How to Volunteer or Fundraise with the American Cancer Society

You can get involved through cancer.org in two main ways: volunteering your time or raising and donating money. The site's top navigation includes Volunteer and Fundraise and Give links, plus an In Honor & Memorial Donate option for tribute gifts. The American Cancer Society (ACS) states these efforts support its research, patient services, early detection, and education work. The site does not publish specific volunteer time commitments, fundraising minimums, or fee requirements, so treat those details as things to confirm with ACS directly.

Start at the Right Entry Points

The homepage navigation is the most reliable map of what ACS offers. Relevant links include:

• Volunteer and Fundraise — the main doorway for people who want to give time or organize fundraising.
• Give — general donation entry.
• In Honor & Memorial Donate — donations made in someone's name or memory.
• Contact Us / 800.227.2345 — a phone line for questions, including about getting involved.

If you are unsure which path fits you, call the number listed on the site rather than guessing at a form or program.

Volunteering: What the Site Signals

The site lists Volunteer and Fundraise as a top-level section, which indicates ACS treats volunteering as a core program area rather than a side page. The homepage also references Overall Impact of the American Cancer Society, framing volunteer and donor contributions as part of measurable progress against cancer.

What the available page content does not specify: volunteer roles, screening or training requirements, time commitments, or age limits. Before committing, use the Contact Us line or the Volunteer and Fundraise section to ask:

1. What roles are open in my area or remotely?
2. Is there an application, orientation, or background check?
3. What time commitment should I plan for?

Fundraising and Donating

The site separates giving money from raising money:

The site does not list payment platforms, minimum gift amounts, or whether online giving requires an account. Confirm those details on the donation page itself before you rely on them.

Community Events and Programs

The homepage highlights concrete services that donations and volunteers support, including:

• Road To Recovery — free rides to treatment
• Free lodging during treatment
• ACS CARES™ — support for people facing cancer
• Free smoking cessation support
• 24/7 Cancer Helpline at 1-800-227-2345

These programs are a useful starting point for fundraising pitches: they show donors and volunteers where effort goes. For example, if you are organizing a workplace fundraiser, you can point to transportation and lodging support as direct, tangible outcomes rather than abstract research goals.

Where Your Effort Goes

ACS describes its mission as ending cancer "as we know it," with work spanning research, patient services, early detection, treatment information, and education. The homepage's Overall Impact section is the place to check for how the organization frames results. When you volunteer or fundraise, you are contributing to that stated mix — but the site does not break down dollar allocation on the pages reviewed here, so avoid quoting percentages you have not verified.

Practical Next Steps

1. Open cancer.org and use the Volunteer and Fundraise link to see current opportunities.
2. For a tribute gift, use In Honor & Memorial Donate; for a direct gift, use Give.
3. Call 1-800-227-2345 to ask about local volunteer roles, event toolkits, or fundraising rules.
4. If you plan a community fundraiser, ask ACS first whether your event needs approval or branding permission — the site does not state this, so confirm before promoting it.

The main caution: this site is a broad portal, and the specific mechanics of volunteering and fundraising (forms, eligibility, deadlines) live behind its program pages or with staff. Use the phone line and the Volunteer and Fundraise section as your source of truth rather than assuming standard terms.