← Volunteer Roles
Which roles fit you? Most people find their way into animal advocacy through protests, street outreach, or digital actions. These actions are the foundation of our advocacy, but they're a narrow slice of what a strong local group needs. This quiz matches you with three roles where you'd likely do your best work. See the full list here .Organizers : Share with members who want to contribute beyond direct action.Activists : If the usual entry points don't feel like your lane, start here.
Takes about ten minutes. Your answers never leave your browser.
Start the quiz → Your matches
Here are three roles your answers point toward. Treat them as a suggestion more than a final diagnosis.
Three roles isn't the whole story; check out the full list for everything a local group might need. Once you find some roles that appeal to you, share them with your local organizer and ask what they're looking for.
Manage the group's public presence online to draw in new members.
Responsibilities Post consistently across chosen platforms Adapt tone and format to each platform's culture Track what converts attention into showing up Coordinate with the Graphic Designer and Photographer Skills & traits Native fluency with the platforms you're running Understands the gap between reach and conversion Bonus Copywriting instinct Comfort with light analytics
Documents events with an eye that turns "we did a thing" into "you should have been there."
Responsibilities Attend events camera in hand Capture candid moments alongside group shots Edit and deliver photos in a reasonable window Maintain a shared library the group can pull from Skills & traits Skill with a camera Present without being obtrusive Bonus Basic photo editing chops Interest in visual storytelling
Gets the community's name in front of new people by showing up where they already gather.
Responsibilities Attend a mix of high-volume and high-relevance events Introduce the group without turning it into a pitch Track promising leads for follow-up Report back on where the interested people are Skills & traits Easy conversationalist Can talk about animal advocacy without triggering defensiveness Bonus Wide existing local network Instinct for genuine curiosity vs. polite nodding
Builds lasting ties between your community and allied movements through ongoing presence.
Responsibilities Attend a small number of allied groups consistently Show genuine interest in their work, not just recruitment Look for overlap where joint action makes sense Carry information both directions Skills & traits Comfortable being a regular in someone else's space Willing to give before asking Bonus Existing relationships in adjacent movements Patience for slow-building trust
The community's face at markets and festivals
Responsibilities Staff the table for the full event Pull curious-looking people out of the flow Handle common questions with clarity and warmth Collect contact info from leads Skills & traits Reads body language well enough to know who to approach Knows the FAQs cold Warm, approachable presence Bonus
Makes sure the community shows up at every event worth showing up at and that no one drops the ball on the way there.
Responsibilities Maintain a calendar of local festivals and fairs Handle applications, fees, and deadlines Coordinate staffing so the table's never empty Design engagement gimmicks that beat the booth next door Skills & traits Enjoys spreadsheets and calendars Reliable follow-through on registration deadlines Bonus Creative streak for engagement mechanics: favorite-animal votes, spin wheels, and so on
Handles the logistics that turn "we should have an event" into an event that actually happens.
Responsibilities Book venues and confirm arrangements Source materials, especially food Manage carpool or potluck sign-up lists Coordinate volunteers for in-event roles Skills & traits Enjoys keeping spreadsheets tidy Comfortable with light people management Reliable follow-through on details Bonus Existing knowledge of local venues
Comes up with creative, meaningful events that offer more than "we're going to eat food together."
Responsibilities Design events with a real "why" behind them Balance familiar comforts with genuine novelty Think about what a newcomer will remember afterward Iterate based on what actually landed Skills & traits Sees events as experiences, not schedules Willing to swing on ideas that might flop Bonus Interest in ritual, ceremony, or theater Awareness of what other communities are trying
Welcomes new arrivals and makes sure no one stands alone in a corner wondering if they should leave.
Responsibilities Watch the door and catch first-time attendees Introduce newcomers to existing members Handle the "what is this group actually about" question Check in mid-event to see how newcomers are doing Skills & traits Warm without being overwhelming Naturally attentive to who's on the edge of a room Bonus
The person who makes it feel like an event, not just a room full of people.
Responsibilities Open and close events Handle transitions between segments Read ceremonial or ritual elements out loud Fill unexpected gaps gracefully Skills & traits Comfortable with public speaking Can project warmth to a room Bonus Facilitation training or experience Comfort with improv when things go sideways
Turns a meeting into a meal and a meal into an opportunity to bond.
Responsibilities Design menus that work for the group's dietary makeup Handle sourcing and prep Coordinate kitchen volunteers Manage cleanup logistics Skills & traits Cooking ability, especially plant-based Comfortable cooking at volume Bonus Interest in the cultural dimensions of shared food Restaurant or catering background
Creating little touches that make the community feel like unique: flyers with a look, swag with character.
Responsibilities Design event announcements and promotional materials Maintain a consistent visual identity Produce swag designs when the group wants them Deliver on reasonable timelines Skills & traits Design fundamentals Consistent aesthetic sensibility Bonus Illustration ability alongside layout Comfort with print production
Keeps members feeling connected between gatherings
Responsibilities Send event reminders through the right channels Draft and send the internal newsletter Notice who's been quiet and reach out Coordinate with Social Media on shared assets Skills & traits A bit of a social butterfly Cares about people feeling included Bonus Familiarity with email tools and simple CRMs
Helps community members figure out their own activist paths through patience, experience, and one-on-one attention.
Responsibilities Have regular check-ins with newer members Help people identify roles or campaigns that fit them Share hard-won lessons from experience Work with Greeters to onboard newcomers Skills & traits Veteran presence in the community Patient, good at explaining things Bonus Formal coaching or teaching background Knowledge of movement-wide resources beyond your group
Handles interpersonal conflict when it inevitablycomes up in the community.
Responsibilities Address friction before it becomes fracture Facilitate hard conversations between members Keep confidentiality where it's warranted Help the group develop conflict norms Skills & traits Well-regarded across factions Comfortable with conflict Bonus Formal training in mediation or conflict resolution Restorative justice background
Keeps the group's finances honest and organized.
Responsibilities Track income and expenses in a simple ledger Handle reimbursements to volunteers promptly Prepare readable financial summaries for the group Think ahead about upcoming costs and how to cover them Skills & traits Comfortable with basic bookkeeping Trustworthy with pooled money Reliable follow-through on reimbursements Bonus Familiarity with fiscal sponsorship or nonprofit basics Experience with grant applications Comfort with tools like QuickBooks or spreadsheet formulas
The foundation of any strategic campaign; the person who finds where a target is vulnerable.
Responsibilities Identify key decision makers at target organizations Map corporate structures and reporting lines Find pressure points and public commitments Provide clear briefings for planners and negotiators Skills & traits Comfortable with deep internet research Can decipher corporate and political systems Patient and thorough Bonus Journalism, law, or finance background
Figures out what to ask a target for and how to escalate when they say no.
Responsibilities Design campaign asks grounded in research Build escalation ladders that stay proportional Coordinate timing across tactics Adjust course when new information changes the picture Skills & traits Strategic imagination Willing to hit organizations where it hurts Bonus Prior campaign wins Familiarity with THL, MFA, or other playbooks
The reason a protest happens on time, in the right place, and with the right people showing up.
Responsibilities Turn campaign plans into scheduled actions Manage RSVPs and turnout Coordinate with the Internal Outreach Manager on invitations Handle location scouting and permits when needed Skills & traits Reliable logistical brain Comfortable coordinating multiple people Good with last minute plan changes Bonus Experience with protest permits or public actions
The community's voice in the local press; the person who turns campaigns and community wins into stories.
Responsibilities Pitch local reporters on stories worth covering Write op-eds and letters to the editor Build ongoing relationships with local journalists Coordinate messaging with campaign leadership Skills & traits Can write persuasively for a general audience Comfortable on record with reporters Understands what makes a story newsworthy to an editor Bonus Prior journalism, PR, or communications background Existing relationships with local reporters
The voice on your side of the table when the target picks up the phone.
Responsibilities Handle initial meetings with target representatives Maintain communication throughout the campaign Look for solutions everyone can accept Coordinate with national campaigners on local pushes Skills & traits Can work effectively with adversaries Emotionally steady under pressure Can hold the ask firmly without being combative Bonus Negotiation, sales, or legal background Existing relationships in target industries
Keeps a protest feeling like something worth being at, even when it's cold, long, or the third one this month.
Responsibilities Lead chants and crowd energy at protests Bring elements of fun and whimsy Keep people engaged during lulls Coordinate with the Speaker on the action's overall arc Skills & traits Comfortable being visible and loud Genuinely high-energy in the moment Bonus Musical or theatrical background Instinct for what a crowd needs at a given moment
Draws attention through antics and keeps spirits high.
Responsibilities Perform in costume at protests and events Draw the eyes of passers-by and cameras Interact playfully with children and crowds Handle the physical demands of the suit Skills & traits Uninhibited body language Not embarrassed by public performance Physical stamina for the suit Bonus Dance or theater background Improv chops for interacting in character
The bridge between the protest and the passer-by; the person who turns curiosity into understanding.
Responsibilities Hand out leaflets to people walking past the action Explain the cause in one or two sentences Answer basic questions warmly Gauge who might want more information Skills & traits Approachable and friendly Can explain the cause simply Comfortable being turned down Bonus Multilingual for busy urban protests
Trained to handle situations with law enforcement or belligerent bystanders.
Responsibilities Monitor for potential escalation at actions Intervene with agitated bystanders or officers Support arrestees or those in distress Debrief the team on incidents afterward Skills & traits Formal de-escalation training Calm under pressure Trusted judgment Bonus Legal observer training First aid or mental health first aid