Commonly Asked Questions about Volunteering

What are you looking for in a volunteer? What is the required time commitment to volunteer? Do I have to live in Boston? What do volunteers do? What is a Wish-Granting Volunteer? How do I become a volunteer? Why do you need to know my background? I have a question not addressed here. Who can I contact? What are you looking for in a volunteer? While we always accept new volunteers from all parts of Massachusetts and Rhode Island, we currently have a special need for people who meet any of the following criteria: * Speak both fluent Spanish and English * Have daytime availability * Have contacts and procurement skills to help us solicit for auction and raffle items for events * Live in southeastern or western Massachusetts or in the state of Rhode Island What kind of schedule must I have to be able to volunteer? It is unlikely that you will have a regular volunteer time (i.e. every Tuesday at a certain time). Volunteer opportunities tend to be project-oriented. It is necessary that you have a flexible enough schedule to accommodate your specific assignment/project. Do I have to live in Boston? No. The Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Massachusetts and Rhode Island serves all counties in the Commonwealth. It is not necessary to live in the Boston area. What do volunteers do? There are six main areas of volunteerism: Fundraising, Events, Wish, Public Relations, Administration, and Special Projects. For detailed information about Volunteer Opportunities, please click here. What is a Wish-Granting Volunteer? Wish Volunteers work in teams of two to facilitate the details of granting a child's wish. They work directly with children to ascertain and plan wishes, and work creatively to seek in-kind goods and services to implement the wish. The nature of each child's wish determines the level of volunteer involvement. Wish Volunteers must be at least 21 years old. How do I become a volunteer? 1) Tell us about yourself! Click here. 2) Submit a background check. 3) Complete online training. 4) Meet our staff and get started! Why do you need to know my background? Since we work closely with children, the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Massachusetts and Rhode Island conducts a thorough background check on all volunteer applicants. The Foundation shall not employ or utilize as a volunteer any individual who has been convicted of a crime that (a) victimizes children, (b) is sexual in nature, or (c) involves violence, fraud, or significant theft.All information received from these reports will remain confidential and be used only for screening and placement purposes. I have a question not addressed here. Who can I contact? If you have additional questions, please contact Krista Bishop, Senior Volunteer Manager, at 617.367.9474 or kbishop@massri.wish.org.

Make-A-Wish Foundation® of Massachusetts and Rhode Island 1-888-354-9474