Email to non-profit about volunteering (CLB 8)
Task prompt
You want to volunteer at a local food bank. Write an email to the volunteer coordinator explaining your background, why you want to volunteer, what skills you can offer, and asking about the application process and available shifts.
Your task
Write a semi-formal inquiry email to a food bank volunteer coordinator. Your email must:
- Introduce yourself and your motivation
- Highlight relevant skills or experience
- Ask about the application process
- Ask about available shift times
Word count target: 140–170 words
Model answer (CLB 8)
Subject: Volunteer Inquiry — Food Bank Services
Dear Volunteer Coordinator,
I am writing to express my interest in volunteering with Eastside Community Food Bank. I recently moved to the neighbourhood and am looking for an opportunity to give back to the community while connecting with local residents.
I have previous experience volunteering at a community kitchen in Winnipeg, where I assisted with food sorting, meal preparation, and client registration. I am comfortable working independently or as part of a team, and I have basic food handler certification (SafeCheck, 2024).
I would appreciate information about your volunteer application process and any documentation you require. I am also hoping to learn which shifts currently have openings — I am most available on Saturday mornings and Tuesday evenings, but I am flexible.
Thank you for the work your organization does. I look forward to hearing from you.
Warm regards, Marcus Lindqvist marcus.lindqvist@email.com | (905) 555-0612
Why this scores CLB 8
| CLB Criterion | What this response does well |
|---|---|
| Purpose | Clear inquiry with both motivation and practical questions |
| Detail | Prior experience, specific city, specific tasks, certification named and dated |
| Organization | Introduction → background → two questions → closing |
| Tone | Warm but professional — right for a community non-profit |
| Vocabulary | ”food handler certification,” “client registration,” “working independently” |
| Grammar | Conditional (“I am hoping to learn”), varied sentence structure |
Common mistakes at CLB 6–7
| Weak version | Why it loses marks |
|---|---|
| ”I want to volunteer. When can I start?” | No background, no motivation, no specific questions |
| Inventing qualifications | Examiners reward relevant, believable detail — keep it realistic |
| Forgetting to ask about shifts | One of the two required questions — omitting it drops the task score |
| Overly casual (“Hi there, I love your work!”) | Drops register for a formal inquiry context |
Examiner tip
Volunteer inquiry emails sit at the semi-formal end of the register spectrum — warmer than a job application but more structured than a message to a friend. At CLB 8, the examiner expects you to demonstrate proactive communication: anticipate what the reader needs (your background, your availability, your certification) and offer it before being asked. This separates CLB 8 writers from CLB 6 writers who only respond to what is literally asked.