Turning Research Into Action: Knowledge Contributor

MAVIC, the Military and Veteran Information Collective, is seeking several remote volunteers as Research and Knowledge Contributors to help identify, collect, organize, and upload trusted information that supports professionals serving military and Veteran connected communities. This is not a research project itself.

This volunteer role is ideal for someone who believes that better information leads to better outcomes for Service members, Veterans, caregivers, survivors, and their families. MAVIC is being developed as a provider facing AI knowledge and navigation system that helps nonprofit organizations, higher education partners, financial professionals, behavioral health providers, case managers, faith leaders, researchers, and other community based professionals access validated military and Veteran related information in a consistent and actionable way.

In this role, volunteers may work alongside MAVIC and participating nonprofit leaders to help ensure that submitted information reflects the real needs of organizations serving military and Veteran connected communities. Volunteers may receive guidance from nonprofit partners, subject matter experts, and MAVIC leadership to better understand priority topic areas, identify gaps in available resources, and strengthen the quality of materials being collected. This collaboration is central to MAVIC’s purpose: building a trusted knowledge base shaped not only by research and policy, but also by the practical experience of leaders who understand the daily challenges faced by Service members, Veterans, caregivers, survivors, and their families.

Volunteers will help strengthen MAVIC’s knowledge base by locating and submitting relevant public information, including research reports, policy updates, regulations, case law, legislation, government guidance, academic studies, surveys, program materials, issue briefs, and other credible resources related to the military and Veteran community.

Responsibilities may include:

In addition to engaging 10 total volunteers for this role, we are seeking 1 lead volunteer to manage our volunteer base as we move to load MAVIC with its resources. The number of volunteers will likely increase as MAVIC becomes more known by the community.

Identifying trusted public sources of military and Veteran related information, including government agencies, universities, nonprofit organizations, policy centers, legal sources, and research institutions.

Reviewing materials for relevance, source quality, and alignment with MAVIC’s focus areas, including benefits, healthcare, behavioral health, housing, employment, education, financial wellness, caregiving, survivor support, aging, rural access, and community reintegration.

Uploading or submitting approved materials into MAVIC’s content intake process using established naming, tagging, and description guidelines.

Writing brief plain language summaries that explain what each document is, why it matters, and how it may support providers serving military and Veteran connected populations.

Helping identify gaps in available information, especially around underserved populations such as women Veterans, older Veterans, rural Veterans, low income households, caregivers, survivors, and individuals with disabilities.

Following MAVIC’s standards for accuracy, attribution, neutrality, source integrity, and responsible use of public information.

Qualifications:

A strong interest in supporting the military and Veteran community.

A computer with an internet connection.

Experience with research, public policy, nonprofit work, education, law, healthcare, financial services, social services, government, or military and Veteran programs is helpful.

A deep understanding of military culture, Veteran transition, benefits systems, or military family life is strongly preferred, but not required.

Strong attention to detail and ability to evaluate whether a source is credible, current, and relevant.

Comfort reading and organizing documents such as research studies, policy briefs, legislation, regulations, surveys, reports, and public guidance.

Ability to write clear, concise descriptions in plain language.

Respect for accuracy, confidentiality, neutrality, and the importance of serving diverse military and Veteran connected populations.

This is a flexible volunteer opportunity for individuals who want to contribute to a national effort designed to reduce fragmentation, improve provider knowledge, and help ensure that those serving the military and Veteran community have access to trusted, current, and actionable information.

Volunteers will serve as representatives of MAVIC and will play an important role in helping build a more reliable information infrastructure for the organizations and professionals working every day to improve outcomes for military and Veteran families.