Volunteer French Interpreter – International Grant Partner Calls

About Luena Foundation

Luena Foundation is a volunteer-run U.S. nonprofit that provides small grants directly to locally led community-based organizations working with children and families around the world.

As part of our grant review process, organizations that advance through our initial screening may be invited to a short video call with Luena Foundation leadership. These conversations help us better understand the organization, its leadership, its work in the community, and the project it is proposing.

We are seeking French-speaking volunteer interpreters to help make these conversations possible for prospective partners who are more comfortable speaking French than English.

What You’ll Do

You will join Luena Foundation leadership and a prospective community partner for a scheduled Zoom call, generally with organizations based in Sub-Saharan Africa, the Middle East, or North Africa.

During the call, you will:

• Listen carefully as the prospective partner describes their organization, community, activities, and proposed project
• Interpret their responses during the call from French into English for Luena Foundation leadership
• Interpret Luena Foundation’s questions and follow-up questions from English into French
• Help ensure both sides can communicate clearly and accurately throughout the conversation
• Maintain neutrality and confidentiality regarding information discussed during the grant review process

You will not be responsible for evaluating applicants or deciding whether an organization receives funding. Your role is to help ensure that language is not a barrier to a fair and meaningful conversation.

Who We’re Looking For

You should:

• Be highly proficient in both French and English
• Be comfortable interpreting conversational French and English in real time
• Be a careful listener who can communicate another person’s meaning accurately without adding or omitting information
• Be comfortable speaking on Zoom with people from different countries and cultural backgrounds
• Have reliable internet access and be able to coordinate scheduled calls with Luena Foundation leadership
• Understand the importance of discretion and confidentiality during a grant review process

Professional interpretation experience is welcome, but not required. Strong bilingual speakers who are confident interpreting live conversations are encouraged to apply.

Time Commitment

This is a flexible volunteer opportunity. Calls will be scheduled in advance and are expected to last approximately 30–60 minutes. Volunteers may participate in individual calls or multiple calls depending on their availability.

Our grant review process is currently underway, so we are looking for volunteers who can begin helping soon.

Why This Matters

Luena Foundation works directly with small, locally led organizations, many of which operate primarily in languages other than English. We do not want English fluency to determine whether a strong community organization can fully explain its work.

By helping us communicate directly with prospective partners in French, you will help Luena Foundation conduct a more accessible and equitable grant review process.