Community Impact + Connecting with Nonprofits
Volunteer Fest is a dynamic community event connecting individuals with dozens of local nonprofits, offering hands-on activities, networking, and opportunities to make a meaningful impact.
Join us at the 2025 Columbus Volunteer Festival at the Scioto Arts Market
Saturday, May 17, 2025 • 10am-2pm • National Veterans Memorial & Museum
You’re invited to a vibrant community event that offers attendees an opportunity to learn about dozens of local nonprofits while enjoying an open-air market along the scenic Scioto Riverfront in downtown Columbus. We will plan to have up to 80 pop-up vendors (including nonprofits, arts orgs, veterans orgs, makers, bakers, farmers, and more).
Enjoy live music, food trucks, interactive art projects, a bounce house, and free admission to the National Veterans Memorial & Museum. It’s free to attend and all are welcome!
2024 Participating Nonprofits
-
Alicia's Closet serves the foster care community in Central Ohio with free stores providing infant to young adult sized clothing, shoes, coats, diapers & wipes, baby accessories and other essentials at no cost to families.
Children, Human Services
-
The American Cancer Society‘s mission is to improve lives by advancing cancer prevention, detection, treatment, and survival through advocacy and support.
Health & Wellness, Human Services
-
The American Conservation Coalition exists to get young people involved in promoting common sense solutions for the planet, especially at the local level.
Animals, Environment
-
Better Business Bureau of Central Ohio is a community based resource, a trusted advisor, and a partner in business.
Community Resource
-
Besa is a Columbus-based nonprofit that drives civic engagement by connecting people to community service, making giving back easy and impactful.
Community Resource
-
Brown Girls Mentoring equips Brown Girls with tools to build her self-confidence, develop relationships, resolve conflict, make wise decisions, work in teams, and develop practical life skills.
Children
-
Canine Companions is a national non-profit organization that enhances the lives of people with disabilities by providing highly trained service dogs and ongoing support at no charge to the recipient.
Animals, Human Services
-
Celebrating One encourages and empowers families and individuals, providing the tools to help them thrive and feel connected no matter their circumstances.
Human Services
-
Columbus Futsal is a minority-owned sports organization that houses a men's professional team, women’s professional team, accredited youth academy, and local leagues right here in Columbus.
Children, Health & Wellness
-
The mission of Columbus Early Learning Centers is to help young learners develop, families succeed, and neighborhoods thrive.
Children, Community Development, Educational
-
Much more than just a hashtag, CYP Club Cares is an active committee of young professional leaders who host and hoist the CYP Club’s volunteerism efforts. #cypclubcares
Community Resource
-
The Grange Insurance Audubon Center enriches the community by providing environmental education, wildlife conservation, and a welcoming space for learning and connection.
Environment
-
The mission of the Hilliard Food Pantry Plus is to improve the well-being of our community by providing food and support.
Human Services, Community Development
-
International Friendships, Inc. (IFI) is a community organization that works in partnership with universities and volunteers to promote friendship and hospitality for international students, scholars, and their families.
Educational, International, Religious
-
The Junior League of Columbus, Inc. is an organization of women whose mission is to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration, and training.
Community Development, Educational
-
Keep Columbus Beautiful inspires and educates all Columbus residents to volunteer together, beautify green spaces, clean waterways, and reduce waste every day.
Environment
-
Little Bottoms Free Store provides diapers, wipes, and baby clothes to residents of Franklin County Ohio with children aged 0-3 years.
Children, Human Services, Social Justice
-
Local Matters works to create healthier communities through food education, access, and advocacy.
Educational, Health & Wellness, Human Services
-
Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky, Indiana creates life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses.
Children, Health & Wellness
-
Mid-Ohio Food Collective aims to end hunger one nourishing meal at a time while co-creating communities where everyone thrives.
Human Services
-
Open Arms Adoptions aims to provide a loving, stable home to every child in need, working tirelessly to create an environment that embraces everyone’s unique set of circumstances.
Children
-
The Parkinson’s Foundation makes life better for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) by improving care and advancing research toward a cure.
Health & Wellness
-
PureHeart empowers emancipated foster youth by providing safe housing and comprehensive support.
Children, Community Development, Health & Wellness, Human Services, Social Justice
-
Pyramid CDC’s mission is to empower individuals and communities to embrace Computer Technology and Entrepreneurship Readiness programming to overcome economic barriers.
Community Development, Education, Workforce Development
-
SEA Change empowers social enterprises with tools, resources, and mentorship for impact.
Social Justice, Human Services, Health & Wellness, Community Development
-
Seeds of Caring aims to create a kinder, more connected community, led by the youngest generation.
Children, Educational
-
She Has a Name exists to fight human trafficking through education and care for all of those impacted.
Human Services, Social Justice
-
The mission of Small Biz Cares is to connect, mobilize and inspire small businesses to make a lasting positive impact in our community.
Community Resource
-
The mission of St. Stephen's Community House is to strengthen families and empower our community.
Human Services
-
YWCA Columbus is dedicated to eliminating racism, empowering women, and promoting peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all.
Human Services, Social Justice
2023 Participating Nonprofits
2022 Participating Nonprofits
2019 Participating Nonprofits
2018 Participating Nonprofits
History of the festival: Launched in 2008 as the Volunteer Info Fair, the event evolved into “Speed Networking with Nonprofits” and “Musical Chairs for Charity” (twice a year in spring and fall from 2015-2017). In 2018, we re-launched as the Columbus Volunteer Expo before finalizing our name as the Columbus Volunteer Festival in 2024.
-
Volunteer Info Fair 2011
Participating nonprofits included: A Kid Again, American Cancer Society, American Red Cross of Greater Columbus, Americorps, CHA Animal Shelter, Christians Overcoming Cancer, Columbus Arts Festival, Columbus Metropolitan Library, Cristo Rey, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Economic Community Development Institute (ECDI), Epilepsy Foundation of Central Ohio, Flying Horse Farms, For a Day Foundation, Franklin County Board of Developmental Disabilities (Recreation Program), Franklin County Children Services, Friends of Doo Dah, Friends of the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium, Friends of the Shelter, Habitat for Humanity, Hands on Central Ohio, Haven of Hope Cancer Foundation, Homeport by Columbus Housing Partnership, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Keep Columbus Beautiful, Komen Young Professionals, LeaderSpark, Lower Lights Christian Health Center, Lower Lights Ministries, Make A Wish Foundation, Mid Ohio Food Bank, Montana de Luz, National Alliance for the Mentally Ill (NAMI), Nationwide Children's Hospital, Orphan World Relief, PBJ Connections, Salvation Army, See Kids Dream, Short North Arts District (Highball Halloween), St. Vincent Family Centers, United Way of Central Ohio / GenNext, ViaQuest Hospice, Wexner Heritage Village
-
Volunteer Info Fair 2010
Participating nonprofits included: A Kid Again, A Special Wish Foundation, American Lung Association, Arthritis Foundation, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Buckeye Ranch, CAPA, Capital Area Humane Society, CASA of Franklin County, Central Ohio Diabetes Association / YP GLUCO, Childhood League Center, Columbus Children's Theatre, Columbus Marathon, Columbus Metropolitan Library, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Faith Mission, Friends of the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium, HighRise Academy, Homeless Families Foundation, Hostelling International, KIPP: Journey Academy, Komen Young Professionals, L.I.F.E. (Live in Faith Everyday), Mercy for Animals, Mid Ohio Food Bank, Nationwide Children's Hospital: Kinder Key, Nationwide Children's Hospital: Pleasure Guild, National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Ohio Statehouse Museum, Opera Columbus, Relay For Life of Hilliard, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, St. Vincent Family Centers, UCT (United Commercial Travelers), United Way of Central Ohio / GenNext
-
Volunteer Info Fair 2009
Participating nonprofits included: A Kid Again, Alzheimers Association, American Cancer Society, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP), American Lung Association, American Red Cross of Greater Columbus, Arthritis Foundation, CASA of Franklin County, Childhood League Center, COSI, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Faith Mission, Friends of the Columbus Zoo & Aquarium, Hostelling International, Kya's Krusade, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Lifeline of Ohio, Mid Ohio Food Bank, National Kidney Foundation, Nationwide Children's Hospital: Pleasure Guild, St. Vincent Family Centers, Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, United Way of Central Ohio (GenNext)
-
Volunteer Info Fair 2008
Participating nonprofits included: A Kid Again, American Cancer Society, American Lung Association, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Capital Area Humane Society, CASA of Franklin County, Cozy Cat Cottage, Cystic Fibrosis Foundation, Friends of the Shelter, Habitat for Humanity, Hands on Central Ohio, Homeless Families Foundation, Junior Achievement of Central Ohio, Junior League of Columbus, Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, Lifeline of Ohio, MAP Furniture Bank, Nationwide Children's Hospital: Kinder Key, Nationwide Children's Hospital: Pleasure Guild, Ronald McDonald House, Salvation Army