What do you do if you're a retired mobile app developer seeking meaningful volunteer opportunities?

1 Identify your goals

Before you start looking for volunteer projects, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve. Do you want to learn new skills, or use your existing ones? Do you want to work on a specific cause, or be open to different options? Do you want to work remotely, or in person? Do you want to work alone, or in a team? How much time and commitment can you offer? These questions will help you narrow down your search and find opportunities that suit your preferences and availability.

2 Explore online platforms

There are many online platforms that connect volunteers with nonprofits, social enterprises, or community organizations that need technical assistance. Some examples are Code for America, Catchafire, SocialCoder, Taproot Plus, and Idealist. These platforms allow you to browse through various projects, filter by skill, cause, location, and duration, and apply for the ones that interest you. You can also create a profile and showcase your portfolio, and let the organizations reach out to you.

3 Join local groups

Another way to find volunteer opportunities is to join local groups that organize hackathons, workshops, or meetups for social good. These events can help you network with other developers, learn from experts, and collaborate on innovative solutions for real-world problems. You can also find mentors, partners, or clients for your own projects. Some examples of local groups are Code for Good, TechSoup, NetSquared, and Hack for LA. You can search for these groups on platforms like Meetup, Eventbrite, or Facebook.

4 Create your own project

If you have a passion or an idea for a mobile app that can make a positive impact, why not create your own project? You can use your creativity and expertise to build something that you care about, and that can benefit others. You can also recruit other volunteers, or partner with existing organizations, to help you with design, testing, marketing, or distribution. You can use platforms like GitHub, Google Play, or App Store to host, share, and promote your app.

5 Keep learning and improving

As a retired mobile app developer, you have a lot of valuable experience and knowledge to offer. But you also have a lot of opportunities to learn and improve your skills. Mobile app development is a dynamic and evolving field, with new trends, tools, and best practices emerging constantly. You can keep up with these changes by taking online courses, reading blogs and podcasts, joining forums and communities, and attending webinars and conferences. You can also seek feedback, reviews, and ratings for your apps, and use them to enhance your work.

6 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?