How to Choose a Volunteer Organisation

So you’ve decided you want to make a difference in the world. You did your research. Now you’ve decided to participate in an international volunteer programme. Wonderful!

But now what? How to volunteer abroad? How do you decide where to go and which organisation to choose?

Here are the top steps to choose the best volunteer organisation.

Choosing a Volunteer Abroad Organisation

Your initial search has revealed dozens of organisations, all advertising that they are the one for you. But are they really?

How do you know? Where do you start? Are they really reputable international volunteer organizations?

In this post, I’ll answer your main question, “How do I choose a volunteer organisation?” Then, we will go through the following important points:

1. The types of volunteer abroad organisations
2. How to look beyond the slick marketing
3. Know the difference between a for-profit and a non-profit organisation
4. Misconceptions about international volunteer organisations
5. Paying to volunteer, what to look out for
6. The scams and ethical transgressions that you must know!
7. Should I trust the online reviews?
8. Questions you should ask before choosing to volunteer.

Types of Volunteer Abroad Organisations

When you are looking to volunteer abroad, you will likely come across many types of organisations. You won't even know they are different.

The first organisations you are likely to encounter are commercial companies. These have strong marketing power compared to a small local charity. Commercial companies will have teams of experts in marketing. Whereas charities will have teams of teachers or animal carers.

Here is a brief outline of the variety of organisations and how they work:

1. Large Commercial Company

• Likely based in the developed world, such as London, New York, and Sydney.
• Operates in the same way as a travel agency, only the tourists are volunteers. They often promote volunteer travel programs.
• They send volunteers to partner projects overseas nv.
• For-profit organisations mean none of your money likely goes to the charity cause.

2. International Non-Profit Charity

• These may be based in the developed world or in the countries where you will be volunteering internationally.
• They place volunteers at their own projects or with partners.
• Does not make a profit.

3. Small Commercial Company

• Many are based overseas.
• Often a local agency working in tourism or a language school.
• For profit – none of your money likely goes to the charity cause.

4. Small Local Charity Project

• Based overseas.
• Looking for volunteers to support their charity work abroad.
• Does not make a profit.

Other businesses that you will come across are online directories. Volunteer organisations often pay a fee to appear on these directories. The directories have great marketing power. Hence, you will find all types of volunteer organisations listed with them.

Beyond Marketing: Are Volunteer Programs Abroad Ethical?

When researching volunteer abroad programs, many international volunteer organizations will appear. They have polished websites, smiling volunteer photos, and promises of low fees. It often raises an important question: Does the marketing tell the full story, or does it distract from deeper issues?

The Rise of Voluntourism and Commercial Interests

Volunteering while traveling has become increasingly popular. Hence, many organizations offer “voluntourism” experiences. While many operate with good intentions, others treat this trend as a business opportunity.

Some organizations prioritize profit over purpose. Their focus is not on the local project, its beneficiaries, or even the volunteers but on maximizing revenue. These companies exploit travelers. They offer experiences that benefit the organization, not the people.

Why Profit-Driven Volunteering Can Be a Problem?

At first glance, paying a volunteer fee seems reasonable. Because accommodation, meals, pickup, etc cost money. Organisations lack resource to host international volunteers.

The concern arises when you arrive at the project and see how much impactful work is being done.  With limited resources, it is not possible to serve efficiently. Naturally, you assume that your money has gone directly toward supporting this work.

Where Does Your Volunteer Fee Really Go?

In many cases, volunteers later discover that none of their fees reached the local charity. The money covered basic logistics only. A huge part of the fund goes to overseas volunteer organization.

This raises a critical question: If the project doesn’t benefit financially, who truly gains?

For-Profit vs Non-Profit Organizations: Why the Difference Matters to Volunteers

There is a big difference between For-profit and Non-profit organisation. Here we explain it and provide an example of a for profit organisation going into voluntary liquidation in September 2025 but continued to accept volunteer payments and bookings up to June 2026 before closing down leaving volunteers stranded and out of pocket without refunds.

For-Profit Organizations

For-profit organisations have owners and shareholders.  Their goal is to maximize profits and forward them to these same owners and shareholders. It’s all about making as much money as they can for their owners.

Non-Profit Organizations

Non-profit organisations do not have owners. They center their goal on social or environmental causes. They keep humanitarian attitude to show their service. This means that while they are still concerned with making sure revenue is greater than costs, they recycle any revenues back into the non-profit to help it achieve its mission and vision.

Being a non-profit does not mean the organisation doesn’t have an income or paid staff, but it does mean that they do not use any profit for anything other than working towards the mission of the organisation.

If you truly want to make a difference through your volunteer experience, then ethically, this distinction should matter to you. But it may be hard to see through the marketing agendas to know whether you are giving money to an organisation that is placing its own profit margin above the needs and concerns of the projects to which they send volunteers.

A Real-Life Lesson in Risk: Choosing Between For-Profit and Non-Profit Volunteer Organisations

When choosing a volunteer organisation, it is essential to look beyond marketing and carefully assess transparency and financial accountability. Reputable organisations should be able to demonstrate that they are financially stable and operating responsibly. As a UK-registered charity, Globalteer is required to publish independently examined accounts each year through the Charity Commission, providing full transparency on how funds are managed and ensuring we can demonstrate that we are an ongoing, sustainable organisation.

Concerning events in the sector highlight why this matters. GVI reportedly entered insolvency proceedings in September 2025, yet continued to accept bookings from volunteers up until June 2026. This has left many participants facing significant financial losses and uncertainty. Situations like this underline the importance of choosing an organisation that is not only ethical in its work on the ground, but also accountable and transparent in its financial operations. Reviewing publicly available financial records, governance structures, and organisational history should be a key part of any decision to volunteer abroad.

Know the Difference – 6 Common Misconceptions about Volunteer Organisations

Prospective volunteers face a number of misconceptions and false impressions when searching for service opportunities. To avoid making the wrong choice, there are several questions you should ask yourself before deciding an organisation is “the one.” 

Let’s talk about some of these misconceptions so that you know what to look out for. Then we’ll help you think about what questions you should ask before making a decision.

“The Website is a ‘.org,’ So It Must be Non-profit, Right?”

The answer to this question is NO! Definitely not. Anyone with a website domain can register it as a “.org” without restrictions.

Originally the .org domain category was meant for non-profits, but this was never enforced, and the specification has since been removed. While most non-profits do use a .org domain name, for-profit entities and commercial companies can use this domain name if they choose to.

2. “The Organisation Says It is a Non-profit on Their Website, So This Must be True.”

   Unfortunately, this is wrong! First of all, the definition of “non-profit” varies by country.

   In the United States:

   For an organisation to be truly a non-profit, it must be registered as a 501(c)3 with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This means that its primary activities are “charitable, religious, educational, scientific, literary, testing for public safety, fostering amateur sports competition, preventing cruelty to children, or animals.”

   In the UK:

   A “non-profit” is simply a commercial organisation that does not have shareholders.  Though considered non-profits, they are legally called a “Company Limited by Guarantee” and can still distribute profits to members. If they do this, they are not eligible for charitable status – their activities are commercial and not necessarily charitable in nature.

   In contrast, the legal equivalent of a 501(c)3 in the UK is a Registered Charity. These organisations:

   • Have high status
   • Are non-profit
   • Have their finances independently examined
   • Have publicly available financial information
   • Are regulated by the UK Charity Commission

   In Australia:

   Charities must be registered with and endorsed by the Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission (ACNC). Without this registration and endorsement, you cannot know if the organisation is truly non-profit.

3. What about Volunteer Projects Registered in the Country Where I Will Be Volunteering?

   This is where things can get complicated as in many under developing countries, a legal registration of a charity means something very different to a UK or Australian Charity or a USA 501c.

   Every country has its own unique way of registering organisations, what they call different types of organisations and the way they monitor these organisations.

   Unfortunately, even a locally registered orphanage could be a fake and a scam as detailed in our blog about orphanage volunteering. There are many wonderful local charities registered in undeveloped countries, but you should carry out your own due diligence. Ask - do they have accounts? Do they audit them independently? Are there yearly reports? Do they have connection with other local charities or international charities?

   Can I Just Trust What the Website Says?

   So, you cannot always trust what a website says. You must research the specifications of the country where the organisation is located and independently verify that the organisation is registered with the proper entity.

4. “The Volunteer Fees are Very Low, so That Must Mean This Organisation isn’t Making Any Profit.”

   Wrong again! The prices may be low because they are not sending any money to the projects with which they work.

   If an organisation is taking volunteer fees, they should donate a portion of this to the projects directly, making sure they have the funds necessary to carry out their important work, as well as support the volunteers on site. Many organisations do not do this, allowing them to keep their fees low and entice more clients.

   Can you verify where your volunteer placement fee is going? Do they have independently audited reports verifying that their income is used for charitable donations and activities? While legitimate non-profits may not be able to break down your donation pound by pound or dollar by dollar, they should still be able to provide evidence that all volunteer fees are spend appropriately and not placed in their own pockets.

   Your response might be, “Commercial organisation has a pie chart telling me where their money goes, and it looks like lots of money goes to the charity work abroad.”

   Unfortunately, commercial organisations can create their own pie charts and information about how your money is spent. Because they are not regulated by an outside agency, they do not require an independent audit.

   For example, they may use words like “program development” in their fee breakdowns, which may sound like money is going to an orphanage (or whatever the given project is) to develop the improve the project. But, it could also mean staff salaries and flights to travel abroad! True non-profits and charities have independently audited accounts and are only allowed to provide these accounts publicly; they cannot change the words or amounts to suit a marketing agenda.

   Hidden Volunteering Fees

   Furthermore, be sure to look out for hidden fees! Many organisations advertise low prices: “Volunteer for only $20 per week!” But when you read the fine print at the bottom of the page, there is more often than not a separate “admin fee” or “application fee” for $300 or more that is not part of that per-week price. Often, there are also banking fees attached, or even more fees on top of that depending on the programme that are not advertised in that weekly fee!

   Also consider that if you pay $20 a week, what support do you receive in country, what resources are available, and what is your accommodation like? The local charity is unlikely to have enough funds to support international volunteers once in the country; they spend the funds on the cause they champion.

   So don’t be fooled by the marketing ads– be sure you are getting the whole story before you apply.

5. “Since This is a Volunteering Programme, It Must be Ethical and helping to make a difference in some way. They wouldn’t call it ‘volunteering’ otherwise.”

   Think twice! In recent years, it has come to light that many establishments offering overseas volunteering opportunities or taking “donations” for experiences are actually scams! Often exploiting vulnerable children and animals for profit. Some of the more shocking examples of this are:

   • Fake orphanages where children with parents are posed as orphans (for more on this, check out our blog about orphanage volunteering)
   • Zoos pretending to be wildlife rescue centres, needlessly taking animals from the wild, for display and profit
   • Big cat petting or feeding experiences in Africa where the lions are later used for canned tourist trophy hunting
   • Tiger petting experiences (such as the Tiger Temple in Thailand), where tigers are illegally trafficked, drugged, kept in deplorable conditions, and often killed

   Instances where the ethical transgressions may not be obvious

   • Organisations claiming to operate elephant volunteer programs, but where elephant riding, trekking, or performing takes place (for more on this, check out our Elephant Sanctuary blog)
   • Overseas schools claiming to be charitable organisations, but where middle-class children have to pay for classes and they are using international volunteers as teachers rather than paid local staff.
   • Animal care volunteering organisations where the volunteer experience is valued above the actual well-being of the animals. Such as a notorious sloth sanctuary in Costa Rica. (i.e. Is it really okay for you to be touching that particular animal? Has the animal’s health and travel safety guides been considered primarily, or are you getting to interact with it for your own amusement?)

   Many unsuspecting volunteers, tourists, and donors have fallen victim to such organisations, not realising what was really going on behind the scenes.

   Ending Bad Practices

   For example, recently, an elephant sanctuary in Thailand wrote to Globalteer looking for a partnership, as one of their international volunteering partners “no longer shared their vision.” The sanctuary had decided to put the elephants’ welfare first and to end the practice of elephant riding at their site and instead let the elephants live more freely, exhibiting their natural behaviour in the forest. Their commercial international volunteer organisation partner at the time was saying they had to include elephant riding as part of the volunteer package. Or else, they would no longer send volunteers to them.

   Is that the kind of organisation you would want to volunteer through?

   “I cannot find any bad reviews online. These must be the best volunteer abroad programs!”

   Wait just a minute! Most of the larger volunteer organisations will have great online reviews, but if you know how these things work, then you will see the propaganda behind.

   What kinds of reviews are you seeing? Can you see Facebook reviews and Google reviews? Or has the organisation turned the option off for people to leave reviews on Facebook? If so, why might they have done that?

   Furthermore, you need to take evaluations and reviews found online with a grain of salt. Volunteer organisations can pay for online marketing and reviews. So keep in mind that Facebook and Google reviews tend to be more authentic, as it is difficult to create a false Facebook profile to leave fake reviews.

   Some big commercial volunteer organisations turn off their Facebook reviews so that real volunteers cannot review them on a platform that they cannot control. They rely on reviews posted on sites with which they have a mutual financial interest. Some volunteers, therefore, have to use their initiative and create a Facebook page where volunteers can freely review organisations.

   The connection between commercial volunteer organisations and volunteer review websites is well documented in this article about fake reviews.

   Also be wary of volunteer organisation awards. Many of the awards given are from partners in the industry where there is a financial partnership in place.

   “The website looks extremely professional – this must be the best volunteer organisation to work with.”

   Maybe. Or maybe not. A professional website is a great tool to have, and all volunteer organisations should strive to have one. Presenting clear information and attracting volunteers is key for organisations to do their work and help the beneficiaries of their projects.

   However, all of the points above should make it clear to you that a showy website may not be conveying all the information you need to know. Often the unsavoury details are only included in the fine print (or not included at all). Look past the marketing!

Questions to Ask Before You Choose a Volunteer Organisation

This may seem overwhelming. How can you know if you are choosing a responsible volunteer organisation? Here are some questions you should research before deciding. And if you cannot find the answers on your own, call them up! Ask these questions to them directly.

Finances

• Is the organisation officially registered with an appropriate entity to ensure it is charitable?
• Is it a non-profit or a commercial company?
• Where does your money go?
• Are official, independently examined financial reports available publicly?
• How can they offer such low prices?

Ethics

• Do they put profit before child or animal welfare?
• Do they have a Child Protection Policy and require background checks if they volunteer with children?
• Are harmful practices such as elephant riding encouraged in the name of elephant volunteer opportunities
• Do they explain their ethos when it comes to how wildlife volunteer abroad work?
• Do they have a set of ethical standards to which they hold themselves?
• Who benefits from the programmes they offer?

Organisation

• What is the relationship between who I sign up with and who I volunteer with?
• How many layers exist between this placement organisation and the actual project (who is my money actually going to and who will be supporting me in-country)

Sustainability

• How does the organisation make sure its projects are sustainable?
• Do they establish and publish their programme goals?
• How do volunteer work overseas support the projects?
• Do they employ local staff?

Here is where Globalteer answers these questions.

How do I Choose the Best Volunteer Abroad Program?

We understand that it is not easy to decide which is the best volunteer organisation or which provides the best volunteer projects abroad. Slick marketing, misleading websites and the power of money all make this a difficult task for the first time volunteer.

Here are the top tips on how to choose a volunteer abroad program:

• Volunteer abroad with a true non-profit charity that is correctly and legally registered as a non-profit. Just because an organisation says they are a charitable non-profit, it does not mean that they are!
• Look through the slick marketing, and ask the organisation the important questions listed in this blog.
• Read the online reviews with a pinch of salt; it is too easy to fake online reviews. Look for Facebook and Google reviews as they are more difficult to fake.

Making Your Choice, Responsibly and Ethically

We hope you have found this information useful, and that it will help you to “Know the Difference” when it comes to wanting to “Make a Difference!” Despite all the bad eggs, there are many wonderful organisations out there offering the best volunteer opportunities abroad. You just need to know how to filter through the seas of information to find them.

Of course, we would love for you to volunteer with Globalteer and our great projects. Yes, we do our best to have a quality website, and we try to keep our fees low while still covering our operating costs. But we are a non-profit, a registered charity, and stand by a code of ethics that we promise to never infringe.

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