Before 2010, youth volunteering underwent a conceptual and policy shift. Though the National Volunteer Strategy 2012–2020 (Nemzeti Önkéntes Stratégia 2012–2020) has expired, and the new strategy for 2023–2030 is still in drafting phase, volunteering remains closely linked to the 'civil sector'. This is largely due to the continuous emphasis on the socialisation of young people through school community service (it is a 50–hour compulsory social or environmental protection activity pre-requisite for graduation in secondary education).

In Hungary, the Deputy State Secretariat for Young People in the Ministry of Culture and Innovation (Kulturális és Innovációs Minisztérium) is responsible for youth-related tasks. The Prime Minister's Office coordinates volunteering and the civil sector, and supervises the National Cooperation Fund (Nemzeti Együttműködési Alap), which is an important government actor in funding volunteering.

Volunteering is defined and regulated by the Act LXXXVIII of 2005 on Public Interest Volunteer Activities (Volunteer Act) (2005. évi LXXXVIII. törvény a közérdekű önkéntes tevékenységről) and by the previous National Volunteer Strategy. There is no specific strategy or law dedicated to youth volunteering. Though the National Volunteer Strategy 2012–2020 does not define explicit goals concerning with young people, they are mentioned several times among the target groups.

In higher education, the Act CCIV of 2011 on National Higher Education provides the legal possibility to include voluntary activities in one's studies through European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) credits or the diploma supplement. The specific implementation (credit value, conditions, documentation) depends on the regulations of the given higher education institution.