Volunteering at GiGi’s Playhouse NYC
Thank you for your interest in becoming a Volunteer. GiGi’s Playhouse is a volunteer run organization and we rely on the skill and dedication of volunteers of various levels of expertise to keep our programs vibrant, educational, fun and free. Since the first Playhouse opened in 2003, GiGi’s Playhouse programs have always been free for our families. Parents, family members, clinicians, and individuals who believe in the GiGi’s Playhouse mission act as volunteers in GiGi’s Playhouse programs, events, administrative offices, and on our Board of Directors. If you are interested in donating your time and talent, let us know!
After signing up as a volunteer, you will receive a confirmation e-mail directing you to enroll for an upcoming volunteer orientation. Orientation is the first step in the on-boarding process. At orientation, each volunteer will fill out a more detailed application and engage with our volunteer coordinators as you listen to a presentation about GiGi's Playhouse - who we are, why we exist, and how you can get involved! You will also receive information about the next steps in the on-boarding process, which varies depending on each volunteer role. All volunteers 18+ will be background checked by GiGi's Playhouse NYC, at no expense to you, unless you choose to offset the cost as a donation. We look forward to meeting you!
Types of Volunteer Opportunities
Programs
Volunteer Coordinator: Assists the Operations Coordinator in recruiting, training, and communicating with potential, new, and ongoing program and event leaders. Multiple positions available.
Program Leader: The Program Leader and Assistant play 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.
Program Assistant: The Program Assistant will support the Program Leader in welcoming participants, facilitate check in and help with activities and clean up as needed.
Host Family: The Host Family attends the assigned program each session, to ensure that no family must attend on their own and works in conjunction with program leader.
Greeters: Every successful program includes a Greeter for every session. A Greeter is a volunteer who is responsible for ensuring each participant/guest in GiGi’s Playhouse is acknowledged and identified in our database.
Program Volunteers: This person will help the program lead and the number of volunteers depends on the size and type of program.
Literacy Tutors: This is an exciting opportunity to help those with Down syndrome learn to read or do math skills! The time commitment per week is 1 hour plus prep time. We ask our tutors to commit to one session (10 weeks). You will work directly with the family of the child you are tutoring to determine when you will meet for your session each week. Coming soon! Volunteer commitment is starting NOW so we are prepared to launch literacy tutoring when our doors open!
New Family Coordinators: Welcome new families to the playhouse and provide a general orientation to programs. Connect family to resources and other families in our community, if desired. Work with Program Committee to share feedback on family requests or needs. Facilitate monthly Parent and Caregivers Connect meet-up. Looking for multiple coordinators from these age groups: prenatal, early childhood, school age, teen and adult.
Ambassadors/Advocates: Playhouse Ambassadors are trained individuals that the Site Coordinator can count on to speak on behalf of GiGi’s Playhouse to the media, community and families, operate a table at a community event, give inspirational tours, tell a story about the Playhouse, and attend various programs and events. A GiGi’s Advocate is a teen or adult self-advocate who is able to speak about GiGi’s Playhouse and what it means to them as a Playhouse participant or mentor. They participate in events, gratitude visits and other engagements as an official representative of GiGi’s Playhouse.
Administrative/General
Marketing and Social Media:
E-mails: Someone who has some knowledge of Marketing Cloud/graphic design who can help edit our weekly e-mails
Social Media and Publicity: help bring awareness to our work at GiGi’s Playhouse NYC by contributing to social media posts
Marketing/PR: contacting media for events, help write press releases, create flyers and brochures.
Photography and Film Making: we need photographs and promotional videos for the Playhouse at programs and events
Writers: for blog, grant writers etc.
Administrative Intern: Help with mailings, printing, data entry, office organization
Clean Team: Come in at least once a month on a Saturday afternoon to clean toys, organize and decorate. This is a great opportunity for youth groups, businesses etc.
Fundraisers: Research and meet with individuals/organizations who would like to sponsor or donate to GiGi’s Playhouse NYC
Events
Chairperson: Oversee the committee and event, some experience with event/people management preferred.
Fundraisers/Sponsorships: Help secure donations for the events by reaching out to organizations in the community, asking for sponsorship and donations
Decorations: Research and secure rentals needed for the event
Food and Beverage: Research and secure food and beverage donations
Day of Volunteers: Helping with registration
Board of Directors
If you’re interested in contributing at the board level or on a committee, please consider one or more of these opportunities:
- Secretary Chair
- Governance committee
- Development committee
- Program committee
- Marketing committee
- Outreach committee
- Finance committee
- Events committee