One of the most beautiful facets of volunteerism happens when a group of people spot a problem and rise up together to take action. Volunteers may come together as
an independently organized auxiliary, friends group, or project planning committee, or they may begin by protesting to evoke change. But if change doesn't come, activists may find ways to help informally, try to structure themselves with a board of directors, or even create a new nonprofit agency. Many of our most well-known nonprofit and human service organizations started this way.
Spurred by fervor, need, or even crisis, this form of volunteering is organic and pure at its best but can also be disorganized, impulsive, and frustrating at its worst. Luckily we have resources to help all-volunteer groups find positive ways of working together. See below.