What is Global Volunteers?

Global Volunteers is a nonprofit international development organization based in St. Paul, Minnesota. It mobilizes short-term volunteers to serve in community-driven development projects across the world and in the United States. The organization holds special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) and has engaged tens of thousands of volunteers since its founding in 1984 by Bud Philbrook and Michele Gran.

Mission, Vision & Philosophy

The mission of Global Volunteers is to promote peace and justice through mutual international understanding and genuine community partnerships.

Its work is based on locally led development—projects are initiated at the request of community partners, led by local leaders, and aligned with each community’s priorities. The organization emphasizes ethical volunteering, ensuring that volunteers contribute to existing, community-defined projects rather than imposing outside ideas.

Global Volunteers focuses on creating sustained change rather than one-time interventions, supporting communities over the long term through repeated short-term volunteer teams.

Key Program Areas & What Volunteers Do

The organization structures its work around 12 Essential Services, which address hunger, health, and education needs. Volunteer roles vary by project and location but may include:

Teaching conversational English to children and adults

Assisting with health, nutrition, and hygiene education

Helping build or repair classrooms, clinics, or sanitation facilities

Supporting community gardens and sustainability initiatives

Working with at-risk children, day care centers, and family support programs

Projects typically last one to two weeks, with volunteers contributing full workdays to maximize their impact.

Geographic Reach & Scale

Global Volunteers operates in more than 30 countries across Africa, Asia, Latin America, Europe, the Caribbean, and the United States. Over the decades, it has engaged more than 40,000 volunteers in community development efforts worldwide.

Costs, Safety & Volunteer Support

Volunteers contribute a program fee that covers lodging, meals, local transportation, project materials, staff support, and medical evacuation insurance. Fees vary by destination and duration, typically ranging from about $1,000 to $3,000.

The organization prioritizes safety through trained team leaders—often program alumni—who are certified in first aid and group management. Discounts are available for groups, families, students, and returning volunteers.

Strengths, Challenges & Considerations

Strengths:

Strong partnerships with local communities ensure that projects are relevant and sustainable.

Decades of experience and a well-established reputation.

Clear ethical framework to prevent exploitative or unhelpful volunteering.

Wide range of project options to suit different skills and interests.

Challenges:

As projects are short-term, their success depends on strong coordination and long-term continuity.

Program fees can be a financial barrier for some volunteers.

Experiences can vary depending on local conditions and team dynamics.

Critics of short-term volunteering emphasize the need to balance volunteer experience with tangible community benefits.