Make a Difference: These 6 Work-at-Home Jobs Help Your Community
You don’t have to venture too far to make a real difference in your community.
You might not have to leave home at all, in fact. These six work-at-home jobs let you give back to the people and institutions who make your hometown special — and earn real money doing it.
Grant Writing for Nonprofits
If you have a way with words and don’t mind hewing to a tried-and-true formula, look for grant writing opportunities with nonprofits in your area. Many nonprofits rely on government and foundation grants for operating capital, and grant application deadlines are often tight, so they’re always looking for help.
Larger organizations may have multiple grant writers on staff; smaller groups tend to use contract or freelance grant writers. Whether you find remote employment with a big nonprofit or string together freelance gigs, take heart in the knowledge that your wordsmithing makes a difference.
“Instead of filling corporate pockets, you’ll be helping nonprofit organizations get the money they need for worthy projects like food pantries and youth programs,” writes Joan Axelrod-Contrada in The Writer.
Fundraising for Charities and Institutions
As an at-home fundraising distributor, you can help schools, churches, and other worthy organizations raise money to fund programs that benefit the broader community. In exchange, you’ll earn commissions when the client organizations use your fundraising products.
The experts at ABC Fundraising indicate that motivated, well-organized at-home fundraising distributors can earn as much as $5,000 per month. The exact earning potential depends on their clients’ fundraising totals. Still, with no travel or storage required, at-home fundraisers have very low overhead.
Digital Marketing for Social Enterprises
Plenty of digital marketing specialists work from home. If you’re serious about doing right by your community, consider setting up a boutique operation specifically for social enterprises and nonprofits in your neck of the woods. Word-of-mouth marketing should be effective for truly localized operations.
Social Enterprise Consulting
Upstart social enterprises need guidance to navigate the complexities of certification and regulatory compliance. Particularly fruitful areas for social enterprise consultants include triple bottom line alignment and Benefit Corporation certification (or its analogues). If you’re comfortable with these topics, you can make a real difference in the lives and livelihoods of social entrepreneurs near you.
Medical Transcription
Medical transcriptionists create accurate written records of spoken notes and conversations that medical professionals don’t have time to commit to writing on their own. It’s not a glamorous job, but it’s absolutely necessary for healthcare delivery. You never know when you’ll rely (knowingly or not) on the services of an at-home medical transcriptionist.
Tutoring and Mentoring
Online platforms like Chegg connect students and lifelong learners with remote tutors versed in specific subjects. If you have a passion for algebra, or chemistry, or foreign languages, you can earn real money. Up to $20 per hour or more — as a tutor. All you need is a webcam, microphone, a reliable Internet connection, and a passion for teaching.
Pick Your Passion
If you’re not passionate about any of the at-home jobs on this list, don’t lose hope. There are plenty of worthy, potentially lucrative pursuits out there that offer tangible benefits for your friends and neighbors. Your options are limited only by your skills and creativity.