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.
Save the date for the 2026 Columbus Volunteer Festival at the Scioto Arts Market
Saturday, May 16, 2026 • 11am-3pm • Land-Grant’s Gravity Experience Park
Celebrate community, connection, and creativity at the Columbus Volunteer Festival, a lively open-air event that highlights dozens of local nonprofits and community partners.
Enjoy an inspiring day filled with live music, food trucks, interactive on-site volunteer activities, and up to 50 pop-up booths and activity stations featuring Central Ohio nonprofits, arts organizations, community resources, and local vendors.
Free and open to all — join us for a day of purpose and participation!
2025 Participating Nonprofits
2024 Participating Nonprofits
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.
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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
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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
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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)
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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