There are dozens of nonprofits and charitable organizations doing great work in and around Branford, and thousands of residents with the skills and desire to help. But until now, there hasn’t been an easy way to connect the two. 

The new BranfordVolunteers.org makes that connection. 

Supported by the Branford Community Foundation (BCF), BranfordVolunteers.org helps local nonprofits publicize their volunteer opportunities, and gives members of the community a single resource to easily find those opportunities. It’s a bit like a dating app, but without all the swiping and rejection. It’s free to use, free to be listed, and there are no ads and no spam. 

“Volunteers are the lifeblood of nonprofits, and Branford has so many great people who want to give back, but there has never been a single resource to match the two,” said Liza Janssen Petra, Executive Director of the Branford Community Foundation (BCF). “Our mission at BCF has always been to connect people who care with causes that matter and BranfordVolunteers.org fits perfectly with what we do.” 

“BranfordVolunteers.org is just the kind of resource any town would love to have,” said Branford First Selectman Jamie Cosgrove. 

“Branford is a fantastic town for volunteering, and for innovation,” said Cosgrove. “I don’t know of any other community in Connecticut or anywhere that has this kind of resource, and I am beyond impressed that the Branford Community Foundation would make the incredible effort to provide this.” 

How does it work? 

Simply put, organizations list their needs, whether it is for individuals to help at an event, or volunteers to fill roles at the nonprofit, and site visitors can easily search the site to find an opportunity. Maybe they want to: 

• Clean up a park 

• Stock food shelves 

• Serve on a local board 

• Help at a community event 

• Join a service organization 

The list of meaningful ways to contribute goes on and on. And once visitors find something of interest, they will be able to contact the nonprofit directly through the site. 

Conceived and built by nonprofit consulting firm Antonym Partners, the site will be moderated by BCF and the James Blackstone Memorial Library, which has long been a community resource for volunteering. 

“At the Blackstone, we’ve held volunteer fairs where people interested in volunteering get to learn about our great nonprofits and sign up to help. The fairs are wonderful, but not always convenient for everyone,” said Blackstone Library Director Katy McNicol. “That’s why we’re so excited about BranfordVolunteers.org. It’s like having a year-round, 24-7 volunteer fair! People in Branford – and even from surrounding towns – will always know where to look when they want to give back to the community.” 

“This site is just amazing,” added Jaye Andrews, President of the Branford Food Pantry. “So many nonprofits like ours rely on volunteers, but the public may not know it. They may not even realize how many nonprofits exist in town! BranfordVolunteers.org lets everyone know what we need, what other nonprofits need, and even has a live calendar showing you upcoming events where you can pitch in.” 

At launch, the site includes profiles and dozens of volunteer opportunities for 38 town or area-based nonprofits: Dan Cosgrove Animal Shelter • Community Dining Room • Legacy Theatre • Branford Festival Committee • Women & Family Life Center • Branford Microfund • BHcare • MLK Heritage Foundation• Branford Fire Department • Diaper Bank of Connecticut • Branford Parks & Rec • James Blackstone Memorial Library • Friends of the Blackstone Library • Homemaker Thrift Shop • Branford Food Pantry • Camp Totokett • Branford Rotary • Branford Lions • BACA • Read to Grow • Branford Soccer • Raise the Roof • Branford Youth Lacrosse • Shoreline Eldercare Alliance • Canoe Brook Center • Soundview Family YMCA • Branford Land Trust • Shoreline Greenway Trail • BCTV • Shore Line Trolley Museum • Stony Creek Museum • Branford Historical Society • Branford Garden Club • Branford Compassion Club • Connecticut Hospice • Save the Sound • Shoreline Arts Alliance • Agency on Aging. With many more to come!