Accepting Your Time with a Non-Profit as Payment!
If you’re willing to take 4 hours out of your busy schedule to volunteer for a worthy cause, we feel you deserve a float!
4 hours +
of your time
Non-Profit =
selected from our approved list below
1 Float
max of 2 floats per month
How to Participate
- View our list of NPO partners (located further down on this page).
- Reach out to the organization directly to begin volunteering.
- Once you have completed at least 4 hours of volunteer work, report your hours using the volunteer form below.
- Our volunteer coordinator will issue float credits directly to your Float On account. Please allow up to two weeks for credits to be added.
- You can begin using your float credits to book floats!
Record your hours here to receive floats
Volunteer FAQ
When will I receive my float credits?
Please allow up to two weeks to receive float credits earned through the volunteer program.
Our volunteer program coordinator manually reviews each form submission and allocates float credits based on the information provided.
How will I receive my float credits?
If you have never been to Float On before and do not have an account with us: You will receive your first float credit in the form of a gift card. You will be prompted to create an account when you schedule your float.
If you already have a Float On account: you will receive float credits directly to your account.
How many floats can I earn?
Volunteers can earn a maximum of 2 float credits each calendar month.
- 4 hours of volunteer work (within one calendar month) = 1 float
- 8 or more hours of volunteer work (within one calendar month) = 2 floats
Do my credits expire?
Float credits earned through our volunteer program will remain usable on your account for 3 years before expiring.
However, we do cap the number of volunteer float credits stored on each account at 10 – so be sure to use those credits!
How often should I record my hours?
Please fill out our online form once you have volunteered at least 4 hours.
You will need to fill out the form every month you volunteer to continue earning floats.
Can I gift my float credits?
Yes, absolutely! To do this, you have a couple of options: Either book a float for your guest using your own account, or ask our staff to convert your volunteer credit into a gift card.
Volunteer at One of These Partner Organizations
SOLVE
Website: solveoregon.org
Volunteer Contact: Call Kaleen Boyle at 503-844-9571 ext. 332
Description:
Our Mission Is Simple. Bring Oregonians together to improve our environment and build a legacy of stewardship. SOLVE is a non-profit organization that brings together individuals, business groups, and service and conservation groups through volunteering and education to restore our natural spaces and take good care of this great state of which we are all so proud.
Types of work:
SOLVE projects involve hands-on outdoor work focused on cleaning up litter, removing invasive plants, planting native trees and shrubs and restoration work to improve local natural habitats. Each event on our calendar includes specific details and registration information. All tools are provided, no experience is needed, and most projects are open to all ages!
Cupcake Girls
Website: thecupcakegirls.o
Volunteer Landing page: https://thecupcakegirls.org/volunteer/
Description:
Why Cupcakes?
Why is an organization that specializes in supporting adult entertainers, and connecting them to community resources, named after a baked good? Their name grew its roots when our founder, Joy Hoover, began visiting clubs in Las Vegas, toting a box of pink cupcakes. These pastries were an icebreaker and conversation starter when offered to entertainers. After being repeatedly referenced as “The Cupcake Girls” during a club visit, they adopted it as their organization’s formal name. Cupcakes continue to be a symbol for their organization, and they consistently have a presence during club and brothel visits, adult industry events, as well as at each of their fundraisers.
Meals on Wheels People
Website: mowp.org
Contact for Volunteering: Robin Gao – 503-953-8146
Description:
Meals on Wheels People Belmont Center serves hot, nutritious meals at the dining center in SE 46th and Belmont.
The cost of each meal is $7.39 and diners over the age of 60 can contribute what they can afford.
For seniors who cannot get out, call 503-953-8111 to see if home-delivered meals are the right option.
Type of Work:
Meal delivery: It takes 1.5 hours to complete a route. You can do it weekly or be on-call.
Kitchen helper: Food preparation, serve lunch, and cleaning up.
Village Gardens
To volunteer email: vgardens@janusyouth.org
Description:
Village Gardens exists because everyone has a right to live in safe and thriving neighborhoods with access to good food. Village Gardens leverages food to build power alongside youth and adult Community Leaders in New Columbia, Oregon’s largest affordable housing neighborhood. Village Gardens initiatives include community gardens cared for by over 70 households, a community orchard with over 50 fruit trees, a youth leadership program and a neighborhood grocery store where Good Food is affordable and accessible. Volunteers help with monthly garden and orchard work parties, support the market by displaying produce and maintaining a clean and welcoming store, and help in the office with storytelling and design work.
We also host a monthly volunteer orientation to support new volunteers. This is a great opportunity for volunteers to learn about our programs, volunteer opportunities and the context of our work and partnership with the community. We host an orientation on the 4th Wednesday of each month (You can register at this link)
Depave
Website: depave.org
Volunteer Landing page: http://depave.org/work/greenspaces/
Description:
We implement projects and advocate for urban green spaces that reduce stormwater pollution and improve water quality; foster native habitats; cool our cities and mitigate the impacts of climate change; and create neighborhood spaces that are safe, engaging and beautiful. The changes we catalyze create thriving living spaces that inspire environmental and human connection.
Types of work:
Depave Crew Leaders
Depave Ambassadors
Depave Green Thumbs
Friends of Trees
Website: friendsoftrees.org
Volunteer Events page: friendsoftrees.org/calendar/calendar-portland-vancouver
Email for Volunteering: volunteer@friendsoftrees.org
Description:
Today, Friends of Trees is a nationally recognized, regional leader in improving the urban tree canopy and restoring sensitive natural areas—through programs delivered by thousands of volunteers. Friends of Trees greens our region while building community.
Types of work:
Tree Callers
Neighborhood Coordinators
Saturday Planting Volunteers
Friends of the Columbia River Gorge
Website: gorgefriends.org
Volunteer Landing page: gorgefriends.org/ways-to-give/volunteer-with-friends-of-the-columbia-gorge.html
Email for Volunteering: Maegan Jossy, Outreach Manager – maegan@gorgefriends.org
Description:
Friends of the Columbia Gorge is the only non-profit organization dedicated entirely to ensuring that the beautiful and wild Columbia Gorge remains a place apart, an unspoiled treasure for generations to come.
Types of work:
Join a stewardship work party
Lead or shepherd a hike or outing
Help out with office projects
Supervise an information table at a community event
Participate in a hearing, rally or phone bank
Urban Nature Partners
Website: http://urban-nature-partners.o
Volunteer information page: http://urban-nature-partners.o
Email for Volunteering: urbannaturepartnerspdx@gmail.c
Description:
Urban Nature Partners PDX empowers youth from underserved Portland neighborhoods beginning in 4th grade through building long term mentoring relationships and providing access to meaningful outdoor experiences. Our program provides a tiered set of experiences designed to build comfort and belonging, outdoor knowledge and competencies, and leadership potential as youth grow. Our foundation is weekly one-on-one mentor-youth outings in neighborhood green spaces. These are then complemented by family inclusive group outings, scholarships to nature based camps, and leadership opportunities guided by their interests and strengths.
Types of work:
Administrative Committee
Program Intern
Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East
Website: http://habitatportlandmetro.org
Volunteer Events Page: http://pdxhabitat.volunteerhub.com
Volunteer Contact: Marianne McClure, Manager of Volunteer Programs— marianne@habitatportlandmetro.org
Description:
At Habitat for Humanity Portland/Metro East, our vision is a world where everyone has a decent place to live. We revitalize neighborhoods, build affordable and sustainable homes, and empower families through successful homeownership in the Portland area. By providing a hand up, not a handout, our program prepares and empowers those we serve.
Types of work:
Building dreams takes lots of behind-the-scenes work and we need volunteers year-round. Most of our volunteer opportunities are on the construction site, where volunteers can do anything from framing and raising walls to interior finish work like painting. No experience is necessary—we provide task-specific training each day! Come lend a hand, learn a new skill, and help make the dream of homeownership a reality for a local family.
Repair PDX
Website: http://repairpdx.org/
Volunteer Contact: Lauren — repairpdx@gmail.com
Description:
The mission of Repair PDX is to spread repair culture. Our goal is to value the materials we have around us, and help others do the same. We do that by bringing volunteers who like to fix things together with folks who need items fixed. Our organization hosts FREE monthly repair events called “Repair Cafes, which are festive events where volunteers fix items for at no cost, as well as teach participants how to fix their own items. We partner with several venues around the Portland metro area in order to reach many different communities and we welcome anyone who loves to tinker, fix, build, repair, sew, mend, register folks and help coordinate our events!
Types of work:
Rose City Rollers
Website: rosecityrollers.com
Contact volunteer@rosecityrollers.com, or for on-site volunteering contact boutvolunteers@
Description:
The Rose City Rollers are Portland, Oregon’s all-female flat track roller derby league. The Rose City Rollers mission is to serve women and girls who want to play the team sport of roller derby, connect with an inclusive community, and realize their power both on skates and off.
As pioneers in the rebirth of roller derby, RCR continues to foster its growth. The league’s goals are to serve our community by empowering women and girls, providing entertainment for our fans and supporting charitable causes. (We are a 501(c)(3) non-profit, formed in 2004, and a founding member of the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association) . . . and that’s just the beginning.
We have recently started a great program for our young skaters between ages 7 and 18. Families can borrow the equipment needed to skate and play roller derby, so the financial burden is no longer a barrier to low-income youth in Portland!
Types of work:
The Portland Animal Welfare Team (PAW Team)
Website: www.pawteam.org
Contact nicole@pawteam.org or visit www.pawteam.org/get-involved.
Description:
The Portland Animal Welfare Team (PAW Team) is a non-profit organization saves lives, alleviates suffering, and keeps pets and people together by providing free veterinary care to the pets of people experiencing houselessness or extreme poverty. Volunteers are the heart and soul of PAW Team. Without crucial help from our community of volunteers, we would not be able to provide vet care for the many pets that come through our doors each week. In 2018 alone, PAW Team provided veterinary care to over 1,600 pets in need in the Portland area.
There are many ways for volunteers to get involved at PAW Team, for those with both medical and non-medical backgrounds. We host monthly volunteer orientations (about 1 to 1.5 hours) where prospective volunteers learn about PAW Team’s history, our mission, and the variety of roles that volunteers can take on. To RSVP for an orientation, contact nicole@pawteam.org or visit www.pawteam.org/get-involved.
Medical Volunteering:
Actively certified veterinarians, CVTs, veterinary assistants, and those with animal-holding experience are always needed to for PAW Team weekday clinics and quarterly Sunday drop-in clinics.
Non-Medical Volunteering:
Supply Bank
We have a food and supply bank open to our clients Tuesday through Thursday from 10am-3pm. Volunteers are responsible for distributing food and supplies to our clients. This is a great way to get to know our clients one-on-one and directly help the community.
Office Help + Clinic Check-in
For those comfortable on a computer, we need volunteers checking clients in for appointments, making reminder calls for upcoming appointments, and assisting with a variety of on-going data entry projects.
Photography and Client Stories
Pictures are the best way to tell PAW Team’s story and we need as many pictures as we can get. We are also always in need or written stories about our clients and their pets. These volunteers spend some time with our clients while they wait for their clinic appointment and ask them a few questions about their pets and how they got to PAW Team.
Transportation
Our clients often struggle with reliable transportation. Therefore, we offer some transportation to/from appointments. Transportation is for pets only (not the people). Appointments are normally pick-up/drop-off without needing to stay for the duration of the appointment.
Cascadia Wild
Website: cascadiawild.org
Contact info@cascdiawild.org or visit http://www.cascadiawild.org/wolverine-tracking-project.html
Description:
Interested in volunteering?
Step 1: Read our website to learn more about the project and decide
which type of survey you are interested in helping out with:
http://www.cascadiawild.org/
Step 2: Sign up for the appropriate training session or email us your interest.
Q Center
Website: pdxqcenter.org/volunteer-1
Description:
We work to provide safe spaces, community building and empowerment for the positive transformation of LGBTQ2SIA+ communities and allies in the Pacific Northwest.As the largest LGBTQ+ community center in the Pacific Northwest, Q Center proudly serves the LGBTQ2SIA+ communities of Portland Metro and Southwest Washington. Our drop-in and event space on North Mississippi Avenue is a frequent first stop for new arrivals in Portland, and for longtime residents who are newly out or questioning their sexual or gender identity. Q Center also serves as an information hub for friends, partners, community, and family members of LGBTQ2SIA+ individuals. We pride ourselves on our collaborative approach and seek out ways to share resources with other nonprofits and public institutions locally and statewide.
The City Repair Project
Website: https://cityrepair.org/
Contact: volunteer@cityrepair.
Description:
IPRC
Website: https://www.iprc.org/
Description:
Portland Fruit Tree Project
Website: https://www.portlandfruit.org
Description:
More About our Volunteer Program
Why are we doing this?
One thing we’ve always believed at Float On is that if someone really wants to come in and float with us, they should be able to do it even if they can’t afford our prices. But we can’t just go giving away free floats to everyone willy nilly.
How does the program work?
We asked our team to come up with a list of their favorite non-profit organizations where people in the Portland area can volunteer. If you are interested in volunteering at one of these organizations, contact them through the info provided below, and let them know you are with the Float On Volunteer program.
Each time you volunteer 4 hours of work for one these organizations, fill out the form below. We will then verify your hours with your volunteer coordinator, and put a free 90 minute float credit on your account. You’ll receive an email notification when we have added the credit to your account, you can then call into the shop or log into your Float On account and schedule your session.
Which organizations qualify?
For starters, we’re partnering with local 501(c)(3) non-profit organizations that we personally support and believe do quality work in our lovely community. We’re always looking for new organizations to partner with. If you’re looking for an increase of wonderful, floaty volunteers, we will soon let you know how to be a part of our program. In the meantime, the above organizations will confirm your time with us in order to provide you with a float.
Would you like us to partner with your organization?
Obviously, we can’t accept everyone, but we do hold monthly team meetings and are always looking to build fun, new partnerships.
Fill out the information below and when we’re ready to expand this program, we’ll contact you!