Volunteer Orientation Jeopardy

Welcome new volunteers with a quick game on mission, roles, safety, and confidentiality. Copy the board free and let everyone buzz in from their phones.

6 categories · 30 clues · Final Jeopardy · everyone buzzes in from their phone

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Every clue on this board

This page is public, so anyone can read the answers — copy the board and swap a few clues before game day.

Our Mission

$200
A mission statement explains an organization's purpose; this companion statement describes the future it hopes to create.
What is a vision statement?
$400
Many US charities are called this, after the tax code section that exempts them from federal income tax.
What is a 501(c)(3)?
$600
The measurable difference an organization makes, such as meals served or families housed, is called this.
What is impact?
$800
This group legally oversees a nonprofit and sets its direction.
What is the board of directors?
$1,000
This IRS form, filed yearly by most tax-exempt organizations, makes their finances public.
What is Form 990?

Volunteer Roles

$200
This written outline explains a volunteer's tasks, schedule and who they report to.
What is a job description?
$400
Volunteering from home, often online, is called this.
What is virtual volunteering?
$600
The staff member who recruits, trains and schedules volunteers is usually called this.
What is a volunteer coordinator?
$800
Donating professional expertise, such as legal or accounting work, for free is described with this Latin phrase.
What is pro bono?
$1,000
These limits spell out what volunteers should not do, such as lending money to the people they serve.
What are boundaries?

Safety on Site

$200
Before a shift starts, find these marked routes out of the building in case you need to leave quickly.
What are emergency exits?
$400
When lifting heavy boxes, bend at these rather than at your back.
What are the knees?
$600
Know where this kit with bandages and antiseptic is kept before you start.
What is the first aid kit?
$800
This rule for rotating stock sends the oldest donated food out before newer items.
What is first in, first out?
$1,000
Keeping cold food at or below this many degrees Fahrenheit keeps it out of the danger zone.
What is 40?

Confidentiality and Respect

$200
Posting these of the people you serve on social media without permission breaks confidentiality.
What are photos?
$400
Volunteers often sign this, promising not to share what they learn about clients.
What is a confidentiality agreement?
$600
Serving people in a way that protects this, their sense of worth and self-respect, is central to good volunteering.
What is dignity?
$800
This US federal law protects patients' health information, so hospital volunteers are trained on it.
What is HIPAA?
$1,000
This approach assumes a person may have experienced past harm and emphasizes safety, choice and trust.
What is trauma-informed care?

When Something Goes Wrong

$200
In a life-threatening emergency in the US, call this number first.
What is 911?
$400
Any injury on site, however minor, should be written up in this kind of report.
What is an incident report?
$600
If you are unsure whether a task is within your role, ask this person first.
Who is your supervisor?
$800
Staying calm, speaking softly and giving space are ways to do this with an upset visitor.
What is de-escalate?
$1,000
People legally required to report suspected child abuse, which in some states includes volunteers, are known by this term.
What are mandated reporters?

History of Volunteering

$200
This agency, created in 1961 under President Kennedy, sends Americans to volunteer abroad.
What is the Peace Corps?
$400
Founded by Millard and Linda Fuller in 1976, this group builds homes with volunteer labor.
What is Habitat for Humanity?
$600
This national service program was created by a 1993 law signed by President Clinton.
What is AmeriCorps?
$800
Jane Addams co-founded this Chicago settlement house in 1889.
What is Hull House?
$1,000
This Frenchman, touring America in the 1830s, marveled at Americans' habit of forming voluntary associations.
Who was Alexis de Tocqueville?

Final Jeopardy — Humanitarian History

Clara Barton founded this humanitarian organization in 1881.

What is the American Red Cross?

How to run this board

Orientation is often the only training a volunteer gets, so it helps if it sticks. This board covers the organization's mission, volunteer roles and boundaries, safety on site, confidentiality and respect for the people you serve, what to do when something goes wrong, and a little history of volunteering itself.

It is written generically so any nonprofit can use it. Before your session, edit the mission and roles columns to name your own programs, sites, and contacts, which turns the game into the orientation itself.

Play in small teams that mix new volunteers with returning ones. Veterans enjoy showing what they know, and newcomers leave knowing who to ask.

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