Volunteer Program

Opportunities
The Museum has a variety of volunteer programs. Additional information and position descriptions are below.
Applications are open for Special Events and Visitor Information roles through January 31st 2023.
Apply here to be a Special Events volunteer.
Apply here to be a Visitor Information Volunteer.
Interested in learning more about volunteering with us? Join us on Wednesday, January 11th at 7PM for a Virtual Open House.
Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can! Become a Children’s Program Volunteer and enhance the museum experience for our youngest visitors and their caregivers at the National Museum of African American History and Culture.
The Early Childhood Education Initiative supports the understanding and development of each child’s healthy racial identity, their joy in human diversity and inclusion, their sense of justice, and their capacity to act for their own and others’ fair treatment. Volunteers will contribute to this mission by assisting with children’s programs that include music performances, story times, infant and toddler programs, community and family events, hands-on and craft activities and more.
REQUIRED SKILLS & ABILITIES
- Previous experience in working with diverse families, students, and/or children, ages 0 to 8, in an educational or community-based environment.
- Commitment to implementing anti-bias education programs in a museum environment in age appropriate ways.
- Interest in history and early childhood education.
- Foreign language skills are helpful but not required.
All abilities are welcome. We have different roles available for individuals based on their physical abilities.
- Background check is required
- Must be 18 years of age or older
- Complete trainings led by museum described below
SCHEDULING REQUIREMENTS
- Minimum commitment of 1 year
- Suggested volunteer commitment of 2 programs/month (averaging to 4 – 6 hours monthly)
- Weekday availability is preferred, but not required for eligibility. Most programs take place weekday mornings and early afternoons. (Tuesday through Thursday, 10am to 12pm)
- Throughout the year, there will also be 2nd Saturday and 3rd Sunday programs monthly with quarterly Saturday family day events.
TRAINING
- In-person training workshops on select Saturdays, starting May 2020. Content will include anti-bias education, child development, and methods in museum education.
- Smithsonian Protection of Minors Training is required.
HOW DO I APPLY?
- The application deadline is March 14, 2020. Due to the large number of applications we receive, only those selected to participate in the program will be contacted. Unfortunately, due to the large number of applications we receive, only those selected to participate in the program will be contacted.
- New volunteers must apply and set-up an new account in our Smithsonian Volunteer Management System (Vsys). If you already have an account, login and apply.
Doing Good Does You Good! Program Volunteers support and contribute to the successful undertaking of the National Museum of African American History & Culture’s public programs, educator programs, and conferences. Volunteers represent the Museum and the Smithsonian Institution to the public at these programs.
VOLUNTEER DUTIES
- Public Program Volunteers help with the following:
- Facilitating set-up prior to the program
- Welcoming arriving visitors
- Checking-in visitors
- Scanning tickets
- Line management
- Distributing handouts
- Answering visitor inquiries
- Providing directions
- Distributing and collecting evaluations
- Facilitating break-down and clean-up
- Escorting program participants and their guests to seats or staff
- Assisting staff where needed and undertaking special assignments related to the event or program Preparing program materials
- Assisting with Q&A sessions and serving as timekeeper
- Behind-the-Scenes assistance
- Working with children & families to facilitate programs
DESIRED SKILLS & ABILITIES
- Must be welcoming
- Able to problem-solve
- Provide excellent customer service
- Be comfortable or willing to learn to use an iPad and visitor evaluation techniques
- Ability to react quickly and solve problems
- Foreign language skills are helpful but not required
- Volunteers should possess the following qualities:
- Welcoming personality and enthusiasm for working with the museum’s diverse visitors
- Strong interpersonal skills – must be able to make each visitor feel welcome, impart relevant information and resolve problems
- Interest in African American History and Culture
- Ability to work with a team enthusiastically, dependably and flexibly
- Ability to react quickly and solve problems or recognize when to contact a staff person
- Follow all museum policy even during difficult situations and problematic visitors
- Must be able to lift up to 10lbs
REQUIREMENTS
- All abilities are welcome.
- Background check is required
- Must be 18 years of age or older
- Completion of volunteer training
TRAINING
- The training program will be comprised of in-person and online sessions. Training includes directed and independent study; lectures and demonstrations by museum educators and experts; activities; and on-the-job experience. These sessions will also be taught in connection with the Smithsonian Institution office of Visitor Services and the Office of Protection Services.
SCHEDULING
- Volunteers must commit to at least TWO years of service including the successful completion of a comprehensive training based on customer service and an introduction to the museum’s content. Continued volunteer service is subject to yearly performance reviews.
- Public programs take place weekdays and weekends, during the Museum’s regular hours of operation and in the evenings. Schedules and frequencies are dependent on a number of factors. As a result, volunteers will not be held to a consistent schedule but will be expected to serve at least 2 events per quarter.
- All public, educator and classroom programs will be scheduled consistently, and volunteer schedules and time commitments will be subject to change.
HOW DO I APPLY?
- We are not accepting applications currently. Please continue to check our website for recruitment updates.
Things get solved if you get involved! Apply to become a docent at the National Museum of African American History and Culture! Docents are volunteer facilitators who provide group learning experiences in the form of museum tours, demonstrations, or instruction in special activity areas. They are an essential link between the public and the Museum.
DOCENT VOLUNTEER DUTIES
Docents engage visitors to the museum by:
- Interpreting the Museum’s collections
- Communicating directly with visitors, including the general public, special-interest groups, VIPs, and people with diverse learning style and abilities
Docents must also work in concert with staff and volunteers of the Museum to:
- Present interpretive programs as designed by the Education Department’s Office of Audience Engagement in a manner consistent with the tour program goals and objectives
- Implement and practice effective teaching strategies in a museum setting, that includes discussion, storytelling, verbal description, and working with teaching objects
- Attend additional in-service and volunteer enrichment training sessions offered throughout the year
- Accept periodic evaluation of tours in a spirit of cooperation
- Maintain an attitude of flexibility and respect in relationships with peers and staff
- Function, always, within the guidelines and procedures of the Smithsonian Institution and the National Museum of African American History and Culture
DESIRED SKILLS & ABILITIES
- Volunteers should have an interest in American history and culture and a thirst for knowledge and lifelong learning
- Volunteers must have excellent speaking and communication skills and be active listeners
- Volunteers must enjoy speaking to a variety of visitors and groups of all sizes
- Volunteers must remain calm when faced with the unanticipated and think quickly on their feet
- Retired educators, public and community historians welcome
- Fluency in American Sign Language and other second languages are helpful but not required
- Interpretation and/or experience conducting tours is a bonus
REQUIREMENTS
- A background check for prospective volunteers is required
- Volunteer must be 18 years of age or older
- Complete of volunteer training
TRAINING
- Docents are highly trained on the content of each exhibition. The Museum’s new docent orientation and training is comprised of weekly classroom/workshop sessions, readings, self & group-exploration activities, and a certification examination and video that occur over the course of 9 months to a year.
- Accepted applicants must be available for and attend orientation and training classes that are specific to this volunteer position
- Trainees are expected to shadow tours outside of class
- Accepted applicants must successfully complete the required training course(s), homework assignments, and tour evaluation
SCHEDULING
- Upon successful completion of the training course, a minimum commitment of 2 years of service is expected
- Docents volunteer 2 shifts (averaging 8 -10 hours) per month. Morning (9am – 1:30pm) and afternoon (1:00pm – 5:30pm) volunteer shifts are available seven days a week. Filling afternoon shifts is a high priority for the museum
HOW DO I APPLY?
We are not accepting applications currently. Please continue to check our website for recruitment updates.
Become a Special Events Volunteer. You can support and contribute to the successful undertaking of the National Museum of African American History and Culture’s private events!
Apply here. Applications accepted from January 1, 2023-January 31, 2023.
VOLUNTEER DUTIES
Volunteers will facilitate events by assisting with the following:
- Greeting and welcoming arriving guests
- Checking-in guests
- Distributing maps, programs, and/or handouts related to the event
- Providing wayfinding and answering visitor inquiries
- Providing gallery support and reminding visitors not to bring their food or drink into the galleries
- Providing ushering and theatre support
- Assisting staff where needed
DESIRED SKILLS & ABILITIES
- Strong interpersonal skills
- Discretion, even with high profile guests or public figures
- Flexibility in changing situations
- Promptness
- All abilities are welcome, please let us know if you need accommodations at any point during this recruitment process.
- Ability to react quickly and solve problems
- Foreign language skills are helpful but not required
REQUIREMENTS
- Background check is required
- Must be 18 years of age or older
- Volunteers must complete the trainings led by museum as described below
*Please note, we do not offer parking*
TRAINING
- The training program will be comprised of three virtual sessions and one in-person session. Volunteers must attend and complete all required trainings in order to be on-boarded into the program.
SCHEDULING
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Volunteers are asked commit to at least two years of service
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The majority of Special Events are scheduled on weekday evenings, with the occasional morning or weekend events. We are looking for volunteers who have availability between 5:30PM and 11PM on weekday evenings and 7AM-10AM on weekday mornings.
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Volunteers will be expected to serve at least 2 events per quarter.
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Volunteers must attend and complete all required trainings in order to be on-boarded into the program.
HOW DO I APPLY?
- New volunteers must apply and set-up an new account in our Smithsonian Volunteer Management System (Vsys). If you already have an account, login and apply.
- If you have questions or would like to request accommodations, please contact us at NMAAHCVisitorServices@si.edu.
VISITOR INFORMATION VOLUNTEERS
Visitor Information Volunteers create opportunities for visitors to engage with the museum’s content in a meaningful way. Volunteers are stationed at the Welcome Desk and strategically throughout the museum to serve as a resource to visitors who require orientation and information. As part of the Office of Visitor and Guest Services, Visitor Information Volunteers greet and welcome visitors, encourage an exploration of the museum’s exhibitions and daily program offerings, and provide information about surrounding attractions.
Apply here. Applications accepted from January 1, 2023-January 31, 2023.
Volunteer duties may include but are not limited to:
- Introducing and welcoming visitors to the National Museum of African American History and Culture
- Responding to inquiries, comments, and feedback from diverse audiences clearly, courteously and effectively
- Providing information about the Smithsonian Institution, NMAAHC and its exhibitions and daily program offerings as well as surrounding attractions
- Using knowledge of museum content to guide visitor learning in the museum’s public spaces
- Initiating and facilitating conversations and using objects to spark new questions and ideas from visitors in exhibitions
- Using available resources including computers, iPads, colleagues, and print resources to answer visitor questions or concerns
- Resolving most issues that arise from visitors or bring escalating problems to the attention of volunteer managers when appropriate/necessary
- Staffing exhibitions, public spaces and exterior museum areas as needed to engage the public in conversation and provide wayfinding assistance
- Understanding the Museum’s crowd management protocols and queuing plans in order to direct visitors appropriately during periods of high visitation
- Assisting with the facilitation of Augmented Reality (AR) and Virtual Reality (VR) experiences to visitors All abilities are welcome, please let us know if you need accommodations at any point during this recruitment process.
Time Commitment
The monthly time commitment is two three-hour shifts (6hrs) each month. Continued volunteer service is subject to meeting this time commitment and maintaining performance in line with volunteer requirements.
Daily volunteer shifts are:
- 9:30AM-12:30PM
- 12-3PM
- 2:30PM-5:30PM
We are looking for volunteers with availability Monday through Friday. We are not looking for assistance on Saturday and Sunday.
Requirements
- We are currently looking for volunteers with availability Monday through Friday during our opening hours.
- All abilities are welcome, please let us know if you need accommodations at any point during this recruitment process.
- Background check is required
- Must be 18 years of age or older
- Volunteers must attend and complete all training in order to be on-boarded as a volunteer
*Please note, we do not offer parking*
Necessary Skills and Qualifications
- Flexible and willing to problem solve and adapt to quickly changing situations
- Reliable and willing to meet requirements and expectations set by Museum staff
- An interest in African American History and Culture and an eagerness to learn something new every day
- Ability to utilize computers, iPads, and other technology to assist visitors
- Enthusiasm for working with the museum’s diverse audiences
- Demonstrable interpersonal skills or customer services experience – must be able to make each visitor feel welcome, impart relevant museum content, and resolve problems
- Comfort and confidence speaking to groups of all sizes
- Ability to work with a team
- Foreign language or ASL skills are not required but a plus
Training
The training program will be comprised of three virtual sessions and one in-person session. Volunteers must attend and complete all required trainings in order to be on-boarded into the program.
HOW DO I APPLY?
- New volunteers must apply and set-up an new account in our Smithsonian Volunteer Management System (Vsys). If you already have an account, login and apply.
- If you have questions or would like to request accommodations, please contact us at NMAAHCVisitorServices@si.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Due to overwhelming interest, we are unable to respond to individual public inquiry.
We plan to offer a Virtual Volunteer Program. Please indicate your interest in that when you sign up for volunteer opportunity alerts.
Volunteer positions do not transition into permanent positions. If you are seeking employment, please monitor announcements on the Smithsonian Institution Office of Human Resources website and apply via USA Jobs.
At this time the NMAAHC is unable to accept submissions for activities, exhibitions, programs, publications, and tours.
The Office of Equal Employment and Minority Affairs (OEEMA) ensures compliance with regulatory guidelines and Institutional policies as they relate to diversity and equal opportunity; the office provides direction, oversight, facilitation, and reports on all aspects of equal opportunity (EO) in the Smithsonian Institution's employment and business relationships.
Learn more about the Smithsonian’s EEO policy.
Everybody can be great because anybody can serve. Martin Luther King Jr. Civil Rights Activist