Make helping easy
We built Civic Spark because wanting to help should never mean wading through forms.
Why we exist
In 2019, three friends in Austin tried to volunteer for a weekend and gave up after six unanswered emails. They built a simple page that listed open shifts from a handful of nonprofits, and shared it on Reddit.
Within a month, 400 people had signed up. Today Civic Spark is a free platform used by 120 organizations, and we sit at the center of how Austin volunteers.
We are still a small team. We ship quickly, listen carefully and measure success in hours served.
How we build
Simple wins
If it takes more than two taps, we rethink it.
Show up
Reminders and follow-ups keep volunteers coming back.
Nonprofits first
Free tools, honest data, no ads.
Make it local
Every shift has a name, a place and a person to thank you.
How we got here
A few moments that shaped who we are today.
The first listing
Three friends post a handful of shifts online.
Teams launch
Companies and schools can volunteer together.
Mobile app
Sign up, check in and log hours from your phone.
9,800 hours
We pass a milestone built by thousands of volunteers.
The crew
Co-founder and CEOMaya Ortega
Spends her Saturdays on a trash grabber.
Co-founder and CTODev Patel
Built the first version in a weekend.
Partnerships LeadSam Whitaker
Helps nonprofits post shifts that fill fast.
Community ManagerLeah Kim
Keeps volunteers connected, celebrated and reminded.
What we ship on
- Anyone can help, whatever their schedule.
- Volunteers' time is precious. Respect it.
- Nonprofits deserve better tools.
- Data should be open and useful.
- Communities grow when neighbors show up.
Give an hour. Change a block.
Our downtown space is open to volunteers and organizers. Come in for coffee, wifi and a shift or two.