Today's guest post is written by Pamela Hawley, the founder and CEO of UniversalGiving.  For more information on UniversalGiving check out their Facebook page. You can follow Pamela on Twitter @PamelaHawley.

1. People are often looking for organizations to get involved with. For someone seeking a new place to volunteer, how do you suggest they go about choosing an organization?

If I had to state it quickly, I’d say: “Find a cause you care about, and a leader you believe in."  Those are two great milestones that can help ensure success with your volunteer experience.

Next, try to understand yourself and identify your greatest passions. Sometimes you know, and sometimes not; that's where you just have to try, learn more about the cause, and see if it engages your mind and emotions.  That's why volunteering is so great; you can always try it, commit for a reasonable time, and then try something different.  What also might help you hone it down is an issue you care about, such as education, poverty, the environment.

Yet critically important is not just the cause. That's where people get stuck.  You have to enjoy what you do on behalf of the cause: Is it writing, working with people, detailed work/operations?

Another oft-overlooked area is the size of the organization. Would you like to work in a larger organization that may have more resources, but less flexibility? Or a smaller, entrepreneurial organization that has less support, but multiple opportunities to get involved?

Yet most importantly, I’d find a good personal fit. Leadership is so important. Find a cause you care about, and a leader you believe in. That’s always a great start!

2. Someone once complained to me that it’s hard to find an organization that will assign volunteer tasks other than “cleaning out the broom closet.” Is this true in your experience and what tips do you have to avoid such situations?

It’s important that you find an opportunity that provides a good chance to grow and contribute.  I’d try to meet with the leader or volunteer manager to make sure it’s a good fit.  Are they open, willing to give you opportunities, warm, friendly, outgoing?  Do you see yourself enjoying your day working with them? Then most likely you will have a positive relationship where you can ask to be involved in areas you care about.  They will want to see you grow and develop, and you will want to help them.  It’s a ‘win-win’ for everyone, each helping another.

It is important to realize, too, that we all have to jump in. We do need to start somewhere, and help is needed. So do expect that your responsibilities may be a mix.   I’m CEO, but I still send faxes.  I try to teach my team that a ‘fax is never a fax.’  As I was faxing, I told my team member, this is not just about a piece of paper going through a machine. This particular fax was our contract with Cisco, which allows us to pay salaries at our nonprofit.

So it is important to do the small, detailed tasks, and connect them in to higher meaning.  Everything works together for good; everything is important. Can you try to find the meaning, and see how you can serve? All leaders appreciate wonderful attitudes of a sincere desire to serve.  If you work at creating a service-minded attitude and a kind demeanor, they will want to help you, too.

3. What’s the best advice you would give to someone starting in volunteering?

Be open. Surprise yourself.  You may find you are interested in something you never considered!   Go for your dreams and goals, and realize that every experience helps you learn something, and contribute something.  Sometimes it will feel great! Other times you might not enjoy it as much, but try to commit to serving, learning and growing. That will lead you to the next wonderful step on your journey.

4. We’re not all Bill Gates or Warren Buffett—how can regular people play an important role in the changing philanthropic landscape?

What’s really needed are energy and a genuine desire to change the world now.  There is no waiting. I love that more and more people are jumping in to make a personal impact, rather than ‘waiting until you are financially successful,’ which I think many have done in the past.

People are so involved with Web 2.0 and social media.  How can we integrate philanthropy and volunteerism more into Facebook, Twitter, text messaging and the like?  How can we use Web 2.0 to truly change our world?

Equally important, let’s use these communications to create relationships with others across the world, in different countries.  For that is where true change will come, from building trusting relationships, one-on-one, amongst people of different backgrounds, ethnicities, race and religion.

5. What should I expect to achieve in volunteering?

Volunteering can be fun; it can connect you to new friends. You can learn great skills and even put them on your resume.  I'd see it as a grand opportunity for personal growth, both for yourself professionally as well as a person. The same communication, management, advancement happens in many volunteer opportunities as it does in a real job.

Yet we can also connect to higher goals. When I think of UniversalGiving, an underlying theme is about Trust. Trust in that we are vetting organizations for our donors and volunteers, and integrity as a team in always striving to do the right thing.  And so that ropes us into a more advanced vision rather than just giving and volunteering. For us, it's actually about Trust and Peace for our world.

World Peace is a hard phrase.  We all want it; we benevolently strive for it. But how can you create “World Peace?”

I am not sure one can “make” peace.  What we can do, however, is build World Trust.  We commit to developing long-term relationships. We work towards helping others achieve their goals as well as our own. We see a larger landscape where everyone is living fruitful lives, where each good action positively impacts another.

If we build relationships around World Trust, then peace can result.   Peace comes from Trust — based on honest, heartfelt communications and actions.  Everyone can act on this desire to communicate, connect and care.