America Needs You volunteers help first-generation college students build the relationships, skills, and professional networks that create pathways to great careers and long-term economic mobility.
America Needs You offers flexible ways to share your experience, build connections, and support first-generation college students.
Get paired with a Fellow for one-on-one mentorship and meet with them at monthly Saturday workshops. Mentor Coaches build an ongoing relationship with their Fellow, providing guidance, encouragement, and access to professional networks as they navigate college and prepare for their career.
Join us for a three-hour Saturday workshop in New York City, New Jersey, or Chicago. Career Coaches work with Fellows through small-group activities, career conversations, and networking. No long-term commitment required.
Volunteer from anywhere and help Fellows strengthen their interview skills. During virtual enrichment events, volunteers conduct practice interviews and provide feedback to help Fellows build confidence and prepare for future opportunities.
Join a virtual info session to learn more about volunteering with America Needs You, the different ways to get involved, and what to expect as a Coach.
What advice do you wish you could give your college-aged self? Pay it forward at one of our monthly Saturday workshops where ANY staff lead Fellows and Mentor Coaches through our professional development curriculum. You’ll interact with students and volunteers during small group activities, sharing your knowledge and unique experience as a professional, and helping first-generation college students explore career paths and hone their skills.
COMMITMENT: 3 hours (9:30am-12:30pm)
MODALITY: In-person
LOCATIONS: NYC, New Jersey, and Chicago
DATES: One Saturday per month.
Engage in virtual sessions that cover topics like mock interviews, informational interviews, pitch training, and resume reviews. These sessions offer a chance to network with our Fellows across our sites in New York, New Jersey, and Illinois, sharing your career insights, feedback, and tips to develop career skills and support our students on their college journeys.
COMMITMENT: 1.5 hours
MODALITY: Virtual
LOCATION: Zoom
We are looking for college graduates with 1+ years of work experience post-graduation that are willing to share their industry expertise and network with first-generation college students to help build the relationships and skills they need to launch great careers. We offer both virtual and in-person volunteer opportunities.
To view and sign up for any of our volunteer opportunities, log in to ANY’s volunteer portal using your existing account information, or select “create an account” if you are a first-time volunteer.
The Fellows program currently operates in Illinois (Chicago), New Jersey, and New York (NYC).
If you are interested in volunteering as a Mentor Coach, you must reside within commuting distance to one of our site locations as you will be expected to attend Saturday workshops once a month, from 9:30am-12:30pm in the site’s respective time zone.
If you are interested in volunteering as a Single–day Volunteer for one of our Virtual Volunteer Opportunities, you may participate from anywhere!
Mentor Coaches will be trained and onboarded before the start of the program and receive ongoing support from ANY staff throughout their volunteer term.
Virtual Volunteers will receive instructions via e-mail ahead of the virtual volunteer event they sign up for, and a brief overview of their role during the event.
As a volunteer, you will have the opportunity to network with highly accomplished professionals from a variety of industries and gain access to exclusive professional development opportunities.
91% of volunteers say partnering with ANY has provided more personal fulfillment compared to other volunteer opportunities.
85% say they’ve expanded their professional networks through ANY.
84% say volunteering with ANY has made them a better leader or manager.
In addition to the above, there are countless intangible benefits to joining ANY; you will make lifelong friends (we’ve even had married couples meet through ANY!), be exposed to new perspectives, and equip the next generation with knowledge you wish you’d had in college.
You can learn more about our eligibility requirements for Fellows here.
Fellows receive extensive career development training, one-on-one mentorship, opportunities to interact with robust professional networks, and holistic support to overcome personal and academic challenges, such as transferring from a community college.
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