Operational Support
Help support the operations of many programs.
Volunteer Opportunities
Overview
Do you like to drive? We need volunteer drivers to hit the road for PAWS! Volunteer drivers help with a variety of tasks – sometimes in their personal vehicle, or sometimes in one of our PAWS cargo vans. Volunteer drivers bring animals from the Medical Center to the Adoption Centers, where they meet their new families and go home! Volunteer drivers also help by taking animals to specialty veterinary appointments, venture on long-distance road trips to meet transport partners from out of state, and even drive other volunteers in our volunteer shuttle to the Medical Center. Interested in becoming a volunteer driver?
Email volunteers@pawschicago.org to get signed up for orientation and on the road!
Overview
Support our Foster Program and be a direct conduit to saving more lives! As a Foster Program Operational Support Volunteer, you will be on the front lines of expanding our foster program, enabling us to take in more animals. In the role, you will help the team with a variety of daily tasks, including:
- Processing new foster applications
- Making phone calls to new and existing foster parents
- Helping manage foster pickups
- Assist in keeping the foster database up to date
Helpful Skills
There are no requirements. Helpful skills include:
- Comfortable talking on the phone with the public
- Comfortable working with Web-based programs, such as
- Familiarity with Microsoft Excel
- Good organizational skills
Location and Hours
Medical Center
3516 W. 26th St.
Chicago, IL 60623
Pippen Fasseas Adoption Center
1997 N. Clybourn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Training
- New Volunteer Orientation
Overview
You can get hands-on in our Adoption Program operations, helping with a variety of day-to-day tasks, including:
- Keeping the website current by adding updates to pet profiles, adding new pictures, adding new animals, marking animals as recently adopted, and adding alumni updates.
- Assisting in processing adoptions in our Animal Management System.
- Following up with adopters via email or phone to answer any potential questions and ensure a smooth transition to the new home.
Helpful Skills
There are no requirements. Helpful skills include:
- Comfortable talking on the phone with the public
- Comfortable working with Web-based software programs
- Familiarity with Microsoft Excel
- Good organizational skills
Location and Hours
Lincoln Park Adoption Center
1997 N. Clybourn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614
Weekdays: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Weekends: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Training
- New Volunteer Orientation
- On-the-job training as needed
Overview
Help us continue to grow by supporting the expansion of our Volunteer Program! As a Volunteer Program Operational Support Volunteers, you will ensure our program is running effectively. Daily tasks for this role include:
- Processing new volunteer applications
- Managing the new volunteer orientation enrollments
- Recording training
- Keeping our volunteer database up to date
- Responding to any inquiries about the program via email or phone
Helpful Skills
There are no requirements. Helpful skills include:
- Comfortable talking on the phone with the public
- Comfortable working with Web-based software programs
- Familiarity with Microsoft Excel
- Good organizational skills
Location and Hours
Pippen Fasseas Adoption Center
1997 N. Clybourn Ave.
Chicago, IL 60614
Medical Center
3516 W. 26th Street
Chicago, IL 60623
Weekdays: 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Weekends: 8 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Training
- New Volunteer Orientation
Overview
The PAWS for Life Program uses an extensive reminder and follow-up process to ensure that the spay/neuter appointments made through our program are completed.
We’re proud to say at 90% of these appointments are completed. That’s thanks in large part to our Operational Support Volunteers. As an Operational Support Volunteer, you will:
- Make reminder phone calls to confirm spay/neuter appointments
- Enter data related to these appointments
- Run reports
Helpful Skills
There are no requirements. Helpful skills include:
- Being comfortable talking on the phone with clients
- Familiarity with Excel spreadsheets
Location and Hours
Hours and location are flexible.
You may volunteer from home or at our Medical Center:
3516 W. 26th St.
Chicago, IL 60623
Training
- New Volunteer Orientation
- PAWS for Life Program Orientation
Advanced Volunteer Opportunities
- Team Leader
- Create reports to help guide the program
Overview
As an Operational Support Volunteer, you will provide support for Humane Education Volunteers. That includes scheduling, administrative and logistical duties. You will also provide support for Humane Education social media initiatives as needed.
Helpful Skills
There are no requirements. Helpful skills include:
- Familiarity with computers, particularly Microsoft Word, Excel and PowerPoint
- A working knowledge of social media platforms
Location and Hours
Medical Center
3516 W. 26th St.
Chicago, IL 60623
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Training
- New Volunteer Orientation
- Computer and Phone Training:
You will be trained on the scheduling system, as well as on how to gather support materials for program visits. You will also learn how to monitor and update social media components for the department.
Overview
The PAWS Chicago Pet Food Bank (PFB) is run almost completely by volunteers. We distribute thousands of pounds of donated food and supplies to families in need each month.
As an Operational Support Volunteer, you will:
- Answer telephone and email inquiries about the PFB
- Help clients register for the PFB
- Schedule appointments
- Procure food donations from individuals and businesses
- Schedule and assist with the transport of donated pet supplies
- Organize donated supplies
- Pack and distribute pet food pickups
- Help with record keeping
Helpful Skills
- Enjoy working with people
- Comfort and sensitivity when working with the public
Location and Hours
Medical Center
3516 W. 26th St.
Chicago, IL 60623
9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Training
- New Volunteer Orientation
- On-the-job training
Advanced Volunteer Opportunities
- Pet Food Bank Program Manager
Overview
As a TNR Colony Support Volunteer, you will provide administrative support that ensures the TNR Program runs smoothly.
Duties include:
- Answering phone calls and inquiries regarding the TNR Program
- Entering Colony Caretaker information into the PAWS TNR Database
- Helping with inventory management of the traps
- Sending out annual requests to Colony Caretakers for updates on colony statistics
- Cross-referencing feral/community cats who end up at Animal Care & Control with the PAWS Chicago database and helping return feral cats to their colonies
Helpful Skills
There are no requirements to be a TNR Colony Support Volunteer. Key skills include:
- Compassion for community cats
- PC and data entry skills
- Customer service skills
- Ability to speak Spanish
Location and Hours
Lurie Spay/Neuter Clinic
3516 West 26th St.
Chicago, IL 60623
However, many TNR volunteers are needed to work in the field in Chicago’s neighborhoods. Hours and locations depend on current projects and needs.
Training
- New Volunteer Orientation
- TNR Workshop
Advanced Opportunities
- TNR Trainer