It’s a fast-paced world, and we all have a lot of commitments. Work, family, friends…everything takes it out of us. So just how do we fit saving the planet into our busy schedules?

I see this answer as two-fold. First, there are things that we can do as individuals related to our little piece of the world: the choices we make in our daily lives around everything from transportation to laundry detergent add up to a create a lot of impact. And second, there are things that we can do collectively, as groups, which likely have immediate implications broader than ourselves.

I read recently that according to a study by the Corporation for National and Community Service, Los Angeles ranks 44th out of the 50 largest cities in the US in rates of community volunteering. City of Angels? Hardly.

That stat seemed pretty amazing to me, until I learned the four key drivers of volunteering:

• Community attachment,
• Commuting times,
• High school graduation levels and poverty, and
• The prevalence of nonprofits and their capacity to retain volunteers from year to year.

Since we are talking about LA here, two of those factors really jump out as me as systemic problems for this city: long commute times, and the sad state of LAUSD. A third factor, community attachment, is apparently a measure of homeownership - also a struggle for most with LA’s outrageous housing prices. So what are we to do about it? My answer: look for opportunities that allow you to use your unique skills and talents, and that also satisfy your interests. To find something that works for you, try Volunteer Match, an online service that lets you search for organizations needing volunteers by interest and location.

Many organizations have the need for volunteers with specific skills, who don’t need to commute to their site to contribute. Sustainable Harvest, for example, needs bilingual folks to translate outreach and educational materials for use in Spanish-speaking countries facing rainforest devastation. If you’re bilingual and interested in rainforest preservation (and really, who isn’t?), you could do this from your home utilizing a skill that is unique to you. Other organizations might need marketing ideas, fundraising expertise, or help just getting organized. Think about what you do well and enjoy, and then ask around – you’ll surely find a group who needs just that.

One organization, Social Venture Partners International (SVP), takes this concept of collective expertise to a whole new level. With their new model of giving termed ‘venture philanthropy’ the network of professionals donate money, yes, but also their experience in the form of consulting teams. These teams work with nonprofits to build their capacity to provide services to the community. Current and upcoming investments by the Los Angeles SVP focus on education and the environment. Launched in Seattle in 1997, the network now boasts 21 city-based organizations in North America.

Of course, sometimes, you just want to get your hands in the dirt. It’s rewarding to look back at a beach that’s now free of debris (Heal the Bay) or a tree that you’ve just planted (North East Trees).

And don’t forget the eco-friendly laundry detergent!