Howard Brown utilizes the talents of many volunteers throughout our organization. Whether it's helping at the Brown Elephant Resale Shops, working at a special event, or assisting with administrative work at our main location, the rewards gained by helping us to provide service to our clients is immeasurable.

Check out our current volunteer opportunities listed below and click here to receive our monthly volunteer e-newsletter. 

Thank you! We simply could not do this work without your help.

Andy Witt and Clay Hinkle
Development Interns
773-388-8902

Current Volunteer Opportunities

Special Events Volunteer Opportunities

Summer Events Volunteers
Help Represent Howard Brown! 
 
Join us this summer and help represent Howard Brown at the all the fabulous summer events. We are looking for volunteers to help us with Pride, Market Days, Pride on the Rocks, Dyke March, and so much more. Volunteer information is listed below.
 
Market Days
August 1st and 2nd
Help staff our booth for Northalsted Market Days. Volunteers are needed for several shifts throughout the day. For more information, contact Andy.
 

4025 N. Sheridan Rd. Volunteer Opportunities

Help out in Case Management 
Case Management Office Assistant
 
Do you have 2-3 hours once or twice a week to help with administrative tasks? We need your help with data entry, monthly reporting, and maintaining community resources (e.g., contacting referral agencies, updating program requirements/contact info).  

Basic computer skills and office experience preferred. Ability to maintain confidentiality is essential.  We need a self starter who can volunteer on a regular basis and at scheduled times. We'll provide a fun, fast-paced environment where you can connect with peers and our community, develop great administrative skills, and learn about community resources.

Interested? Contact contact Kelly Cook-Ginn.

Office Fun 
Help Out in Our Administration Office

Howard Brown's administration staff is always looking for volunteers to help out with things like filing, data entry, and other projects. Come join our fun atmosphere and help us help the community. We are looking for volunteers anytime Monday through Friday from 9 am to 5 pm and can even use help some evenings.

Volunteers are currently needed in our Development, Human Resources, and HIV/Prevention departments. Please contact Andy to set up an orientation and figure out a time that will work best for you! This opportunity is GREAT for students! 

Students, It's Time To Get Involved! 
Flexible Hours! 

Are you looking for a non-profit to work with and make a difference while you are in school? Look no further than Howard Brown. We are looking for students who are caring and compassionate and want to make a difference in the community.

If you need service hours for a class, our volunteer coordinators would love to help find a project that fits your needs. Or get a group of friends together and set up a service day. It is a fun way to get involved! Make sure to ask about our internship opportunities for college and grad school students.

If you are interested in getting involved with Howard Brown, contact Andy to set up a interview/orientation. We will be glad to find a project that fits your needs!

HIV/STD Prevention 
Evaluation Assistant

Our Prevention team is looking for a committed volunteer to help with data entry for evaluation of prevention activities. We need someone who is familiar with online environments, has the ability to input data into an online database, and can work 3 - 8 hours per week (preferably during business hours or in the early evenings).

Commitment to following a set weekly schedule is requested, but negotiable. Knowledge development and experience with health promotion evaluation a plus. Additional opportunities for other health promotion experience are available if desired. Interested? Contact Jeff or David for more information. 

Street Outreach 
Be "The Face of Howard Brown"

We are looking for volunteers to serve as "the face of Howard Brown" in the Chicago MSM (men-who-have-sex-with-men; specifically gay, bisexual, and transgendered) communities. Provide HIV/STD prevention materials, information, and referrals in bars, clubs, and social events.

Outreach experience is preferred, but training will be provided at Howard Brown. Street outreach is held in fun environments such as bars, clubs, and other social venues and will provide you the opportunity to reach out to your peers. Contact Sam for more information.

Is going out not your thing but you still want to help in our Outreach department? Contact Sam to find out ways you can help get us ready for Street Outreach! Volunteers are needed to help with assembling safe sex kits and other related tasks.

Help Us Get Our Message Out 
Outreach Marketing Assistant
 
We are looking for a volunteer to help create health marketing materials for the HIV/STD prevention department. The volunteer would help develop a message campaign that promoted health behaviors (e.g, testing, using a condom) as well as work on the message/wording, the images, and the layout.
 
Experience with graphic design, access to design software, and a familiarity with health topics are required.  A familiarity with LGBT populations/culture is preferred.  Contact Jeff for more information.

Broadway Youth Center Volunteer Opportunities

Be the Person You Wish You Had Growing Up 
Mentors Needed at the Broadway Youth Center!* 

The Mentor Program promotes healthy relationships between youth and adult members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, and/or queer community. This breakthrough program pairs young people (14 - 20) with caring and trustworthy adult (25+) members of the LGBTQ community who share similar interests to engage in meaningful one-on-one experiences.

Please email Tony, Mentor Program Coordinator, or call him at 773.935.3151, ext. 234 for more information.

* Transgender, HIV+, and LGBTQ-SGL people of color highly encouraged to apply. 

Keep Our Inventory in Check 
Drop-in Supply Inventory

We are looking for volunteers to help BYC staff with the drop-in program's supply inventory. Volunteers are asked to work a 3 - 4 hour shift, one night a month. If you have any questions or want to volunteer, please contact Jen via email or at 773.935.3151.

Drive, Drive, Drive! 
Help Support the Broadway Youth Center

The Broadway Youth Center offers youth a safe, fun place to hang out and connect with friends and other youth. Computers and phones, a daily snack, hygiene supplies, showers, and safer sex materials are all available to youth when they come by. Health and education workshops, as well as social and support group meetings also occur on a daily basis. The BYC provides a safe haven for youth where individuality and uniqueness are appreciated, not admonished.

Our Broadway Youth Center is always in need of toiletries, CTA cards, paper plates, and utensils, as well as new socks, bras, and underwear for the youth who utilize services there. These items have such a significant impact for youth who drop in at the BYC.

We encourage you and your club or organization to get involved by organizing a toiletry drive for the BYC. We are always accepting donations and this is a great way to get involved in the community!

Email Andy for more information on setting up a drive. 

Brown Elephant Resale Shops Volunteer Opportunities

Help Us Sort it Out 
Brown Elephant Associate 

Get involved in the energy and excitement of one of Chicago's best resale shops by volunteering as a Brown Elephant Associate. Enjoy a vibrant environment as a Brown Elephant volunteer while meeting new people and raising funds for healthcare services for our uninsured and underinsured clients. You'll serve our customers by assisting with merchandise display, stock help, bag check, donation maintenance, and other tasks as needed. 

Are you an individual or group of two or three interested in volunteering? There's no need to RSVP - just show up! We ask that you commit to a minimum three-hour shift.

Are you a group of four or more interested in volunteering together at the Brown Elephant? We'd love to have your help! Please call us at 773.388.8902 or email Clay to schedule a time to volunteer.

We have three stores - two in Chicago and one in Oak Park. All of our stores are open from 11 am - 6 pm daily, and are always in need of great folks like you. Click here for hours and locations. Click here to learn how you can donate your new and used items to the Brown Elephant.

Donate and Make a Difference 
Brown Elephant Donations

Have a lot of stuff that you no longer use, but that someone else might put to good use? Donate that stuff to our Brown Elephant Resale Shops! We have three locations - two in Chicago and one in Oak Park - and we accept a multitude of items.

Why donate your items to the Brown Elephant? Our Brown Elephant Resale Shops generate 20 percent of Howard Brown's total revenue each year. All proceeds from our Brown Elephant stores help us provide healthcare services for our uninsured and underinsured clients. So not only are you decluttering your space, you're contributing to a great cause!

Questions about donations or donation pick-ups? Please call 773.549.5943.

Interested?

To begin, check out the opportunities above, then follow the steps provided.
To fill out a volunteer application, click here.   

For further questions, please contact Andy Witt or Clay Hinkle, development interns, at 773-388-8902. You can also reach Jenny MacBeard, director of community relations, at jennym@howardbrown.org. Thank you for your interest!