Each year, LA2050 gives $1 million to nonprofits and other social impact organizations making Los Angeles better through the LA2050 Grants Challenge. Angelenos determine the issue areas that will receive funding – from homelessness and income inequality to park access – through voting. Voting takes place on LA2050.org from April 2nd to May 8th, and is open to all ages and available in 10 languages.

This year, LA2050 is partnering with 24 organizations to host a range of impactful volunteer activations across the LA region. You can clean up a local beach, help a former foster youth move into their first home, assemble lunches for those in need, beautify an elementary school garden, and much, much more!

🌟Previous volunteer activations

Support Second Chances with Defy Ventures

April 3rd | 6:15 pm to 8:00 pm

Virtual

Defy Ventures mission is to shift mindsets to give people with criminal histories their best shot at a second chance. You are invited to support Defy’s Entrepreneurs in Training (EITs) during a dynamic Business Coaching Night. The event is a cornerstone of a 17-week bootcamp designed to equip EITs with the skills to launch successful businesses. Volunteers will provide invaluable guidance in business planning, strategy, and execution, preparing EITs for their pitch showcase and graduation. This opportunity is perfect for business professionals and entrepreneurs. Your expertise could be the catalyst for someone's success.

Amplify Access to Tech Jobs with LA-Tech.org

April 1st, 3rd, 5th | One-hour time slots from 9:00 am to 6:00 pm

April 2nd, 4th | One-hour time slots from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm

Virtual

LA-Tech.org is looking for volunteers to conduct mock interviews for its Spring LA Tech IT Career Academy, in partnership with Microsoft. During the mock interviews, volunteers will ask scholars questions that simulate real tech interviews and provide feedback at the end. There are different time slots available to best fit your schedule. LA-Tech.org will provide all materials and instructions. All you have to do is show up, and share your knowledge with these future leaders of tech!

Celebrate Invention at the LA Maker Faire with Los Angeles Public Library

April 5th | 2:00 pm to 7:00 pm

or April 6th | 7:00 am 7:00 pm

Los Angeles State Historic Park in DTLA

The Los Angeles Maker Faire, hosted in partnership with City of STEM, is a one-day festival at Los Angeles State Historic Park featuring over 180 booths and exhibitions hosted by inventors, tech and STEM professionals, artisans, and DIY creatives. Volunteers are invited to support the LA Maker Faire Pre-Event (Friday, April 5th) and the main LA Maker Faire event (Saturday, April 6th). Together, you will inspire 12,000 Angelenos to celebrate invention, creativity, curiosity, tinkering, and hands-on learning!

Join “Salvia Mi Tierra” with North East Trees, Inc.

April 6th | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

North East Trees’ Hyperlocal Native Plant Nursery in El Sereno

This Earth Month, you are invited to immerse yourself in the intricacies of our living systems through hands-on participation at North East Trees’ Hyperlocal Native Plant Nursery at Ascot Hills Park. Volunteers can participate in several activities – including native habitat restoration (planting trees and plants), native plant propagation, invasive plant management, nature-based arts and crafts, and more!

Create New Home Kits for the Formerly Unhoused with L.A. Works

April 13th | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Los Angeles River Center and Gardens in Cypress Park

Volunteers of all ages will work together to create 300 to 400 personalized New Home Kits for formerly unhoused individuals – including former foster youth and families with children – that are moving into new, permanent housing. The New Home Kits contain essential household items and come in a reusable canvas tote decorated by a volunteer, along with a handwritten note of congratulations and support.

Bring Free Intergenerational Music to Communities with Heart of Los Angeles

April 13th | 10:30 am to 5:30 pm

Aratani Theater in Little Tokyo

Heart of LA’s Eisner Intergenerational Music brings together singers, big band, and orchestral musicians of all ages and skill levels in a multicultural environment. At this event, the orchestra is offering a free performance of Romeo + Juliet. Volunteers will help make this wonderful event possible by participating in set up, passing out programs, serving as ushers, and distributing food during the reception.

Unleash Your Inner Artist for May Day with CHIRLA

April 17th | 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm

CHIRLA’s Headquarters in Pico Union

Volunteers are needed to help paint 250 creative posters for CHIRLA members, including mixed-status immigrants and low-wage workers, to carry in the 2024 May Day March! Your brushstrokes will make a powerful statement as thousands take to the streets to champion labor, housing, and immigration rights.

Restore Native Habitat with Friends of the Los Angeles River

April 20th | 8:00 am to 12:00 pm

Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve in Van Nuys

Make a hands-on impact on local LA habitats at FoLAR’s Earth Day Habitat Restore & Renew on Saturday, April 20th, where you’ll join hundreds of volunteers at the Sepulveda Basin Wildlife Reserve for a morning of habitat restoration, learning about the impact of invasive species, and a nature walk along the Reserve with binoculars provided for bird-watching!

Get Your Hands Dirty with the Garden School Foundation

April 20th | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

24th Street Elementary School in West Adams

Volunteers are invited to Community Garden Day at 24th Street Elementary School. You will do the important work of keeping the garden safe and edible for our students by pruning, bed clearing, planting new seedlings, sheet mulching to maintain pathways and preserve soil health, and more! No experience is necessary and tools will be provided.

Splash into Action this Earth Day with Cabrillo Marine Aquarium!

April 20th | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium in San Pedro

Volunteers are needed to clean the shores of Cabrillo Beach – because every piece of trash that is picked up from the beach is one less piece of trash in the ocean. In addition to directly helping our local environment, you will also have the opportunity to learn about the impacts of microplastics on ocean animals. Plus, the first 100 volunteers who collect a bucket of trash will receive a free water bottle made from recycled ocean-bound plastic.

Support Inclusive Play for All Abilities with Inclusion Matters by Shane’s Inspiration

April 20th | 9:30 am to 1:30 pm

Maple Park Inclusive Playground in Glendale

My PlayClub is a free, bi-monthly program that brings children of all abilities together for a playdate at anInclusion Matters by Shane’s Inspiration inclusive playgrounds. Volunteers will assist with set up, check in, and teardown, as well as operating different activity stations such as face painting, crafts, snacks, and a reading nook. Some children with disabilities will also need volunteers to be their buddy and guide them around the activities.

Beautify the Los Angeles Coastline with Heal the Bay!

April 20th | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Santa Monica State Beach

Volunteers will rid the beach of ocean-bound trash, including dozens of forms of harmful plastic pollution. Supplies are provided for the first 300 volunteers, though all are encouraged to bring their own reusable buckets and gloves. Your efforts will not only beautify the coastline, but will also help Heal the Bay collect trash data needed to inform policy change.

Double the Sustainable Harvest at Lopez Urban Farm

April 20th | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

Lopez Urban Farm in Pomona

Lopez Urban Farm invites you to help double last year’s harvest, an impressive 100,000 pounds of food! Volunteers will learn about sustainable gardening and help transform the beds for spring planting, engage in the hands-on process of planting seeds, contribute to the health of the soil through mulching, and participate in a community art project. Plus, volunteers will enjoy a farm-fresh picnic lunch!

Support Free Community Arts with Bob Baker Marionette Theater

April 21st | 6:00 am to 8:00 pm

Los Angeles State Historic Park in DTLA

Get ready to join the party at Bob Baker Day at Los Angeles State Historic Park – where magic comes to life and volunteers make it happen! This free, day-long community festival celebrates the magic of puppetry, performance, and creativity. Volunteers will help to set up booths and signage, host informational booths and art activities, assist with talent and partner check-ins, and more.

Transform Venice Blvd. into a Pop-Up Park for the Day with CicLAvia

April 21st | 8:30 am to 4:30 pm

Venice Blvd.

Volunteers, are you ready to roll? CicLAvia, an established leader in the open streets movement, is taking over 5.75 miles of Venice Boulevard for a day of fun! Both individuals and groups are needed as volunteers to assist traffic control teams, support event hubs, and answer questions from the public.

Craft Animal Enrichment Items with the Los Angeles Zoo

April 22nd | 9:00 am to 12:00 pm

The Los Angeles Zoo in Griffith Park

Volunteers will have a unique opportunity to create engaging enrichment items for the animals of the Los Angeles Zoo. Enrichment supports animals’ physical and mental wellbeing. The fun doesn’t stop there: You’ll also be treated to a keeper talk and will be able explore the Zoo once the volunteer activities have concluded.

Help Our Unhoused Neighbors with Inner City Law Center

April 24th | 10:00 am to 2:00 pm

Inner City Law Center parking lot

You are invited to volunteer at Skid Row Community Connect Day, a collaborative event between Inner City Law Center and its community partners. The event provides a range of free services for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness who live in the Skid Row neighborhood, including legal advice, medical screenings, job training, mental health services, and more. Volunteers will help with set up and teardown, event navigation, food service, and more.

Help Provide Free Dental and Vision Care with Healing California

April 27th | 8:00 am to 4:00 pm

South LA

You are invited to help Healing California host a pop-up clinic to provide completely free, high-quality dental and vision care to those unable to access care any other way. Licensed and insured healthcare professionals will be providing immediate treatment; general volunteers can help with registration, patient navigation, check out, collecting testimonials, and other logistic duties.

Earth Day Community Habitat Restoration with Friends of Ballona Wetlands

April 27th | 9:30 am to 12:00 pm

Ballona Wetland Ecological Reserve in Playa del Rey

Friends of Ballona Wetlands is looking for volunteers to serve as environmental stewards for a day. Participants will pick up trash along Ballona Creek, remove non-native vegetation, and plant native plants. You will also learn the value of native plants and how your volunteering helps to restore the wetland’s important ecosystems.

Help Older Adults Use Technology with Pasadena Village

April 27th | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

The Shakespeare Club in Pasadena

Join Pasadena Village in supporting the independence of older adults and helping them use technology more effectively. Older adults are invited to bring their phones, tablets, and laptops for free IT assistance. You can be there to welcome them and offer free refreshments, or to help them learn to get the most out of their devices. You don't need to be an expert, just the know-how and willingness to learn together!

Pack Lunches for Neighbors in Need with #HashtagLunchbag!

April 27th | 10:00 am to 12:00 pm

Hollywood

You are invited to join #HashtagLunchbag to party with a purpose! Together, volunteers will prepare and assemble 1,000 meals and write 1,000 love notes for neighbors in need. The completed lunch bags will be distributed that afternoon by #HashtagLunchbag and its community partners (not volunteers).

Support New and Expecting Mothers with Para Los Niños

April 27th | 10:00 am to 3:00 pm

Para Los Niños Elementary School in Central LA

Join Para Los Niños for a "baby shower drive" to support new and expecting mothers with essential supplies. The drive will collect items crucial for newborns and infants – including diapers, wipes, baby clothes, blankets, bottles, pacifiers, and hygiene products – at a convenient drop-off location. You can drive and drop, or park and get to know more about their impact. Staff can also provide in-kind tax receipts if desired.

Furnish a Former Foster Youth’s First Home with A Sense of Home

April 27th | 11:00 am to 1:00 pm

South LA

Volunteers are invited to help transform empty, unworkable living spaces into functional, comforting homes through A Sense of Home’s Home Creations program for transition-aged foster youth. You will help install appliances, furniture, and homewares from the organization’s donations and decorate, making the new homes warm and welcoming for the new residents!

Build Homes and Dreams with Habitat LA

May 4th | 8:00 am to 3:30 pm

Habitat LA’s Lancaster and Holmes developments

Volunteers will participate in a Build Day on the construction site which could include painting, building fences, installing drywall, landscaping, or framing. All capability levels are welcome to volunteer - no prior experience with construction or tools is necessary. Volunteers must be aged 16 or older. You will not only learn new skills through building with Habitat LA, but also contribute to fulfilling the dream of homeownership for its partner families.