Volunteering at Trans Lifeline
As trans people, we believe we are the experts on our own lives. Trans Lifeline developed out of our community’s need—we will always be community operated.
Hundreds of dedicated volunteers make our work possible, bringing trans brilliance to our community every single day. Trans Lifeline Volunteers build nonprofit experience, log required clinical hours, learn the ins & outs of community economic redistribution—and meet incredible trans people across the country.
We would love to have you on our team! See our available positions below.
Microgrants Program Volunteer Positions
Grants processing volunteers work directly with applicants to determine the costs of changing their legal name and gender marker and updating their identity documents. This is a remote volunteer position that requires 1 hour/month of scheduled meeting time and 10-15 hours of work in a month that is on your own schedule each week.
Our Inside Advocacy Volunteer Letter Writer is tasked with reading and responding to incoming letters/emails from incarcerated folks. Responses will require sending up-to-date information and documents in a timely manner. This may also require some detailed research. This is a remote volunteer position that requires 10-15 hours of work in a month that is on your own schedule each week.
Our Inside Advocacy Volunteer Mail Processor is tasked with reading incoming letters/emails from incarcerated folks, clearly identifying the needs, and communicating them with the Inside Advocacy Program Coordinator. This is a remote volunteer position that requires 10-15 hours of work in a month that is on your own schedule each week.
Hotline Volunteer Positions
At this time applications are closed, though please check back for future opportunities.
At this time applications are closed, though please check back for future opportunities.
Other Volunteer Positions
Support us with data entry, database management, video production, social media campaigns, and fundraising.
Several times throughout the year, there are opportunities for animators, designers, video editors, and illustrators.
At this time, board member applications are closed, though please check back for future opportunities.
Internships
Internships with Trans Lifeline offer a chance to connect with our work on a deeper level, gain valuable skills and educational credits. At this time, internships are unpaid and are open to enrolled undergraduate and graduate students.
Internships are not usually listed, but the following departments usually host 1-2 interns at a time:
Hotline
Microgrants
Communications
Cis Supporters
- Family & Friends Hotline operator
- Help us produce live virtual events, streams, and fundraisers
- Support video production, animation, or design
- Help with database support & data entry
Contact us if you have any other ideas, or would like to get involved!
Volunteer FAQs
In order to apply for Hotline, Microgrants, and Communications positions, you must live in the US or Canada and be 18+. You’ll need a phone, computer, and internet connection you can use at the same time, and a quiet, private place to take calls (Hotline). Because we offer peer support, Hotline and Microgrants volunteer positions are only open to trans, nonbinary, and gender nonconfrorming identified people.
We ask volunteers to commit for at least 3 months as Hotline operators, Microgrants, or admin volunteers.
Hours are flexible with your schedule. Hotline operators sign up for specific shifts and must be available for at least one two-hour shift per week.
Volunteers can also commit to working on one project in design, data management, or technology.
Note: We strive to ensure that BIPOC callers have peer support from BIPOC peers. This can mean increased waiting times for onboarding non-BIPOC hotline operators.
No matter what department you’re in, training materials will be made available to you. Volunteer Operators receive 36 hours of self-guided online training with staff support, role-plays, and hop-alongs before you take calls on your own.
Our Volunteer Manager’s main focus is your experience in our community. Contact your staff supervisor or our Volunteer Manager if you have any concerns.