Volunteer
COVID-19 Updates
Most of our regular volunteer opportunities are on hold until further notice, and the Treehouse Store is not able to host groups of volunteers.
We appreciate all the support and generosity from our community and look forward to returning to our regular operations. Please follow us on social media and continue checking our website as we adjust our volunteer roles to fulfill the immediate needs of our youth.
Most of the roles that are described below are on hold, but you are welcome to apply for these roles and we will contact you when we return to our regular operations.
For more information on volunteering, please email volunteer@treehouseforkids.org.
Share Your Time and Talents with Treehouse
Volunteers are a critical part of how Treehouse supports youth in foster care. We welcome groups, individuals and families to join us.
Treehouse’s commitment to diversity and equity is central to our work with youth in foster care, and our volunteers are our partners in this work. Treehouse serves youth and caregivers of many races and ethnicities, sexual orientations, gender identities, abilities and religious beliefs. We seek volunteers who reflect that diversity. We know that everyone is at a different place in their learning about dismantling racism and other forms of oppression, but our expectation is that Treehouse volunteers bring a personal commitment to continued learning and action on these fronts.
Want to join us? Please view our volunteer opportunities below. We look forward to working with you.
Virtual Volunteer Tutoring
Our online tutoring program matches volunteers to work one-on-one with students by providing academic support using video conferencing software. Students request volunteers to help with homework, credit recovery support, senior projects and more. Tutors work in coordination with their assigned student, the student’s Education Specialist and Treehouse’s Academic and Career Volunteer Coordinator.
Volunteer tutors work with students from middle school to college level throughout the state. Most of our requests are from high school students.
It is valuable for youth in foster care to work with volunteers with whom they can identify. Spanish speaking volunteers and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply.
Minimum Age: 18
Location: Statewide (Tutors must be residents of Washington state)
Commitment: Standing weekly or twice-weekly virtual tutoring meeting, with a maximum of 2 hours of tutoring per student each week.
After they are trained and onboarded, volunteers are placed in our pool of tutors to wait for a student who is a good match for their skills and availability. New tutors may find a student match right away, or there may be a waiting period. We ask that new tutors remain available to be matched with students until at least Spring 2021.
One-Time / Short-Term Volunteers
Skills-Based Volunteers & Job Shadow Hosts
About Skills-Based Volunteers
Individuals or groups of professionals can help move our work forward by providing services such as consulting, pro-bono support, translation, trainings, grant writing, graphic design, tech support, retail merchandising consulting and more. We keep an eye out for upcoming needs that might make a good skills-based project for volunteers. This a great way to engage volunteers in a capacity that fully leverages their expertise. Our process is to identify projects and then match them with people from our pool of skills-based volunteers. If we have a project that looks like it is a good fit for you, we will reach out with project details to see if it is something you would like to work with us on.
About Job Shadow Hosts
One of the ways volunteers support youth in our Graduation Success program is by serving as job shadow hosts. When youth express an interest in a specific career, we can connect them with a volunteer in that field who is willing to host them for a job shadow experience. The student and their Treehouse Education Specialist will spend 2-3 hours at your workplace to learn more about what you do and what your career path looked like. The job shadow program is currently limited to King County, but we would love to start growing our list of prospective volunteers in Pierce, Spokane and Snohomish counties as well.
How to Register: Click here to complete our Skills-Based Volunteers & Job Shadow Host Form.
Groups (on hold)
The Treehouse Store is currently not able to host groups of volunteers. Please follow us on social media and continue checking our website to see when shifts become available.
Treehouse welcomes groups of volunteers year-round. The primary way we utilize groups is in our free store for youth in foster care, which is located in South Seattle. Groups work together on projects like sorting and processing incoming donations, putting tags on clothing, and preparing the store for shopping days. It is a great way to do some teambuilding, and we make sure everyone learns about Treehouse and has a chance to go on a tour of the store during their time with us.
Group Size: We are able to accommodate groups of 5-15 people per shift.
Minimum Age: 6
Youth must volunteer with adults. Our youth to adult ratio is 4:1, and adults are included in the headcount.
How to Register: It is easy to view our open shifts and request a reservation for your group online.
Step 1. Click here to go to our volunteer site.
Step 2. Filter for “Store…Group Shifts”*
Step 3. Any shift with one spot open is available to be requested by a group leader. Click the Sign-Up button.
Once you request a shift, a Treehouse representative will contact you to get your group’s information. We will provide you with confirmation details and a registration link to share with your group members.
Each volunteer must register separately at least 48 hours in advance of your shift. Volunteers who have not registered will be turned away.
*Occasionally we will have other group projects, which can be found by filtering for “Group Special Events”.
Events & Seasonal Support (on hold)
We have a variety of volunteer opportunities throughout the year that allow individuals to help us with events or during our peak seasons (back-to-school and the holidays).
How to Register: It is easy to view our open shifts and sign-up online.
Step 1. Click here to go to our volunteer site.
Step 2. Browse opportunities using the filters listed.
Step 3. Please be sure to read through the event details, and note any age requirements. Click the Sign-Up button.
Each volunteer must register separately. Volunteers who have not registered will be turned away.
High School Students (on hold)
Our service projects for high school students bring students from different schools together to volunteer and support youth in foster care. Volunteers sort donations and prepare merchandise to go into the Treehouse Store for youth in foster care. Our high school shifts allow youth to volunteer without an adult.
Minimum Age: Youth must be a current high school student (during summer months rising 9th graders are welcome to participate).
Frequency: We try to offer two shifts per month.
How to Register: Click here to view upcoming shifts and register online.
All spots are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Each volunteer must register separately. Volunteers who have not registered or do not bring their signed Parent/Guardian Authorization Forms will be turned away.
Families & Friends Events (on hold)
This event series is designed with small families and groups in mind. If you don’t have the five people required to reserve a group shift in our free store, this is the opportunity for you. These shifts allow several families and/or small groups to share a group shift to come volunteer with us in the store. (Individuals can sign-up, too.) Volunteers contribute by processing incoming donations, preparing merchandise to go into the store and getting the store ready for shopping days.
Minimum Age: 6
Youth under 16 must volunteer with an adult.
Frequency: We try to offer an event every other month.
How to Register: Click here to view upcoming shifts and register online.
All spots are available on a first-come, first-served basis. Each volunteer must register separately. Volunteers who have not registered will be turned away.
Ongoing Volunteers
The Application Process - Start Here
1. Apply: As a prospective ongoing volunteer, review our roles below and then CLICK HERE to complete our online interest form.
2. Standby: We will review applications on a weekly basis and a Treehouse representative will contact you to let you know the status of your application and next steps. Your interest form will remain active for six months. If we have an open position that looks like it is a good match for you, we will send you the details for our upcoming Volunteer Orientations.
3. Activate: Attend an orientation, pass a national background check and get started!
Virtual Volunteer Tutor
Our online tutoring program matches volunteers to work one-on-one with students by providing academic support using video conferencing software. Students request volunteers to help with homework, credit recovery support, senior projects, and more. Tutors work in coordination with their assigned student, the student’s Education Specialist, and Treehouse’s Academic and Career Volunteer Coordinator.
Volunteer tutors work with students from middle school to college level throughout the state. Most of our requests are from high school students.
It is valuable for youth in foster care to work with volunteers with whom they can identify. Spanish speaking volunteers and people of color are strongly encouraged to apply.
Minimum Age: 18
Location: Statewide (Tutors must be residents of Washington state)
Commitment: Standing weekly or twice-weekly virtual tutoring meeting, with a maximum of 2 hours of tutoring per student each week.
After they are trained and onboarded, volunteers are placed in our pool of tutors to wait for a student who is a good match for their skills and availability. New tutors may find a student match right away, or there may be a waiting period. We ask that new tutors remain available to be matched with students until at least Spring 2021.
Ambassador Board Member
TAB is comprised of community members who want to be of service, expand their network, and become an ambassador for philanthropy and systemic change. Members leverage their networks to level the playing field for youth experiencing foster care. As a member you will increase your knowledge about the foster care system, educational and racial equity, and fundraising while making friends, connections, and a positive impact on your community.
We encourage and welcome BIPOC, LGBTQAI and alumni of the foster care system to apply. We accept applications starting in May. To get on the list to be notified when recruitment opens, please email shaunessy@treehouseforkids.org.
If you are outside of King County, we are building virtual satellite Ambassador Board groups and would love to talk to you! Email shaunessy@treehouseforkids.org to find out more.
Minimum Age: 21
Location: Meetings take place virtually, using Zoom.
Commitment: TAB members are elected to a two-year term, the average commitment is 4-6 hours per month.
Social Media Ambassador
Rally support for Treehouse using your social networks. Through simple tasks on social media, you can amplify our mission to give youth in foster care a childhood and a future.
Minimum Age: 18
Commitment: 5-10 minutes per week, for at least six months.
Front Desk (on hold)
Front Desk Volunteers are the face of our organization and vital to our office operations in Seattle! Front Desk Volunteers make a positive first impression with clients, donors and other guests visiting the office, answer incoming phone calls, and provide administrative support for our programs. This position is ideal for a volunteer with excellent phone etiquette, great customer service skills and basic knowledge of Microsoft Office and Outlook.
Minimum Age: 18
Location: Treehouse Office, 2100 24th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98144
Commitment: Standing weekly shift for at least three months
Shifts: 9 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 1 p.m. – 5 p.m., Monday through Friday
Store Assistant (on hold)
Each year, more than 2,000 youth come to shop for clothes, toys, school supplies and more in the Treehouse Store, a free store for youth in foster care. Volunteers make it possible for us to maintain consistent store hours and provide a high-quality shopping experience to youth and caregivers.
Volunteers with shifts on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday help when the store is open. Their work frequently includes helping shoppers find items, maintaining store displays, restocking items and running checkout.
Wednesdays and Fridays are dedicated to organizing the backstock inventory and resetting the store for the upcoming shopping day. Volunteers’ projects include creating and restocking displays in the retail space, putting incoming items away in backstock and helping with seasonal projects.
Minimum Age: 6
Youth under 16 must volunteer with an adult
Location: Treehouse Office, 2100 24th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98144
Commitment: At least three-months if coming on a weekly or biweekly basis, and six-months if scheduling a monthly shift
Shifts:
• Tuesdays from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
• Wednesdays from 1 p.m. – 4 p.m. and 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
• Thursdays from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
• Fridays from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
• Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. (may be adjusted to a 2-hour a.m. or p.m. shift)
Store Check-In (on hold)
As a Store Check-In Assistant, you will greet clients, get them checked in for their shopping visits and manage the flow of traffic from the waiting lounge into the store. You will be the first person clients interact with when they come to the store, and we are looking for volunteers whose presence and demeanor sets the tone for a positive, welcoming environment. The check-in process is completed using a computer, and while volunteers do not need to have a high level of technical skills, it is important that you are comfortable using computers.
Minimum Age: 18
Location: Treehouse Office, 2100 24th Ave S, Seattle, WA 98144
Commitment: At least three-months if coming on a weekly or biweekly basis, and six-months if scheduling a monthly shift
Shifts:
• Tuesdays from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
• Thursdays from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m. and 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
• Saturdays from 10 a.m. – 12 p.m. or 2 p.m.
