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In its most basic essence, volunteering, or volunteerism, refers to people working for the betterment of society without any monetary benefits in exchange for their time or service. It is a selfless act aimed at improving one's surroundings, or generally helping out the underprivileged, or those in need. However, many people also volunteer for improving their skill set, as part of an educational or career-related project, to increase their interaction with others in the locality or organization and make contacts, or simply because they enjoy doing it. Basically, there are no set definitions for volunteering, and it can be performed by people from all strata of society. There are many who are trained in the field in which they volunteer. For instance, practising doctors can assist in camps being organized by local NGOs. Another vital area of operation where volunteers are needed in bulk is in the unfortunate event of a natural disaster like an earthquake.

The social capital that is generated through volunteerism is very important in terms of economic regeneration. A case in point are areas where poverty is rampant, and there are few or no people who are willing to, or capable of, helping in bringing about a change. In such a case, volunteering is the saving grace. This kind of a framework (so to speak, in terms of organizations that encourage volunteerism) helps in solidifying the bond of unity when the need arises.

Skills-based volunteering is another 'domain' or type of volunteering, which refers to a case wherein the volunteer is trained in the area he/she is volunteering in. This is different from traditional volunteering, where no special training is needed.

Virtual volunteering, also known as e-volunteering or online volunteerism, is the term given to an arrangement wherein the volunteer contributes to the task at hand via the internet at home, school or office.

Environmental Volunteering refers to people contributing towards the safeguarding and protection of the environment. A multitude of activities like environmental monitoring, ecological restoration (re-vegetation and weed removal), and imparting education about the natural environment come
under environment volunteering.

Volunteering in schools is undertaken on a mass level across cities and towns in India, and is an essential part of society in areas where the means are limited, and the government is incapable of supporting the social cause in terms of finance or any kind of infrastructure. Incidentally, this is also the kind of volunteerism where the demand for volunteers always exists, since there are no restrictions on who can participate. It can be a parent, as well as a community member who wants to contribute with his services.

Corporate volunteering: There are many top Fortune 500 companies that encourage their employees to volunteer during their office hours, to fulfill their corporate social responsibility. These initiatives are known as Employee Volunteering Programs (EVPs), or Employer Supported Volunteering.

Community volunteering: The easiest form of volunteering for those who want to get started in this domain, community volunteering refers to individuals involving themselves in community enhancement efforts.