The article analyzes the features of volunteering through the prism of its educational potential. The tasks of volunteering are defined (assistance in involving a significant number of people in social problems at the local level, ensuring personal, social and professional development of volunteers, promoting their search for desired activities, forms of self-expression and vocation, solving employment problems through various forms of volunteering, etc.). The classification of its forms according to the criteria of subjectivity, purpose and objects is given. The directions of modern volunteering are listed (assistance to disadvantaged, unemployed or homeless people in need of social rehabilitation, large families; taking care of the sick, elderly, lonely people with disabilities and those in need of support; assistance to victims of natural disasters, environmental, technogenic and other catastrophes, social conflicts, accidents, as well as victims of crime and refugees; environmental protection and measures aimed at preserving cultural heritage, historical and cultural environment, historical and cultural monuments, burial places; assistance in carrying out activities related to the organization of mass sports, cultural and other entertainment and social events, etc.). Based on the analysis of the scientific literature, the forms of volunteer activity that are most suitable for adolescents and young people are identified (assistance of socially unprotected people or organizations engaged in socially significant activities; an organization of youth voluntary events aimed at helping children in social protection institutions, economic services and city institutions, cleaning gardens and parks, landscaping, organization of holidays and labor raids in orphanages, boarding schools and nursing homes, assistance in the restoration of monuments and historical sites, as well as other humanitarian events). The aspects of volunteering that are very valuable for education (zero cost, voluntarism, benefits to others, etc.) are identified. It is proved that participation in volunteer activities contributes to the diverse development of the volunteer’s personality, and therefore the involvement of adolescents and young people in such activities should become an important task for educators.