Volunteer
Join a caring community of volunteers who transform lives. Together, we can make countless wishes come true.
Your time and unique talents are critical to bringing strength and hope to wish kids when they need it the most. In fact, our volunteers are at the heart of every wish experience.
Make-A-Wish volunteers consider their work impactful and meaningful. And, their efforts are rewarded—not in dollars or cents, but in the incredible difference they make in the lives of our wish kids. Volunteers even have the freedom to choose when and how they would like to help transform lives in our community.
We understand that some volunteers may not know where their skills and talents best lie. Check out our volunteer types below and see how you can help make wishes come true.
Email Lisa Sweeney at lsweeney@colorado.wish.org for more info on our current volunteer opportunities.
Note: All volunteer positions require a basic training. Some may require additional training and a background check.
Volunteer Types
Welcome out-of-state wish children and families to Colorado at DIA; escort them through the airport to baggage claim and then to their transportation. Many come to our state to have their wish fulfilled, such as skiing, snowboarding, and dude ranch wishes.
Qualifications:Â Prepared; friendly; comfortable meeting new people; able to think through unforeseen situations.
The ideal candidate is comfortable with making requests for auction items, as well as in-kind and monetary donations. This volunteer has the dedication and time to take a leadership role in fundraising events, such as creating and producing new events, workplace giving campaigns, and/or Kids For Wish Kids® projects.
Qualifications: Assertive, outgoing personality; enjoys asking for and acquiring donations; willing and excited to learn techniques and strategies; a passion for sharing the mission of Make-A-Wish.
Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday. Your talents can be utilized answering the busy phones, making calls, labeling, stuffing and addressing envelopes, making copies, filing, and taking on simple database entry projects, and assisting the wish granting department.
Qualifications: We request that you donate a minimum of three to four hours per week on a regular basis if possible. On-call, fill-in positions are also available. Some previous office experience, basic computer skills, and solid phone skills are required.
Share the Make-A-Wish mission with civic organizations, local corporations, schools, and government agencies (for workplace giving presentations); accept donations and explain our work. One-on-one training or a group training session will prepare selected people to be effective and successful spokespersons.
Qualifications: Strong public speaking skills; good people skills; a solid information base about Make-A-Wish Colorado. Prior Make-A-Wish volunteer experience, especially wish granting experience, is preferred. Â
Volunteers help with events sponsored by community organizations for the benefit of Make-A-Wish, as well as with the major events organized by the staff. Duties can include registration of participants, selling tickets, raffle tickets or items, hosting an information table, helping with silent auctions, set up and clean up, and more!
Qualifications:Â Upbeat, focused, and hardworking individual; excellent customer service skills; able to follow directions; flexible and fun.
Wish granters work in teams directly with wish children and their families to discover the child’s wish, assist the family in completing extensive paperwork, and serve as a liaison with the family and Make-A-Wish staff. Training is provided. To be considered for this position, a volunteer usually works with us as an active event volunteer for at least six months. We welcome experienced wish granters from other Make-A-Wish chapters but ask that they complete Colorado’s training.Â
Qualifications: Dedication; teamwork skills; time; attention to detail; active listening, problem-solving and communication skills, a vivid imagination and sense of humor; experience with children is preferred, but not required.
How do I become a volunteer?Â
In order to provide the wish children and their families with the best experience possible, we require all potential volunteers to complete the following steps in this order:
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Complete a New Volunteer Orientation (pre-registration required).
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Tuesday, March 25th @ 12:00pm (in-person or virtual): Register here
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Thursday, March 27th @ 6:00pm (in-person or virtual): Register here
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Tuesday, June 10th @ 12:00pm (in-person or virtual): Register here.
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Wednesday, June 11th @ 6:00 pm (in-person or virtual): Register here.
2. Submit a Volunteer Application and complete a Conflict-of-Interest Form (these will be emailed after the New Volunteer Orientation.)
3. Complete a Background Check through First Advantage Enterprise (Background checks are not required for any roles that do not involve direct contact with wish families.)
4. Attend specialized trainings for the following roles: Wish Granter, Airport Greeters, and Speakers.
5. Aid in granting life-changing wishes!
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Frequently Asked Questions
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Why do I need a background check? Due to the nature of our work, select volunteer positions must successfully complete a criminal background check. Background checks are volunteer paid and are good for 3 years. Please contact us with any questions related to past convictions and/or our background check screening process.Â
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Can I volunteer around my schedule? Yes! Many volunteers lead busy and active lifestyles with personal and professional commitments. Volunteer opportunities are self-selected and project-oriented. Flexibility is key, as there will not be consistent, set volunteer hours.Â
- I am not 18 years old. Can I still volunteer? Yes! Although most positions require an individual to be 18 or older, high school students can aid in our mission by serving on the Youth Leadership Council or bringing the Kids for Wish Kids program to their schools or youth organizations.Â
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What are some of your greatest volunteer needs? Our greatest need is for Wish Granters and, specifically, Spanish-speaking Wish Granters. We are also in need of volunteer support in cities outside of the Greater Metro Denver area- primary Colorado Springs, Pueblo, Summit County, Western Slope, and Northern Colorado.Â
Have additional questions? Email Lisa Sweeney at lsweeney@colorado.wish.org.
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Upcoming Wish Granter Trainings (Must complete the New Volunteer Orientation prior to attending)
Current volunteers: please log into the CERVISÂ Volunteer Account Management page to access your account!Â