Volunteer Opportunities

Board of Managers

Playhouse board members hold a significant role in the Playhouse culture and overall health and are ultimately responsible for its success. They also Acquire sufficient knowledge of Down syndrome and the organization to promote its mission and programs and to serve as an ambassador and spokesperson for the organization.

Board Members: Board members typically have experience in education, development/fundraising, finance, business management and have a passion for giving back to the community. Board members are typically aligned with the committees, and all provide a broad oversight and management of the Playhouse while providing financial stewardship and fiscal management.  They also represent the community to the Playhouse and the Playhouse to the community.

Committee Opportunities

Marketing: This committee helps with social media planning, website and newsletter editing, content development, graphic design, blog writing, and media/PR by maintaining local media contacts and writing press releases.

Outreach:This committee increases awareness about Down syndrome and GiGi’s Playhouse in the community and build relationships with community organizations, expand the base of families served within the DS community, represent GiGi’s at community events and connect with local schools and universities.
Development/Fundraising: This committee works together to create a development plan to achieve budgeted revenues, research and expand the base of donors, oversee stewardship plan and acknowledgement letters.

Programs

Program Coordinator: The Program Coordinator is the key volunteer supporting and overseeing the GiGi’s Playhouse therapeutic programs, meeting on a weekly or monthly basis. The Program Coordinator works collaboratively with the Program Committee, Site Coordinator and each Program Leader to provide a high quality, outcome-driven programs according to the program models developed by GiGi’s Playhouse.  This volunteer position requires a commitment of 4-6 hours per week and can be split between more than one person.

Program Leader: The Program Leader plays an integral role within GiGi’s Playhouse Programs – to facilitate skill development activities and connect with families. It is preferred that the Program Leader has advanced education and/or training in developmental therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, behavioral therapy, social work, special education, speech-language therapy, music, dance, art or a related field. This volunteer position requires a commitment of 60-90 minutes, 1-2 times a month.

Program Assistant: Program Assistants assist the Program Leader in delivering a purposeful program. Duties may include helping greet families, arriving early to set-up, capturing video and/or photographs during the program, participating in the activities and more. Program Assistant volunteers need a general knowledge of Down syndrome (which you can gain at the volunteer orientation). This volunteer position requires a commitment of 60-90 minutes, 1-2 times a month.

Greeters: Every successful program includes a Greeter for every session.  A Greeter is a volunteer who is responsible for welcoming each participant/guest in GiGi’s Playhouse and ensuring that they are acknowledged and identified in our database. They may also assist with the program as necessary.

Host Family: A host family is a family who has a child within the age group (or an age group slightly ahead) of the program and who can commit to attending the program on a regular basis.  The family members play a role in the engagement of the program and networking with other families. They help promote the program to other parents who may be interested in coming, welcome participants and work the room during the program.

Administrative/General

Volunteer Coordinator: The Volunteer Coordinator is the key team member supporting and overseeing recruitment, orientation, scheduling, training and recognition of volunteers within the Playhouse.  The Volunteer Coordinator works collaboratively with the Site Coordinator to provide a high level of customer service for potential and committed volunteers. This volunteer position requires an average commitment of 5-15 hours per week, may be shared by two volunteers.

Volunteer Liaison: The Volunteer Liaison assists the Volunteer Coordinator with support for recruitment, emailing with interested volunteers and getting them set up for a volunteer orientation, and gather stories about the impact to the volunteer and any family stories.

New Family Coordinator: The New Family Coordinator welcomes and celebrates all new Playhouse families, including new diagnoses, new babies, and new families with older children. The New Family Coordinator works with the site manager and other families to connect any new families with a mentor family and new family orientations.

Grant Writer: The Grant Writer works with the Development/Fundraising Committee while researching potential grantors, identifying funding needs, grant writing, submitting and reporting results to funders.

Events

GiGiFit Acceptance Challenge or Gala Committee members: Participate in event planning meetings with focus on specific areas of accountability (marketing, PR, fundraising, sponsorships, logistics, event organization, etc).

Family Connection Playhouse Event Volunteer: This is a perfect role for people that like to plan small social parties. These events would be fun ways to bring our families together to celebrate holidays or just a general get together for support.