International Forum for Volunteering in Development (Forum)

What International Forum for Volunteering in Development (Forum) does

The International Forum for Volunteering in Development (operating as the 'Forum' and rebranded in 2025 as the 'Global Volunteering Forum') is a Dublin-registered non-profit membership network founded in 1964 under the auspices of the Council of Europe and opened to global membership in 2000. Its membership comprises 40+ international volunteer-sending organisations, including major INGOs (VSO, Habitat for Humanity, AKLHÜ), government agencies (JICA, KOICA, Norec, Peace Corps), and country-level coalitions (CCC, YSS, Comhlámh), with an affiliated universe of 83 organisations and reach spanning 124 countries.

Forum's core assets are the Global Volunteering Standard framework — first launched in 2019 and updated to Version Three in 2025 — and the Global Volunteering Standard Platform, a free web-based portal launched alongside Version Two in 2021 that delivers a Self-Assessment Tool, Resource Library, and data visualisation. Supporting products include the Global Volunteering Standard Handbooks, a Forum Research Centre hosting decades of discussion papers and think pieces, and the IVCO Annual Conference (Forum's flagship convening). The Volunteer Groups Alliance, founded by Forum in 2013, provides advocacy access into the UN system. Infrastructure runs on standard web-portal and Microsoft Teams platforms.

Forum is resourced by annual membership subscriptions from member organisations supplemented by occasional project grants (notably UK aid and Government of Canada funding for the Standard Platform, and Comhlámh, Norec, and Volies funding for International Volunteer Year 2026 activities). Staffing is intentionally lean — a part-time Executive Director and an Operations Manager — with the broader governance and significant operational capacity delivered as voluntary contributions from member organisations. Distribution is primarily self-serve digital (the free Platform) plus membership-gated access to working groups, webinars, Heads of Agency meetings, and intergovernmental engagement.

Name

International Forum for Volunteering in Development (Forum)

Legal name

International Forum for Volunteering in Development

Website

https://forum-ids.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1964

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

The Global Volunteering Forum is a 1964-founded, Dublin-based non-profit network of 40+ international volunteer organisations across 124 countries. It convenes members via the annual IVCO conference, advocates through the UN-accessed Volunteer Groups Alliance, and maintains the Global Volunteering Standard Platform as its core digital asset.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Volunteering Development Network Services

NAICS

Business Associations (813910), Religious, Grantmaking, Civic, Professional, and Similar Organizations (813)

SIC

Services-Membership Organizations (8600)

akta.pro primary industry

Association & Society Conference Management (Nonprofit, Professional Bodies) (THAHACAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Interest-Based Communities & Forums (BPAMABAC)

Keywords

• Volunteering development network
• Global volunteering standards
• International volunteer cooperation
• Membership network organizations
• Volunteer sector convening

Headquarters

HQ city

Dublin

HQ country

Ireland

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Membership Subscriptions: Forum is primarily resourced by membership subscriptions from its member organizations. Subscriptions enable Forum to operate at a basic level with a part-time Executive Director and the capacity to organize the annual IVCO conference.
2. Occasional Grants: Forum receives occasional grants for specific projects and initiatives, such as the Global Volunteering Standard Platform (funded by UK aid and the Government of Canada), and project funding from Comhlámh, Norec (Norwegian Agency for Exchange Cooperation), and Volies for International Volunteer Year 2026 activities.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Forum operates a global membership network of organizations working through volunteers to achieve sustainable development. It delivers value through the Global Volunteering Standard framework and its accompanying free online Platform with a Self-Assessment Tool and Resource Library, the annual IVCO conference, working groups, research publications, and UN-level advocacy via the Volunteer Groups Alliance.

Product overview

Forum operates as a global network rather than a traditional SaaS company, offering the Global Volunteering Standard Platform as its primary digital product alongside the Global Volunteering Standard framework. The Platform includes a Self-Assessment Tool and Resource Library. Supporting offerings include the Global Volunteering Standard Handbooks, the IVCO Annual Conference series, the Forum Research Centre with research papers and discussion documents, the Volunteer Groups Alliance advocacy coalition, and the International Volunteer Year 2026 Initiative.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Volunteer Groups Alliance (VGA): A global coalition of organisations that contribute to sustainable development through volunteering, advocating for recognition of volunteerism in UN processes.
• Global Volunteering Standard
• Global Volunteering Standard Platform
• IVCO (International Volunteer Cooperation Organisations Conference)

Products and services

• Global Volunteering Standard Platform A free online portal providing practical tools, resources, and information to support volunteer-involving organizations on a journey of continuous learning and improvement, including a Self-Assessment Tool, Resource Library, and access to the Global Volunteering Standard in multiple languages. Targeted at volunteer-involving organizations in the development sector.
• Global Volunteering Standard A framework developed by the volunteering sector for the volunteering sector that sets out the collective understanding of good practice in volunteering for development, covering Planning and Designing, Duty of Care, Managing Volunteer Placements, and Debriefing and Evaluation.
• Global Volunteering Standard Handbooks Practical guides to assist volunteer-involving organizations with applying the Global Volunteering Standard, covering themes including Managing Volunteers (Recruitment, Selection, Preparation, Training, Placement, Support, Debriefing) and Designing and Delivering Projects.
• IVCO Annual Conference Forum's annual International Volunteer Cooperation Organisations Conference bringing together leaders of international volunteering agencies for dialogue on challenges and opportunities in volunteering for development. Hosted in different locations each year (Siem Reap 2025, Paris 2026, etc.).
• Forum Research Centre A collection of research papers, discussion papers, think pieces, and reports on volunteering for development topics including climate action, decolonization, COVID-19 impacts, and inclusive volunteering.
• International Volunteer Year 2026 Initiative A global initiative to highlight the role of volunteers in advancing sustainability, including the Call to Action for the Future of Volunteering and an Insights Paper based on nearly 14,000 volunteer voices across 164 countries.
• Volunteer Groups Alliance (VGA) A global coalition of organizations that contribute to sustainable development through volunteering, advocating for volunteer recognition in the Sustainable Development Goals and UN processes.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 10,000 people from 163 countries engaged in Forum-coordinated global consultations for the Call to Action for the Future of Volunteering.
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers16 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

14 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• France VolontairesflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026France Volontaires and Forum are jointly hosting IVCO 2026 in Paris, France (19-23 October 2026) at the Agence Française de Développement (AFD). Theme: 'Global Volunteering through Mutual Exchange and Partnerships: An Essential Force for Sustainable Development'.
• United Nations Volunteer Programme (UNV)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026UNV supports the Volunteer Groups Alliance, facilitating engagement to help ensure the importance of volunteerism is recognised in the implementation of the SDGs. UNV is also a VGA member.
• Cooperation Committee for Cambodia (CCC)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 September 2025CCC co-hosted IVCO 2025 with Forum in Siem Reap, Cambodia (14-18 September 2025). IVCO 2025 focused on 'Strengthening Civil Society in Challenging Times' and was an opportunity for global networking, knowledge exchange, and alliance-building among volunteering organisations.
• Australia Vols International (AVI)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 September 2025AVI supported IVCO 2025 as a partner alongside co-hosts CCC and Forum, and France Volontaires and VSO Cambodia.
• France VolontairescoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 September 2025France Volontaires partnered with Forum for IVCO 2025 and is the designated co-host for IVCO 2026 in Paris.
• VSO CambodiaminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 14 September 2025VSO Cambodia provided support partnership for IVCO 2025 in Siem Reap.
• ComhlámhflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 September 2024Comhlámh (Irish Association of International Development Workers and Volunteers) co-hosted IVCO 2024 with Forum in Newcastle upon Tyne, UK (9-13 September 2024). This was the first time an academic institution (Northumbria University) co-hosted IVCO alongside Comhlámh.
• Northumbria UniversityflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 9 September 2024Northumbria University was the first academic institution to host the IVCO conference, providing the venue at its Newcastle City Campus for IVCO 2024.
• IAVE (International Association for Volunteer Effort)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024IAVE co-created the Call to Action for the Future of Volunteering alongside Forum, IFRC, UNICEF Generation Unlimited, and the Volunteer Groups Alliance, as part of preparations for the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development 2026.
• IFRC (International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024IFRC co-created the Call to Action for the Future of Volunteering alongside Forum, IAVE, UNICEF Generation Unlimited, and the Volunteer Groups Alliance, contributing to the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development 2026 agenda.
• UNICEF Generation UnlimitedflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024UNICEF Generation Unlimited co-created the Call to Action for the Future of Volunteering alongside Forum, IAVE, IFRC, and the Volunteer Groups Alliance, contributing to the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development 2026.
• Yayasan Sukarelawan Siswa (YSS)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 22 October 2023YSS co-hosted IVCO 2023 with Forum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (22-26 October 2023), with support from the Malaysian Government. Theme: 'A New Generation of Volunteers as Changemakers' with focus on youth.
• Northumbria University Centre for Global DevelopmentcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2023Forum collaborates with Northumbria University Centre for Global Development on a PhD exploring the impact of the COVID pandemic on volunteering organisations. The RPPL Group also hosts monthly research presentations involving academic contributors.
• Volunteer Groups Alliance (VGA)flagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2013Forum founded the Volunteer Groups Alliance in 2013 following a UNV stakeholder meeting and the IVCO Conference. VGA is a global coalition advocating for volunteer support and recognition in the SDGs and UN processes. Co-chaired by Mei Cobb (United Way Worldwide) and Kadi Julia Jumu-Peters (UNDP/VIONet), with a Coordinator (David Styers) based in New York.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Emerging players

• DoSomething.org: Digital-first nonprofit mobilising young people in volunteer and social action campaigns. Comparable in driving volunteer engagement through digital channels, though focused on youth and US-centric campaigns rather than international development.
• International Civil Society Centre: Network supporting the operational effectiveness of major international civil society organisations. Comparable as a small infrastructure/network body serving INGOs with convening and standards-type functions, though without a specific volunteering focus.

Direct peers

• IAVE (International Association for Volunteer Effort): Global membership association promoting volunteering worldwide; co-created the Call to Action for the Future of Volunteering with Forum. Directly comparable as a membership-based global network serving the volunteer sector, with overlapping members and advocacy goals.
• NCVO (National Council for Voluntary Organisations): UK membership body for the voluntary sector, providing infrastructure, research, and advocacy for charities and nonprofits. Comparable as a membership-based infrastructure body for the volunteer/nonprofit sector, with analogous convening, standards, and policy functions at national scope.
• VolunteerMatch: Online platform connecting volunteers with nonprofit opportunities; shares Forum's interest in growing volunteer engagement through digital infrastructure. Comparable as a volunteer-sector platform, though primarily US-focused and consumer-volunteer oriented.
• VSO (Voluntary Service Overseas): International development organisation fighting poverty through volunteers; a Forum member. Comparable as a peer member organisation in the same sector, sharing the volunteer-involving development mission that Forum convenes around.

Broad incumbents

• Points of Light: Largest volunteer engagement organisation in the United States, operating a global network and digital platform. Comparable as a global volunteer-network incumbent with broader portfolio spanning civic engagement, corporate volunteering, and disaster response.
• United Nations Volunteers (UNV): UN programme supporting volunteerism globally with substantial budget and direct UN integration. Comparable as a global volunteer-sector convener but operates at much larger scale and with a broader mandate spanning all forms of volunteering.
• United Way Worldwide: Global philanthropic and volunteer mobilisation network operating in 40+ countries; co-chairs Forum's Volunteer Groups Alliance. Comparable as a global network advancing community impact through volunteer engagement and philanthropy, but with a federated fundraising model.

Others

• IFRC (International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies): World's largest volunteer network (over 14 million volunteers) operating in humanitarian and development contexts. Comparable as a partner on the Call to Action and as a major volunteer-involving organisation in Forum's ecosystem, though substantially larger and not a direct competitor.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks7 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/channel/UCRUDRND2-dDSTSQCmkALSCw
• Facebookfacebook.com/International-Forum-for-Volunteering-in-Development-Forum-108283758073656
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/international-forum-for-volunteering-in-development

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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Frequently asked questions about International Forum for Volunteering in Development (Forum)