Volunteer

Volunteer Mission

In order to provide life-saving support to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) youth, The Trevor Project recruits passionate volunteers to staff our crisis intervention services. Volunteers are vital to Trevor’s work, and are instrumental in providing a safe and secure connection for LGBTQ youth to reach out. Trevor’s team welcomes individuals of all backgrounds into our volunteer family, and works to uplift, recognize, and support our growing volunteer network.

The life-saving work of The Trevor Project would not be possible without the dedication of our incredible volunteers. Trevor’s volunteers have, over time, saved countless young lives and supported the well-being of hundreds of thousands of LGBTQ youth.

Volunteer Opportunities

Trevor offers a wide variety of opportunities for volunteers to get involved in our life-saving work. Below are opportunities for ongoing engagement with The Trevor Project. Please note that volunteers must be at least 18 years old to apply.

Crisis Counselor — Digital Messaging Digital Crisis Counselors are trained to answer chats or texts from LGBTQ young people who reach out on our free, confidential and secure 24/7 service when they are struggling with issues such as coming out, LGBTQ identity, depression, and suicide. Throughout training, volunteers will cover topics including counseling skills, LGBTQ identity, the structure of a conversation on our crisis services, and relevant policies, procedures, and protocols to prepare them to speak with young people in crisis. Location Remote from anywhere in the United States You’ll need access to a secure and private location Commitment One 3-hour shift/week Minimum of a one year commitment Training 40-hour virtual training over the course of 10-weeks, including e-learning modules, role plays and supervised shifts All counselors are trained on the ins and outs of our chat handling technology, which is designed to support multiple conversations without sacrificing quality. Technical Requirements Personal computer with most up-to-date OS and Google Chrome Reliable high-speed internet connection

Crisis Counselor — Telephone Crisis Counselors are trained to answer calls on our 24/7 Lifeline from young people who are feeling suicidal or need a safe, non-judgmental place to talk. Location Must volunteer onsite from our call centers in Los Angeles (located in West Hollywood) or New York City* *In light of COVID-19, all crisis services volunteer roles will be remote until further notice. Commitment One year minimum commitment Two 4-hour shifts per month Training Requirements A 40-hour remote learning experience, with additional post-training activities and supervised shifts

Application Process

1. Register and Submit Application. Create an account in our volunteer portal and complete our application. This should take approximately 20–35 minutes.
2. Recruiter Follow Up. Next, you will hear from our Volunteer Recruitment Team with potential next steps. In some cases, they will schedule an interview to ask follow-up questions about your application. Please know that due to the high volume of applications received and our careful review of each applicant, this step of the process can take several months.
3. Background Check. Upon acceptance to training, volunteers are required to complete a background check.
4. Complete Training. Our team will support you through a required volunteer training.

Start Your Application Today!

Volunteer Perks

• Training. Volunteers will receive extensive, ongoing training, refreshers, and support from experts on The Trevor Project’s staff. They also learn invaluable skills for their professional and personal lives, from active listening to crisis de-escalation.
• Online Networks. Volunteers will gain access to a nationwide Facebook group connecting them to other awesome volunteers across the country.
• Newsletter. Volunteers will also receive a monthly newsletter detailing highlights and updates from across the Trevor family.
• Events. Volunteers for some programs may receive access to a variety of events and resources.

 

If you have any further questions about our volunteer opportunities, please email [email protected].