Volunteer with a Purpose

You want to give back. We’ll help you do it well. Join a small, in-person training cohort this July to learn how nonprofits really work, how systems of power and race shape the sector, and how you can show up as a thoughtful, effective volunteer.

Who is This For?

  • People who want to volunteer meaningfully but aren’t sure where to start

  • New to the area and looking for community and purpose

  • People who work full-time and want to give back in a values-aligned, effective way

  • Those curious about how to support nonprofits—especially BIPOC-led or grassroots organizations

What You’ll Learn

A one-and-a-half-day, in-person training with a small cohort of peers that gives you the knowledge, mindset, and tools to volunteer with clarity, humility, and impact.

  • Interactive sessions on nonprofit operations (funding, governance, program delivery)

  • Historical/systemic context—why the nonprofit sector exists as it does

  • Real talk about power, philanthropy, racism, and how volunteers can unintentionally cause harm

  • Practical tools for asking the right questions and partnering effectively

  • Speakers from local nonprofits

  • A possible next step: volunteer matching with an SVP partner nonprofits

Speakers

Liz Huizar
Liz Huizar (she/her), Executive Director, Southeast Seattle Education Coalition (SESEC)
Aurora Martin
Aurora Martin (she/her/hers), Executive Director, Front and Centered
Jordan Goldwarg
Jordan Goldwarg (he/him), Executive Director, OneWorld Now and SVP Seattle Vice Chair, Board of Directors

Details

Where

When

  • Friday, July 11 | 4–7 PM (Dinner included)
  • Saturday, July 12 | 10 AM–4 PM (Lunch included)
  • You’ll receive ~1 hour of pre-reading the week before

Facilitated by Emiko Atherton, Executive Director, and Melanie Matthews, Senior Projects Advisor—nonprofit leaders with decades of combined experience in racial equity, nonprofit strategy, and community-rooted philanthropy

Costs

  • $100 for general participants

  • $50 for SVP Seattle Partners

Includes meals, materials, and all sessions.

Ready to volunteer with purpose? Join SVP Seattle’s Volunteer Training Program this July—and learn how to show up with humility, clarity, and real impact.

Spots are limited. Register today to secure your place in this hands-on, equity-rooted training experience.