High-Impact Volunteer Role: Volunteer Onboarding Coordinator

Help caring volunteers get from “I’m interested” to “I’m ready to serve.”

Children Rising is seeking a highly organized, dependable volunteer to help guide prospective volunteers through our application and onboarding process.

Each year, caring community members raise their hands to tutor and support children in Oakland schools. The Volunteer Onboarding Coordinator will help applicants understand what comes next, receive timely follow-up, and keep moving through the process.

This is a meaningful behind-the-scenes role for someone who enjoys helping people, staying organized, and following through.

What You’ll Do

Working closely with Children Rising staff, you will help manage the day-to-day movement of prospective volunteers through onboarding.

Responsibilities may include:

• Reviewing new volunteer applications and identifying next steps.
• Welcoming applicants and following up by email and phone.
• Tracking applicants through our volunteer stages: New, Reviewing, Screening, On Hold, and Accepted.
• Helping applicants complete required training, background clearance, TB, and Oakland Unified School District requirements.
• Sending reminders and following up with applicants who have stalled.
• Answering routine questions using established procedures and resources.
• Maintaining accurate volunteer records in Salesforce.
• Flagging situations that need staff attention.
• Helping ensure accepted volunteers are handed off to the appropriate staff member for next steps.

A Volunteer Role with Staff Support

This role comes with meaningful responsibility, but you won’t be expected to manage every situation alone.

Children Rising will provide training, clear procedures, communication resources, and staff support. Staff will handle situations involving safety concerns, exceptions, sensitive issues, or decisions about accepting or assigning a volunteer.

You May Be a Great Fit If You Are

• Highly organized and attentive to detail.
• Dependable and comfortable following up consistently.
• Warm and encouraging in your communication.
• Comfortable using email, phone, and database tools such as Salesforce.
• Able to work independently once trained.
• Discreet and comfortable handling volunteer information responsibly.
• Able to recognize when something should be referred to staff.

Experience in volunteer management, human resources, recruiting, customer service, administration, project coordination, or operations would be helpful, but is not required.

Time Commitment

We anticipate this role averaging approximately 5–8 hours per week, though the workload may ebb and flow during the year. Late summer and early fall, for example, tend to bring more volunteer applications.

We value consistency, but we also understand that volunteers have work, family, travel, and other commitments. The schedule can be flexible, and occasional breaks are expected.

We are looking for someone who can make this a consistent commitment for at least six months, ideally through the school year.

Training and Location

The first couple of weeks will include regular in-person training at the Children Rising office in Oakland so you can learn our onboarding process, Salesforce workflow, communications, and escalation procedures.

Once trained, much of the ongoing work may be completed remotely, with periodic in-person work or meetings as needed.

Supervision and Support

The Volunteer Onboarding Coordinator will work closely with Margena Wade-Green and Executive Director Marshelle Wilburn, along with other program staff as needed.

Why This Matters

A person who applies to volunteer has already taken a meaningful first step. A responsive, organized onboarding experience can help turn that interest into sustained service to children.

By helping volunteers stay connected and move through the process, you will help Children Rising build the community of caring adults needed to support Oakland children in reading, math, and family engagement.