Volunteer

PROJECT SUCCESS VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES  

Driver 
Volunteer drivers are critically needed to help Project Success increase access to theater opportunities and to our free classes at the Institute. For theater, drivers use their own vehicles to pick up students and families at their home, bring them to the theater, enjoy the show, and then drive them back home after the performance. Drivers choose which theater event or events they can support each month and receive two complementary tickets for each selected event. Institute Volunteer drivers pick up students at school 3 p.m. – 4:30 p.m. and bring students home between 6:30 – 8:30 p.m. Drivers can use their own vehicle or drive a PS provided van. There will be other opportunities to drive for Project Success throughout the year which we will inform our volunteer drivers of as they come up.

Money Management Coach – Institute (Tuesday Evenings)
The Project Success Institute is a place where Minneapolis high school students can take free classes in subjects including bike tech, financial literacy, cooking, and coding. Volunteer money management coaches help students learn the basics of personal finance in hands-on workshops on Tuesday evenings from 4:30pm – 6:30pm. Coaches help facilitate conversations, ask questions of students to drive learning and interest, and have the opportunity to share their real life experience with students.

Cooking Coach – Institute (Wednesday Evenings)
The Project Success Institute is a place where Minneapolis high school students can take free classes in subjects including bike tech, financial literacy, cooking, and coding. Volunteer cooking coaches help students learn the basics of home cooking in hands-on workshops on Wednesday evenings from 4:30pm – 6:30pm. Coaches cook alongside students, providing advice, encouragement, and valuable professional context.

Coding Coach – Institute (Thursday Evenings)
The Project Success Institute is a place where Minneapolis high school students can take free classes in subjects including bike tech, financial literacy, cooking, and coding. Volunteer coding coaches help to provide students with a welcoming and enthusiastic introduction to coding on Thursday evenings from 4:30pm – 6:30pm. Coaches help facilitate conversations, ask questions of students to drive learning and interest, and have the opportunity to share their real life experience with students and work with students from all coding levels.

We also have paid contract opportunities to be a Coding Teacher in the Institute. Check out our Job Openings page to see our current contract opportunities. 

BWCA Canoe Trip Leader – Summer 2023
Join Project Success’ volunteer team in the Boundary Waters Canoe Area (BWCA)! We are looking for energetic leaders who enjoy working with youth and are inspired by the powerful effect that nature has on young people. Our BWCA Leaders will partner with a professional wilderness guide to support 7 middle school campers through a week-long canoe trip in the most beautiful setting in Minnesota! We are already interviewing for our 2023 summer trips! Learn more about this specific volunteer role and how to apply here.

Engagement & Outreach Committee (E&O Committee)
The Project Success Engagement and Outreach (E&O) Committee is a dynamic and passionate group of community members that meets bimonthly with Development and Communications staff to increase community awareness and support. Activities include planning and executing fund- and friend-raising events such as Dine Out nights or fitness fundraisers, social media outreach to support the organization, and providing volunteer support for larger fundraising efforts such as mailings, large fundraising events, peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns. E&O Committee members benefit from networking with each other, working with local businesses and organizations to support Project Success, and contributing to the important mission of connecting students to their purpose.  

Office, Events, and/or Administrative Support
Throughout the year, there may be volunteer support needed for administrative work at the Project Success office or out in the community at fundraising events. This work could include addressing, stuffing and sealing envelopes for mailings, packaging up supplies or items for students and families, or a variety of other tasks. Volunteers in this category will be reached out to throughout the year on an as-needed basis by members of the PS staff team. 

Program Volunteers – As needed
Our other programs that occur outside the classroom, including college and career tours, outdoor adventures, middle school musicals, and global experiences, may have specific volunteer needs depending on a variety of factors and program schedules.  If you are interested in supporting a certain program with your expertise and time, please fill out the PS Volunteer Interest Form and a Program Manager will contact you if or when there are needs for those programs. 

PS Volunteer Interest Form

A Rewarding Experience:

“Being a volunteer for Project Success is one of the most satisfying volunteer opportunities for me. I like connecting with students during the drive to events and sitting with them. Sometimes it is just one or two students, sometimes it is a whole family. It has been interesting to meet students/families of various nationalities and cultures. We are all part of the Northside Minneapolis neighborhood, so it is good to meet the kids who will be tomorrow’s adults in my area. I try to bring a positive experience into their lives, sitting with me as an adult, having conversation, and sometimes seeing them dressing up for a special play or event. I have to say I have been quite by surprised by each and every student I have met. Every time I see them enjoy something ‘new’, and they open up, we have some wonderful conversations. They are as surprised by me as I am by them. Project Success is something special in ALL of our lives.” – Lynne Young, Volunteer Driver