and litter, program support, and more.

Taste of Madison is a two-day event downtown that needs volunteers to help with organization and setup. This event takes place from Aug. 31 to Sept. 1.

The Madison Ironman is looking for volunteers for both the half and full Ironman in all three events. This is a huge race in Madison that needs a ton of volunteers. The half Ironman is on Sept. 7 and the full is on Sept. 8.

Continuous Volunteer Opportunities

Dane County CASA Canopy Center runs on over 80% volunteers. Different volunteering positions provide child care, office assistance, supervise family interactions, advocate for children in the court system, and more.

Dane County Humane Society is always looking for volunteers. Most positions require a six-month commitment, volunteering a two to three hour shift each week. There are a variety of different positions to check out.

Fairshare CSA Coalition Inc. is continually looking for volunteers for events and special projects. An event that they need volunteers for is their Bike the Barns event which will take place on Sept. 15. From marking the route to prepping aid stations, they need help with various tasks.

Madison Cat Project is another way to help out Madison’s furry friends. Due to the amount of training that is needed, these volunteer positions last for at least six months. The specifics of a role may vary, but generally, volunteers help care for the cats in the shelter.

Neighborhood House Madison also has a ton of different ways for the community to help out. This includes its food programs, adult enrichment, and youth summer camp.

Newbridge is an organization that is helping older adults in the Madison community. They have different opportunities for involvement like their food bridge program and nutrition site volunteers.

St.Vincent de Paul has a variety of different volunteer opportunities for people including food pantry positions, a charitable pharmacy, the Lacy Garden, and the St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Program which helps single adults with minor children as they set up permanent housing.

What Are Other Volunteer Opportunities?

Share article

Hey Madison

Sign up for your free daily toolkit to get the most of the city you love.

Can't subscribe? Turn off your ad blocker and try again.

Neighborhood Guides

See All
Neighborhood GuidesSeptember 29

Browse the Imagination Center, Madison’s Newest Library

Explore Madison's new Imagination Center at Reindahl Park—the city's first public library in 26 years. Take a virtual tour of this vibran...

The outside of the Imagination Center. A blue tiled buildiing with a sign that read "Library."
Neighborhood GuidesJune 15

Take a Look Inside the Center for Black Excellence and Culture

The Center for Black Excellence and Culture opened its doors last month to much fanfare. The $32 million facility is envisioned as a hub...

The interior of a building with white walls and a polished floor.
Neighborhood GuidesMarch 4

Your Guide To Madison’s Sister City of Camagüey, Cuba

Madison has had a decades-long relationship with its sister city of Camaguey, Cuba. Here's what to know about the country's largest inte...

A cityscape with brown roofs.
Neighborhood GuidesJanuary 28

Uncovering Madison’s Kinky Past

For Valentine's Day, take a deep dive into the kinky history of Madison, from the Hotel Washington to the Cardinal Bar to Madison's now-d...

A room with red lights and a giant "X" scaffold.
Neighborhood GuidesAugust 18, 2025

Your Guide to Madison’s Sister City of Vilnius, Lithuania

But for today’s Sister City feature on Vilnius, Lithuania, I have some expert help.

A man in a hat sitting on a pink bench in a city square.
Neighborhood GuidesJuly 23, 2025

Your Guide To AtwoodFest, Madison’s SASY-est Festival

Since 1982, AtwoodFest has celebrated the spirit of Madison's east side SASY neighborhood and raised money for good causes. This year's f...

A group of people dancing outdoors.
Neighborhood GuidesJuly 9, 2025

Your Guide to Madison’s Sister City in Obihiro, Japan

One of Madison's sister cities is Obihiro, located on the island of Hokkaido in Japan. The city has a lot that will be familiar to visito...

A small train station in a snowy landscape.
Neighborhood GuidesJune 4, 2025

Check Out Madison’s Black Business Hub

The Black Business Hub opened last summer to support and accelerate minority-owned businesses, and new ventures are constantly opening in...

A large space with floor to ceiling windows and orange chairs.

The latest in Madison

Madison's BestOctober 21

UW-Madison’s ‘Inhumanities Building’ Inspires New Book

Discover the history and unique character of UW-Madison’s iconic "Inhumanities Building" in Doug E.L. Haynes’ new illustrated book. Explo...

Madison artist Doug E.L. Haynes, dressed in black, leans against a black metal railing in front of the Mosse Humanities Building at UW Madison, a light-colored brick building.
Madison, ExplainedOctober 20

Your Guide to the Fall 2026 Election in Madison

The big-ticket item on the Nov. 3 ballot for Wisconsin voters is of course the race for governor.

Two signs saying “Vote” outside of a doorway.
Madison, ExplainedOctober 19

Digging Up the Spooky History of Freakfest

Madison's Freakfest event ended several years ago, but its ghosts continue to haunt the city to this day. Here’s a look back at the good,...

A crowd of people, many in costumes, on a city street.
Food & DrinkOctober 15

What Do Madison Beer Drinkers Really Want?

Brewery owner Garth Beyer surveyed over 350 people about their beer and bar preferences. These are his takeaways about Madison's beer scene.

A man sitting in a chair pours beer into a glass.
Madison's BestOctober 13

Practice Shelf-Care at the Wisconsin Book Festival

Discover your next great read at the 25th annual Wisconsin Book Festival Fall Celebration, Oct. 15-18. Enjoy free author events for all a...

A group of people browse a table of books in a bright sunlit space.
Madison's BestOctober 8

Your Favorite Spots To Meet Your Neighbors in Madison

City Cast Madison Neighbors share their favorite places in Madison.

Rolling green hills with wildflowers.
Madison, ExplainedOctober 7

UW-Madison Professor Receives Nobel Prize in Physics

Discover the backstory behind UW-Madison professor Francis Halzen's Nobel Prize in physics for pioneering the IceCube Neutrino Observator...

An observatory at the South Pole. A metal structure sits on a desolate landscape with the cosmos above it.
Madison's BestOctober 5

Where To Get Scared in Madison for Spooky Season

Looking for a scare this October in Madison? From horror movies to haunted forests and eerie ghost tours, here is your ultimate guide to...

A poster for "Jeckyll & Hyde" - a ballet dancer in black leaps in front of a foggy, London background.