135+ million
make less than the cost of living
$140 billion
in assistance goes
unclaimed every year
The problem
A broken information gap in the safety net
To address this, Jinship is launching the
Data Commons initiative
a structured volunteer effort to rebuild the foundation of social service information.
The initiative
Building an accurate map of local services
Those involved in the Jinship Data Commons effort will help build a more accurate, up-to-date map of local nonprofit services by gathering and verifying key information about organizations in their community.
This includes details such as programs offered, eligibility requirements, hours of operation, contact information, and how to access services.
When resource data is outdated or incomplete, people in urgent situations face unnecessary delays and dead ends. By improving the quality of this information, volunteers directly help individuals and families find support faster and reduce barriers to accessing essential services.
What you'll do
Your role as a Data Commons volunteer
Volunteers reach out to nonprofits and organize information using a standardized format, building the infrastructure eliminates the distance between needing help and getting it.
Verify organizational information
Confirm programs, eligibility criteria, and operating details are current and accurate.
Structure using HSDS
Organize w/ the Human Services Data Specification: a national standard for social services.
Meet structured goals
Clear weekly targets — update a set number of organizations with guidance from the Jinship team.
Outreach
Reach out via phone, email, and LinkedIn to learn about your community's humanitarian efforts.
What you'll gain
Real skills. Real impact.
Along the way, you'll gain a firsthand understanding of how the social safety net operates — and the skills to navigate it.
Firsthand exposure to how the humanitarian and social safety net operates in your community
Communication & research skills — conducting outreach, synthesizing information, and working with standards
Understanding of systemic inequities in access to care and the structures shaping them
Contribute to broader change — your work feeds directly into tools used by nonprofits, governments, and policymakers
The commitment
Flexible, structured, meaningful
This role is ideal for students looking for meaningful, community-based volunteering that creates real, tangible impact.
~6hrs
Verify organizational information
A few hours of focused work — on your schedule, with clear weekly goals.
1:1
Ongoing support
Guidance from the Jinship team on how to collect, verify, and structure information + communication skills
∞
Real impact
Every organization updated means faster support for someone in a critical moment.
Who's this for?
Ready to fix inequity?
Email us at hello@jinship.com