Volunteers are essential to Affinity Community Services' ability to carry out its work. Volunteers are used to help in the office, to help plan events and initiatives, to evaluate our programs and services, and to assist in the delivery of services and programs.
BASIC REQUIREMENTS
All individuals who want to be ACS volunteers must submit a volunteer application. If selected, volunteers, at a minimum, must attend a volunteer orientation, sign a confidentiality form, and carry out the duties that they commit to. Volunteers who take on leadership roles within the organization will have additional requirements. All volunteers are subject to a background check. Those who work with youth (13-21) MUST undergo a Department of Children and Family Services background check and may have other requirements.
To download an application, click volunteer application (Word) or volunteer application (PDF).
BENEFITS TO VOLUNTEERS
In addition to doing great work for a great organization, ACS volunteers also receive more tangible benefits. These include advance notice of upcoming events, discounts on ticket prices and entry fees, and volunteer appreciation events/gifts based on volunteer hours worked. For more information on our Volunteer Incentive Program, click Volunteer Incentives (Word) or Volunteer Incentives (PDF) .
Questions can be emailed to admin@affinity95.org or you can call Kim Hunt, Executive Director, at 773-324-0377.
AVAILABLE ASSIGNMENTS
Board of Directors Member
Affinity's Board of Directors' responsibilities include governing, providing strategic direction, ensuring that adequate resources are available, and exercising fiduciary responsibility for the organization (see Roles & Responsibilities of Board Members). To be considered for the board, individuals must complete a board application. Board members will review the applications and conduct other due diligence to determine which applicants move to the interview round. After the interview, the board members recommend who will be invited to join the Board of Directors. All board members complete an orientation and must undergo a Department of Children and Family Services background check. New board members are on probation for 90 days. New individuals are brought onto the board in cohorts up to two times each year.
Community Programming Committee
The Community Programming Committee is the umbrella committee for the constituent-led groups. These are the Affinity Trans Focus Group, Forty Plus, Lesbian & Bisexual Moms Roundtable, Singles Mingles, and other groups that constituents see as a priority and volunteer to lead. To learn more about these groups, visit the Programs & Initiatives page on our web site. Each of these groups has a team leader that reports to the Community Programming Committee Chair. The Chair must be approved by the ACS board of directors.
Community Programming Committee Chair
The Community Programming Committee Chair does the following:
- Develops and monitors an annual programming budget and goals that are consistent with ACS' strategic plan
- Leads meetings with team leaders to develop programming quarterly
- Selects a co-chair
- Troubleshoots problems/issue areas with Team Leaders and ACS staff as needed
- Develops and submits monthly Community Programming Committee progress reports and presents reports to board as requested
- Assists with special and fundraising events
- Assists with outreach efforts and membership and volunteer recruitment
- Assists with direct appeals and phone banks
- Assists with meetings/events developed through ACS collaborations as needed
Community Programming Committee Team Leader
Community Programming Team Leaders focus on one of the following interest groups, Affinity Trans Focus Group, Forty Plus, Lesbian & Bisexual Moms Roundtable, Singles Mingles, and other constituent-led groups. Team Leader volunteers report to the Chair of the Community Programming Committee and do the following:
- Plan programs/events related to interest groups and constituent priorities
- Identify and request/secure volunteer and other resources needed to successfully carry out events
- Monitor and apply constituent feedback
- Prepare program budgets and work plans
- Attend and may play a leadership role at other ACS and outside events
- Assist with special and fundraising events
- Assist with outreach efforts and membership and volunteer recruitment
- Assist with direct appeals and phone banks
- Participate in Community Programming Committee to review calendar and develop programming each quarter
- Assist with meetings/events developed through ACS collaborations as needed
Communications
Communications volunteers, under the direction of ACS board and staff members:
- Assist with the development of the content for the weekly listserv
- Assist with providing content for updating ACS' online locations, which may include editing photos or video
- Develop and distribute event and program flyers
- Assist with creating press releases
- Assist with writing articles and blogs
- Take pictures at events
- Develop correspondence for the executive director and board
- Create and update media kits
Data Entry
Data Entry volunteers, under the direction of ACS board and staff members:
- Update the Salesforce database from membership applications, volunteer forms, business cards, online updates, and other sources
- Properly file membership and volunteer applications and other source documents
- Help create, improve, and monitor quality control processes
- Perform periodic database samples to ensure that the database stays as accurate as possible
- Assist ACS staff with reports and fulfilling specialized data requests
Development
Development volunteers, under the direction of ACS board and staff members:
- Research potential foundation/corporate donors and government RFPs and funding programs
- Help develop information packets for and about individual donors
- Assist with drafting and sending out pledge reminders
- Create thank you letters to donors
- Conduct research as needed for inclusion in proposals
- Help write funding proposals and letters of inquiry
- Develop solicitation/appeal letters
- Track and report the outcomes of development campaigns
- Assist with the development of program budgets
- Help secure support letters, program partners, and other items needed for proposals
- Assist with the completion of funder reports
- Secure donations/sponsorships for small and large events
Event Logistics
Event Logistics volunteers, under the direction of ACS board, staff members, and/or designated key volunteers:
- Help with set up and tear down for major events
- Pass out and collect membership applications, volunteer applications, evaluation forms, donation forms, and other paperwork
- Monitor entrances/exits
- Ensure that attendees/participants sign in and complete the release forms
- Help clean up & close out the event
- Direct attendees/participants to seats, restrooms, food, and other event features
- Help collect food and other non-monetary donations
- Help create information packets and other event material
- Keep sign-in and other collection areas organized and clean during the event
- Assist with raffles and other event activities
- Help transport items to and from ACS and event venues
General Office
General Office volunteers, under the direction of ACS board and staff members, may do some or all of the following:
- Assist with improving and maintaining hardcopy files
- Assist with organizing storage areas and bookcases
- Answer telephones and general email, written, and verbal inquiries
- Help with set up and tear down for meetings and events
- Monitor office and other supplies
- Help schedule meetings for ACS board and staff
- Maintain ACS calendars
- Assist with major mailings
- Make copies and assemble meeting packets
- Help create and update policy, board, and project/event binders
Health Advocacy Advisory Council
The Health Advocacy Advisory Council (Health Council) oversees, monitors the quality of, plans, and participates in ACS' health work. To learn more about Affinity's work in this area, visit the Programs & Initiatives page on our web site. The members of the Health Council include experts and practitioners in health care, research, related fields, and advocacy as well as concerned constituents. Members report to the Chair of the Health Advocacy Advisory Council. The Chair must be approved by the ACS board of directors.
Health Advocacy Advisory Council Chair
The Health Advocacy Advisory Council Chair does the following:
- Chairs the meetings of the Health Advocacy Advisory Council
- Develops and monitors an annual budget and goals that are consistent with ACS' strategic plan
- Selects a co-chair
- Develops and submits Health Advocacy Advisory Council progress reports at least quarterly and presents reports to board as requested
- Oversees and evaluates the work of the Health Advisory Council members
- Identifies and helps secure resources needed for ACS health-related initiatives
- Represents Affinity/Health Council at internal and external meetings as requested
Health Advocacy Advisory Council Member
Health Advocacy Advisory Council members do the following:
- Assist Health Advocacy Advisory Council Chair with the development and monitoring of an annual budget and goals that are consistent with ACS' strategic plan
- Assist with developing and carrying out major initiatives such as health summits and research projects
- Conduct training of ACS staff, board, and volunteers
- Develop/modify curricula to serve ACS constituents and others
- Oversee and participate in the documentation of best practices and the "Affinity brand" of programming
- Identify and help secure resources needed for ACS health-related initiatives
Outreach/Street Teams
Outreach/Street Team volunteers, under the direction of ACS board, staff members, and/or designated key volunteers:
- Attend community meetings, town halls, other public meetings to listen and pass out ACS materials
- Submit meeting notes/observations to ACS staff, team leaders, and chairs
- Pass out ACS pluggers and other information outside of parties and events
- Assist with street campaigns to bring awareness about ACS or events/initiatives to businesses, churches, other institutions, and individuals
Youth Leadership Institute Advisory Council
The Youth Leadership Institute Advisory Council (Youth Institute Council) oversees the development, implementation, and evaluation of Affinity's youth programming. To learn more about Affinity's youth leadership development activities, visit the Programs & Initiatives page on our web site. Members of the Youth Institute Council include educators, experts, and other practitioners in education, curriculum development, youth development, child psychology, and other relevant fields, as well as other concerned citizens, including former Institute scholars. The Chair must be approved by the ACS board of directors.
Youth Leadership Institute Advisory Council Chair
The Youth Leadership Institute Advisory Council Chair does the following:
- Chairs the meetings of the Youth Leadership Institute Advisory Council
- Develops and monitors an annual budget and goals that are consistent with ACS' strategic plan
- Selects a co-chair
- Develops and submits Youth Leadership Institute Advisory Council progress reports at least quarterly and presents to board as requested
- Oversees and evaluates the work of the Youth Institute Council members
- Identifies and helps secure resources needed for ACS youth-related initiatives
- Represents Affinity/Youth Institute Council at internal and external meetings as requested
Youth Leadership Institute Advisory Council Member
Youth Leadership Institute Advisory Council members do the following:
- Assist Youth Leadership Institute Advisory Council Chair with the development and monitoring of an annual budget and goals that are consistent with ACS' strategic plan
- Develop and monitor the application of best practice youth program policies
- Develop/modify high quality, cutting edge curricula and youth programs
- Review and select applicants with the outgoing Scholars and Junior Institute participants
- Identify and help secure resources needed for ACS youth-related initiatives
- Represent Affinity/Youth Institute Council at internal and external meetings as requested
Social Justice Initiatives
Social Justice Initiatives volunteers, under the direction of ACS board, staff members, and/or designated key volunteers:
- Help identify and prioritize social justice issues that are of concern to our constituents, partners, and allies
- Draft meeting agendas and assist with note taking
- Develop strategies for addressing social justice issues
- Assist with research related to social justice priorities
- Help identify and secure initiative partners and other resources
