How the Volunteer Houston Agency Spotlight Helps Nonprofits Increase Visibility & Connect With Volunteers

⏱️Read Time: 6–7 minutes

📘 Overview: What Is the Agency Spotlight?

The Volunteer Houston Agency Spotlight is a monthly promotional feature designed to help local nonprofits share their mission, highlight urgent volunteer needs, and reach thousands of engaged volunteers across Greater Houston. As a program of IM Houston and the local Points of Light affiliate, Volunteer Houston uses this Spotlight to strengthen community engagement, elevate agency visibility, and encourage meaningful service connections.

Every month, five (5) agencies are selected and featured in Volunteer Houston’s monthly volunteer email — a widely viewed resource among residents seeking hands-on opportunities to serve their community.

🌟 Why Being Featured Matters

Participating in the Agency Spotlight gives nonprofits a powerful platform to amplify their work. Selected agencies receive:

  • Direct promotion of one active volunteer opportunity
  • Increased visibility with thousands of registered volunteers in the region
  • A polished spotlight summary crafted from the agency’s submission
  • A direct, high-traffic link to their opportunity within the Volunteer Houston Portal
  • Potential social media highlights and broader community exposure

This feature is completely free, making it one of the most accessible tools for increasing volunteer recruitment in Houston.

🧩 Eligibility Requirements for Agencies

To qualify for participation, agencies must:

  • Be an active, approved agency in the Volunteer Houston Portal
  • Have at least one live volunteer opportunity posted at the time of submission
  • Provide accurate primary contact information
  • Comply with all Volunteer Houston guidelines and terms

These requirements help ensure that Spotlight features serve volunteers reliably, safely, and effectively.

✔️ What Makes a Volunteer Opportunity Eligible?

To be considered for promotion, the highlighted volunteer opportunity must:

  • Be active and currently posted in the Volunteer Houston Portal
  • Be entirely volunteer-based (no paid roles)
  • Clearly describe the task, impact, and requirements
  • Be appropriate and accessible for the general public

Volunteer Houston may prioritize opportunities with strong community impact, high volunteer needs, clear program descriptions, or agencies that have not been featured recently.

📝 How to Submit Your Agency for the Spotlight

Agencies can complete a simple online submission form that collects:

  • Agency Name
  • Primary Contact Name, Email, and Phone Number
  • Program or Volunteer Need Description (what the opportunity is, who it serves, and why it matters)
  • Number of Volunteers Needed

The form also includes acknowledgments that only five (5) agencies are selected each month and that completing the form does not guarantee selection.

This process allows Volunteer Houston to gather clear, concise information that can be turned into a compelling feature for volunteers.

📸 Photo Submission for Social Media Features

Agencies selected for the Volunteer Houston Agency Spotlight are invited to submit 2–3 photos that showcase their volunteers or program activities. These images help Volunteer Houston:

  • Celebrate community impact
  • Tell compelling visual stories
  • Highlight partner agencies on social media
  • Inspire more people to serve across Greater Houston

Photo guidelines generally include:

  • High-quality images (clear and non-blurry)
  • Photos that show volunteers or the activity in action when possible
  • Only individuals who have provided consent to be photographed
  • Avoiding sensitive information or identifiable minors without permission
  • Horizontal orientation preferred, though vertical images are also accepted

These photos may be used across Volunteer Houston and IM Houston digital platforms, including social media, the Volunteer Houston website, and community impact materials.

🔍 How Volunteer Houston Uses Your Information

Submission of the Agency Spotlight form constitutes the agency’s acknowledgment and consent that Volunteer Houston may publicly share the agency name, program summary, and volunteer opportunity information provided through the form.

This information may be distributed through:

  • Email newsletters sent to registered volunteers
  • Digital communications and outreach campaigns
  • Other volunteer recruitment and promotional channels

Volunteer Houston may edit submissions for clarity, consistency, and required formatting. Only information already visible in the Volunteer Houston Portal will be shared. No confidential, financial, or sensitive information is collected or published.

💙 The Impact of the Agency Spotlight

The Agency Spotlight program deepens the connection between nonprofits and the Houston community by:

  • Expanding visibility for nonprofit organizations
  • Helping agencies reach volunteers who are aligned with their mission
  • Showcasing diverse community needs across Greater Houston
  • Encouraging increased engagement, volunteer signups, and ongoing service

Month after month, this initiative supports a stronger, more connected, and more compassionate Houston through service. By lifting up agencies and amplifying their volunteer needs, Volunteer Houston helps ensure that local nonprofits have the people power they need to succeed.

🚀 Ready to Participate?

If your nonprofit is ready to grow its volunteer base and gain more visibility, the Volunteer Houston Agency Spotlight is an excellent place to start — and it is completely free for approved partner agencies.

You can:

By participating in the Agency Spotlight, your organization can share its story, highlight urgent and ongoing volunteer needs, and connect with people who are eager to make a difference in Greater Houston.