Community Groups & Volunteering
Although Harvard can seem big, it's easier to connect with others here when you know that our people are at the center of everything we do. We are a community working to support one another's growth and wellbeing, with opportunities to pursue personal, social, and professional interests outside your daily work. Harvard is also a caring community, connected to the larger world around us, with ways to help you support causes that are important to you.
Finding community
The ABCD Committee is an informal association of IT managers, programmers, researchers, students, and faculty at Harvard and affiliated institutions.
The Analytics Staff Consortium connects professional staff from across Harvard who are analysts and whose work requires analytic expertise.
Crimson Toastmasters Club is the way to become a better speaker and meet others in the Harvard community with the same goals.
CrimsonZip is a mobile app that supports community at Harvard by making it easy to join groups, find events, and connect with people with similar interests on campus (protected by HarvardKey). Download at the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.
Harvard Recreation’s Club Program offers more than two dozen clubs ranging from Akido to handball to ultimate Frisbee. While clubs are student-run, in most cases employees are welcome to join.
Harvard Neighbors is a University-based volunteer and social organization that enriches the Harvard community through cultural and educational programs and events. Open to all members of the Harvard community and their spouses/partners.
Harvard Employees Parenting Children with Disabilities Group is an informal group where individuals can share stories, support, resources, etc. Email Melissa Maher for more information.
The Harvard-Radcliffe Chorus isn’t just for students – staff have been singing in the group since its inception in 1979. Auditions are in September, with limited openings every January.
Volunteering in the community
American Corporate Partners (ACP) is a one-on-one mentoring program where Harvard community members support post‑9/11 veterans, active-duty service members, and eligible military spouses with job search, career transition, and professional growth. Go to ACP Become a Mentor and use Harvard code HVDACP to apply. Contact Angie Boudreau to learn more about Harvard's ACP partnership.
Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University is one of the world's leading centers for the study of plants, located on 265 acres in Jamaica Plain. Volunteer positions include school guides, interpreters, and docents.
Arts Fest is an annual spring showcase of student, faculty, staff, and alumni creativity with many free performances and activities. Volunteers help set up, greet audiences, and keep venues running smoothly. To volunteer, complete this form.
Cambridge School Volunteers is a nonprofit partner of the Cambridge Public Schools that provides academic support to students in grades K to 12. Volunteer opportunities are available before, during, and after the school day.
Heat-N-Eats Program with Harvard Dining Services donates nutritious leftover meals from dining halls to Cambridge-based Food for Free. Teams of 5-7 people are invited to help any Wednesday. Come for lunch and then participate in the plate up.
East End House promotes the wellbeing, academic achievement, and transition to adulthood of children and youth from under-resourced families. Volunteers provide homework help, assist with enrichment activities, mentor middle- and high schoolers, spend time with senior citizens, and help in the food pantry.
The Family Van is an HMS-affiliated mobile health clinic that provides free health screenings, referrals. and counseling in Boston's underserved communities. Volunteers needed with a wide range of interests and backgrounds.
Fisher Museum at the Harvard Forest, located on 3,000 beautiful acres in Petersham, Mass., depends on committed volunteers to act as docents on weekends from May through October.
Harvard Bridge is a program for eligible employees to improve their computer and language skills and/or prepare for high school diploma and U. S. Citizenship tests. Volunteers tutor students or provide professional mentorship; email ohr_bridge@harvard.edu to learn more.
Harvard Museum of Natural History enhances public understanding and appreciation of the natural world, sparking a spirit of discovery in people of all ages. Volunteer Gallery Guides engage visitors through hands-on activities, reading, and other programs.
Host Program for International Students connects foreign graduate students with members of the Harvard community who want to extend a welcoming hand and help students get to know the area. (Students do not live with their hosts.)
The Peabody Museum of Archeology and Ethnology, part of the Harvard Museums of Science and Culture consortium, seeks people-oriented volunteers to help run hands-on programs for families and children using artifacts and craft materials.
McLean Hospital, the largest HMS psychiatric facility, offers inpatient and outpatient care for a full range of conditions. Volunteers work with patients or assist with research.
The Posse Foundation is a youth development and scholarship program for public high school students to prepare them for college and promote cross-cultural communication. Writing and career coaches are among several volunteer positions.
Employee Resources Groups
Harvard University's Employee Resource Groups (HarvardKey required) are voluntary organizations designed to foster a sense of community, belonging, acceptance, support, and collaboration among our staff and faculty. The ERGs, which are open to all, provide valuable networking and social opportunities for employees across campus. Please visit the links below for information on joining, events, and more!
The Association of Black Faculty, Administrators and Fellows (ABFAF) (HarvardKey required) strives to support Harvard’s Black community. ABFAF, which is open to everyone, including allies, fosters communication and interaction for members through seminars, discussion groups, and social gatherings.
The Harvard Asian Pacific Islander Desi Association of Faculty and Staff (HAPIDA) (HarvardKey required) promotes awareness and provides support for Asian, Asian American, and Pacific Islander faculty and staff. It also serves as a resource for the broader Asian and Asian American community at Harvard and their allies and supporters.
The Association of Harvard Latinx Faculty and Staff (AHLFS) (HarvardKey required) supports Latinx faculty and staff at Harvard and its affiliates and provide a channel of communication regarding issues impacting the community. Open to all faculty, administrators, fellows, and staff at all levels, AHLFS works to develop a nurturing and empowering community for Latinx employees.
The Association of LGBTQ+ Faculty and Staff (QERG) (HarvardKey required) is dedicated to ensuring that Harvard is a welcoming and inclusive environment for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer employees. QERG serves as a visible, accessible resource for LGBTQ+ employees and allies, offering recruitment, networking, and career development opportunities.
The Committee on the Concerns of Women (CCW) (HarvardKey required) is a University-wide group, open to all faculty and staff regardless of gender. CCW strives to improve the professional and academic experiences of women at Harvard and provide opportunities to learn and network on campus through an annual calendar of events.
The Harvard Jewish & Israeli Staff & Faculty Association (JISFA) (HarvardKey required) is dedicated to providing a supportive and safe space for members to build community and cultivate relationships across campus, explore Jewish and Israeli identities and interests, and engage in dialogue about issues related to our multifaceted experiences.
Harvard Ability Plus Association of Faculty and Staff (Ability Plus) (HarvardKey required) strives to cultivate an accessible, welcoming, and inclusive community for faculty and staff with disabilities. Ability Plus seeks to provide resources and uncover channels to advocacy, networking, and career development for its members, highlighting the strengths and diversity within disability community.
The Harvard Neurodiversity Association for Faculty and Staff (ND AFS) (HarvardKey required) fosters acceptance, inclusion, and belonging across the spectrum of the human mind, supporting and building community among faculty and staff who are autistic, have ADHD or a learning disability, experience anxiety or other brain/mind-related conditions, along with supporters.