Professional Skills
You spent years learning something. Law. Accounting. Marketing. Real estate. Medicine. Whatever it is, people pay good money for what you know. One hour of your expertise, given freely, can change the trajectory of someone's entire life.
If Any of This Sounds Like You...
Read through these. If you're nodding your head, you're in the right place.
Common questions
The questions volunteers ask most often.
What kinds of professional skills are most useful to volunteer?
Legal advice (especially around small business, IP, contracts), accounting and tax help, marketing strategy, operations consulting, HR for partner orgs, IT systems thinking, project management, and any specialized expertise that small organizations can't afford to hire. If your hourly rate at work would make a nonprofit cry, we want what you know.
Are there ethical boundaries on professional volunteering?
Yes — professional ethics still apply. Lawyers don't form attorney-client relationships through casual volunteering. Doctors don't diagnose. Accountants don't sign returns they didn't fully prepare. We respect those boundaries and make sure both you and the partner org understand them up front.
Can pro-bono volunteer work count toward CLE or industry credit hours?
For some professions, yes. Lawyers in particular often get pro-bono CLE credit for qualifying volunteer work. We can document hours and write letters to support credit applications when applicable. Other professions vary — check with your licensing body.
Do I need experience or credentials to volunteer with Lifes a Gambol?
No. We don't ask for resumes, certifications, or background checks for most roles. The only thing we care about is whether you actually want to show up and help. If a particular activity later requires a credential (working directly with kids, for example), we'll let you know and walk you through it together.
How much time do I need to commit?
Whatever you can give. Some volunteers help once a year at a single event. Others are around every week. There's no minimum, no quota, no contract. When you sign up, you tell us your real availability — weekends, evenings, one-time only, remote, whatever — and we match opportunities accordingly. Pledging your name doesn't lock you into anything.
Is this a paid role or volunteer?
Volunteer. Lifes a Gambol is community-driven, and 10% of every dollar that comes in via the brand goes to S.O.G. Helping out is unpaid — but real meals, real friends, and a real sense that you helped someone are all part of the deal.
What happens after I submit the form?
A real human reviews your pledge — usually within a day or two — and reaches out by email or text to say hello, learn a bit more about what you'd want to help with, and let you know about upcoming opportunities that fit. No spam, no automated drip campaigns. We're a small community, and we treat every pledge like it matters, because it does.
Pledge Your Gifts ☘
No contract. No commitment. Just tell us who you are and what you love doing.