Experiences

What is GIVE?

The Get Involved in Volunteer Experience (G.I.V.E.) program was established by the University of Illinois at Chicago to promote community service, while helping students develop a sense of responsibility and accomplishment.

G.I.V.E. serves as an information conduit containing over 200 Chicagoland-based agencies and organizations.  In the G.I.V.E. offices, you can learn about individual short-term and long-term volunteering opportunities all around Chicago. G.I.V.E. representatives will help you identify an opportunity that will match your needs and interests. G.I.V.E. offers many unique and meaningful experiences for you to develop and improve leadership skills and gain valuable work experience. In addition, G.I.V.E. office provides monthly one-time group volunteer events and opportunities.

What is required of a volunteer?

Volunteering does not require any prior experience. To volunteer you must be dedicated to working in the community and be sincere and enthusiastic. Some positions will require training.

What are the areas of service?

All volunteering opportunities are compiled in an Agency book that is organized into twelve areas of service. These areas of service are:

• Aging/Seniors Organizations
• Arts and Culture
• Environment
• Government
• Law and Civic
• Literacy
• Crisis Intervention
• Hunger and Homelessness
• Health Care
• Youth Assistance
• Programs for People With Developmental Disabilities
• Teen Parenting
• Women's Issues

How do I find out about service opportunities?

Become part of the GIVE listerv!  Signing up is easy, you simply send an e-mail to: listserv@uic.edu.  In the body of the e-mail type: subscribe give and your first and last name.  You can also check at the top of this page for our upcoming events.  If you are looking for long-term opportunities you can search the websites below or come into our office and look through the GIVE binders.