International Volunteer Day: December 5 Guide & Ideas

Hospitals, disaster zones, classrooms, food banks, animal shelters, sports clubs, online communities — almost every part of society depends on people who give their time for free. International Volunteer Day (IVD), observed every year on December 5, is the United Nations’ day to thank them and to show how volunteering builds stronger, fairer communities.

Origins of International Volunteer Day

The UN General Assembly created the day through resolution 40/212 on December 17, 1985, and it was first celebrated in 1986. It is coordinated by the United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme, founded in 1970 and based in Bonn, Germany. Every year UNV chooses a theme and runs a global campaign with governments, charities, companies and volunteer groups.

Snapshot
Date	December 5 every year
Established	1985 (UN resolution 40/212)
First observed	1986
Coordinated by	UN Volunteers (UNV)
Official full name	International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development
Hashtags	#IVD #InternationalVolunteerDay #Volunteer

Volunteering by the Numbers

Fact	Figure
People who volunteer worldwide each month	About 862 million (UN State of the World’s Volunteerism Report, 2022)
Share who volunteer informally (helping neighbours, community)	Around 6 in 10
Estimated economic value	Roughly 2.4% of global GDP
UN Volunteers deployed each year	Over 12,000 in UN missions and agencies

Those numbers show that volunteers are not a “nice extra” — they are a major part of how the world works.

Key Milestones

Year	Milestone
1970	UN Volunteers programme created
1985	UN establishes International Volunteer Day
2001	International Year of Volunteers
2011	Tenth anniversary of the Year of Volunteers (IYV+10)
2015	Volunteers recognised as partners in the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development
2026	International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development

Types of Volunteering

Type	Examples
Formal	Through organisations — Red Cross, scouts, hospitals, NGOs
Informal	Helping neighbours, caring for an older person, community clean-ups
Online / virtual	Translating, mentoring, designing, data entry, crisis text lines
Skilled / pro bono	Lawyers, doctors, accountants or developers donating expertise
Corporate	Employer-supported volunteering days
Emergency	Search and rescue, disaster relief, blood donation drives

Benefits of Volunteering

For communities

• Fills gaps in health, education and social care
• Speeds up response to disasters and emergencies
• Builds trust and social cohesion between different groups

For volunteers themselves

• New skills, experience and professional contacts
• Better mental wellbeing and a sense of purpose — many studies link volunteering to lower stress
• New friendships and a stronger connection to the local area
• A practical boost for students and job seekers

Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they have the heart.

How to Celebrate International Volunteer Day

1. Sign up for one shift at a food bank, shelter or community centre.
2. Say thank you — send a note to volunteers who coach your child’s team or run your local library.
3. Try micro-volunteering online for 15 minutes: proofreading, mapping, or answering questions for a charity.
4. Organise a team volunteering day at your workplace.
5. Donate blood — one of the most direct ways to help save lives.
6. Share your story with #IVD to inspire others.

👉 Generosity season: Giving Tuesday — the global day of giving

👉 Plan ahead: All December holidays and observances

FAQ