Volunteer Opportunities

Administrative Assistance - Administrative support is welcomed every month on the 2nd and 4th Fridays from 10:00 am - 2:00 pm. Responsibilities may include mass mailings, meeting coordination and preparation, and training coordination and registration. Ideal candidates should have a minimum of three years work experience in office administration, strong office automation skills, type 50 wpm, and excellent oral and written communication skills.

Career Counseling/Coaching - Assist with preparing our clients in transitioning or securing livable-wage careers. Responsibilities will include providing services via in-person or teleconference-based individual and group counseling/coaching. Ideal candidates should have a working knowledge and experience with career training and development, adult learning, using career assessment tools, and strong communication and workshop facilitation skills.

Career Placement Coordination - Help promote, develop, and coordinate employment opportunities with hiring managers in the public and private sectors for qualified clients. Candidates should have a minimum of five years experience with job placement assistance with employers of the Washington region.

Community Affairs/Public Relations - Help devise and implement marketing strategies for The SOFEI Group's products, programs, and services. Responsibilities may include writing press releases, creating Public Service Announcements for different media channels (e.g., radio, cable television, etc.), developing target-marketing programs for direct mail advertising, and finding other venues and media to promote our products, programs, events and services.

Event Planning and Coordinating - Help plan and organize annual conferences, community forums, and fundraising events. Responsibilities may include working with staff in securing and liaising with event speakers, participants and volunteers, locating and arranging event venues, and securing prospective sponsors to defray the costs of events. Candidates considering this opportunity should have a minimum of three years experience with event planning.

Fundraising - Assist The SOFEI Group in fundraising efforts through planning and development, sponsor relationship building, and program/service solicitation. Responsibilities will include working closely with the Treasurer of the Board and the Executive Committee of the Ambassadors of Economic Independence (AFEI) Giving Circle. Candidates considering this opportunity should have a minimum of five years experience in fundraising and development, and a proven track record working with non-profit board governance structure.

Grant Research/Writing - Assist in researching and responding to grant opportunities to support The SOFEI Group's mission and programs. Responsibilities will include developing and writing grant proposals and budgets, liaising with funders/sponsors, and monitoring and developing progress reports for funders and sponsors.

Human Resource Coordination - Help conduct weekly interviews and assessments to ensure our services can adequately meet the employment goals and needs of prospective clients. Responsibilities will include preparing Individual Work Plans for approved and accepted client candidates.

Training/Facilitation - Facilitate workshops our programs. Facilitators with a minimum of five years experience with professional or technical training are encouraged to apply.

Volunteer Process

Thank you for your interest to volunteer for The SOFEI Group. To be considered as a partner in our mission to create pathways to economic independence for women and their families of the Washington Region, prospective volunteers are required to the following:

An Online Volunteer Survey and Application - Online survey results and application will be reviewed to determine if your volunteer goals coincide with our organization's mission. If there's a match, you will be contacted within one week of receipt of your survey results and application for a personal interview. Click here to take the survey.

A Personal Interview - Interviews will be conducted by a member of The SOFEI Group to gain more knowledge of your personality traits to ensure your volunteer experience will be mutually beneficial for you and our clients. Skill assessments will also be given to determine if you have adequate skills to serve in the capacity of your desired volunteer position. For example, typing tests, Microsoft Word, Business Writing.

Volunteer Orientation/Training - Volunteers will participate in an orientation to learn about the nature and purpose of The SOFEI Group, all pertinent policies and procedures, and the work to which the volunteer has been assigned. Some volunteers will receive training to provide them with the information and skills necessary to perform their volunteer assignment.

Note: Your SSN is only required for the Mentoring/Tutoring volunteer opportunity. Your SSN can be provided at the start of your background investigation.