×

Search form

Volunteer
Richmond, VA

Volunteer opportunities

Thank you for your interest in welcoming refugees to your community. By volunteering with the IRC in Richmond, VA, you use your skills to help people who have fled violence and persecution to rebuild their lives in America. See below for the latest volunteer opportunities and how to apply.

Last updated 

Current opportunities

Richmond, VA

Family Mentor

Start date: Ongoing

Be a cultural ambassador. Teach skills that encourage self-sufficiency.
Richmond, VA

Bus Orientation Trainer

Start date: Ongoing

Teach clients how to navigate their communities
Richmond, VA

ELT Tutor

Start date: Ongoing

Help newcomers adjust to the United States by providing English Tutoring
Richmond, VA

Reception Volunteer

Start date: Ongoing

Can you commit to three or more hours a week on a consistent basis during regular business hours? Come be an integral part of our operations.
Richmond, VA

Youth Mentor

Start date: Ongoing

Assist youth age 15 - 24 in achieving their education or career goals.
Richmond, VA

Youth Tutor

Start date: Ongoing

Provide support in school subject areas (Math, English, Science, History, etc.) with newly arrived refugee youth. Please note we ask for 5-10 hours per month if committing to this opportunity.
Richmond, VA

Health Mentor

Start date: Ongoing

Teach skills that encourage self-sufficiency in the area of healthcare and personal wellness.
Richmond, VA

Refugee Welcomer

Start date: Ongoing

Create a welcoming first home and provide a warm greeting for newly arriving refugees in Richmond!
Richmond, VA

Volunteer Driver

Start date: Ongoing

Newly arrived refugees have many appointments connected to their resettlement and healthcare.
Richmond, VA

Resettlement Shop Volunteer

Start date: Ongoing

Be a personal shopper!
Richmond, VA

Housing Volunteer

Start date: Ongoing

Help the IRC in Richmond find safe, affordable housing for refugees arriving to our city.

How to become an IRC volunteer

Please note: due to a recent sharp increase in interest in volunteering with the IRC in Richmond, we have placed a brief pause on accepting new volunteers. Please complete and submit the application, and when the next mandatory Volunteer Orientation is scheduled you will receive an invitation by email.

Volunteer process

  1. Familiarize yourself with the IRC and review our current available volunteer positions. Choose 3 that best fit your interests, skills, and schedule.

  2. Complete a volunteer application by following this link. Once your application has been received, you will be contacted within 10 business days regarding upcoming Volunteer Orientation dates.

  3. After attending an informational Orientation, you will be invited to complete the necessary background checks.* To protect our clients, we require background checks for all our volunteers, and we ask volunteers to make a $43 donation to cover a portion of associated costs. Currently, 92% of our funding goes directly to our clients, and your help to cover this cost allows us to continue providing the best service possible. The background check process usually takes 7-10 days.

  4. After you have attended a Volunteer Orientation and your background check is complete, you will be invited to the office for a one-on-one interview and training session. The training session includes a review of the Volunteer Policies and instructions for reporting volunteer hours.

  5. Once you sign the necessary paperwork and receive your volunteer badge, you're ready to get started! Depending on your role, you'll either start receiving volunteer assignments or be matched with a family.

Additional things to note

*You must be 18 years or older to volunteer and complete a background check. For High School Opportunities, please email [email protected].

Most positions require at least a 6 month volunteer commitment with up to 5 hours per week. If this is not feasible for you, please email us about our on-call opportunities.

Please email [email protected] with any questions.