Ask HN: Best ways to volunteer?

#1

Post by cachecrab » Fri, Dec 13, 2019, 5:08 PM UTC

What are some of the best ways to volunteer as someone working in tech? Many of us have valuable skills that we can put to use such as software engineering, data analysis, product management, project management, etc.

What are some of the best ways to use those skills to help out those in need?

Ideas that come to mind: * Contributing to civic tech projects * Contributing to open source projects * Helping out non-profits * Donating money made by using the aforementioned skills

Which methods of volunteering or giving back do you think are most effective?

Re: Ask HN: Best ways to volunteer?

#2

Post by q3k » Fri, Dec 13, 2019, 5:32 PM UTC

Develop high-quality software and release it under AGPL3+ so that companies cannot make any profit off of it.

Re: Ask HN: Best ways to volunteer?

#3

Post by sohamsankaran » Fri, Dec 13, 2019, 5:32 PM UTC

Run for office and swell the (paltry) ranks of technically literate legislators.

Re: Ask HN: Best ways to volunteer?

#4

Post by war1025 » Fri, Dec 13, 2019, 5:33 PM UTC

I imagine a good place to start would be to directly contact some organizations whose missions you feel strongly about. Likely they have a good idea of what would be useful to them. From there you could branch into applying your skills to things they didn't realize were shortcomings.

Re: Ask HN: Best ways to volunteer?

#5

Post by DyslexicAtheist » Fri, Dec 13, 2019, 5:34 PM UTC

coincidentally I just saw this tweet by Katie Moussouris. It fits your requirement of someone working in tech:

> This organization @OSPASafeEscape helps victims of domestic abuse & they are looking for volunteers like @hexplates to help this important mission.

https://twitter.com/k8em0/status/1205519304046739456

Re: Ask HN: Best ways to volunteer?

#6

Post by erikig » Fri, Dec 13, 2019, 5:41 PM UTC

sohamsankaran wrote: post #3

Run for office and swell the (paltry) ranks of technically literate legislators.

I can't underscore how important this is, not just in the US and in developed countries but across the world. There are so many policy makers that are woefully under-informed or that operate under assumptions that are decades-old and a new crop of talent is required.

Re: Ask HN: Best ways to volunteer?

#7

Post by kevin_nisbet » Fri, Dec 13, 2019, 5:55 PM UTC

sohamsankaran wrote: post #3

Run for office and swell the (paltry) ranks of technically literate legislators.

There are also tons of lower level office that have a huge impact on individuals. I for example am on my condo board.

Re: Ask HN: Best ways to volunteer?

#8

Post by the_jeremy » Fri, Dec 13, 2019, 5:56 PM UTC

Depends on what your goals are. In terms of charities, the one I see most recommended by effective altruist communities is the Against Malaria Foundation[0,1].

[0]: https://www.givewell.org/charities/amf [1]: https://www.givingwhatwecan.org/charity/against-malaria-foun...

Re: Ask HN: Best ways to volunteer?

#9

Post by hprotagonist » Fri, Dec 13, 2019, 5:57 PM UTC

sohamsankaran wrote: post #3

Run for office and swell the (paltry) ranks of technically literate legislators.

My advisor (PhD EE MIT etc etc) was a town selectman for 30 years.

He didn't exactly enjoy it; he merely saw his skills as bringing an obligation to service along with them, and acted accordingly.

Never forgot that...

Re: Ask HN: Best ways to volunteer?

#10

Post by mayormcmatt » Fri, Dec 13, 2019, 6:00 PM UTC

Not sure where you live, but I was able to volunteer two years with the Code Nation organization, helping underserved students learn the basics of web development. https://codenation.org/

Some of the students were first-generation children of immigrants or came from neighborhoods with chronic poverty who never owned a computer and are now earning scholarships and pursuing CS degrees, so I felt we were making an direct impact.