Do you have volunteer opportunities?

Where do you have volunteer opportunities?

How do I apply?

Why do you need to know my background?

How long is the application process?

What kind of commitment is there?

What volunteer opportunities are available?

Are volunteers very involved with the children?

Do you have volunteer positions that aren’t emotionally demanding?

What is a Wish Granter?

What does the application process involve?

Do you have volunteer opportunities?
Volunteers are the foundation of our organization. Our chapter has approximately 300 volunteers and only a small professional staff. A volunteer Board of Directors governs the Make-A-Wish Foundation®.
Frequently, wish families have asked to become a volunteer for the Foundation after their wish is complete. Most families decide to involve themselves in one of the following activities; volunteer wish granting and public speaking.

Where do you have volunteer opportunities?
Make-A-Wish Foundation of Missouri covers all 115 counties in Missouri and 6 Kansas counties that are a part of metro Kansas City.Our headquarters is located in St. Louis, with program centers in Kansas City and Springfield. We have volunteers in all counties. However, there may be a few times when it is necessary to travel to the St. Louis area for meetings or training.

How do I apply?
To become a volunteer anywhere in Missouri and the 6 Kansas counties that are part of Metro Kansas City, contact Karen Callahan at 314-918-9474 or kcallahan@mo.wish.org. 

Why do you need to know my background?
Because we work closely with children, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Missouri does a thorough check of all volunteer applicants. For applicants 18 years of age and older, we also perform a criminal background check through Missouri State Police and the Dept of Children and Family Services. We are most concerned with any criminal history in regards to child abuse and/or fraud. All information received from these reports will remain confidential and be used only for screening purposes.

How long is the application process?

Once we receive your application and background check, we submit the check to the State of Missouri Criminal Records System for clearance    Once it is received in our office, you will be contacted for a short phone interview and informed of the next available training session.  Because these tend to fill up quickly, and they are only 4 - 5 times per year, it may be a few months before you become an "official" volunteer.  But once you attend the training, you will be a volunteer until you decide to resign! 

What kind of commitment is there?
Commitment levels vary in terms of time, depending on your volunteer position. Wish Granters can sometimes put in several hours a week, especially when a wish is a complex one, or is reaching its delivery day, or they can spend less than an hour a week on wish work. Other volunteers may help at events without wishgranting.  We do ask all volunteers to help with three events per fiscal year (Sept. 1st - Aug. 31st) to remain an active volunteer.  We do expect a high level of commitment and professionalism from our volunteers,and depend on these individuals to help us when events need coverage.

What volunteer opportunities are available?
We offer all kinds of volunteer experiences from wish granting to public speaking, to event planning and execution, to helping us out in the office.

Are volunteers very involved with the children?
Of all our volunteer positions, wish granting offers the highest level of involvement with wish children and their families. Even so, Wish Granters meet a family at the beginning and end of a wish, but may rely on telephone contacts during the rest of the wish. Our emphasis is on delivering a one-of-a-kind wish experience, rather than on developing ongoing relationships with families or children.

Do you have volunteer positions that aren’t emotionally demanding?
We know that the work we do has a high emotional content. Some people would like to help because they relate to our mission, but would prefer little or no involvement with the families. In such cases, we suggest the positions of helping in the office, working at events, and fundraising. All our volunteer positions contribute equally to our mission, and bring joy to children with life-threatening illnesses and their families.

What is a Wish Granter?
Wish Granters work in teams of two attending to the details of granting a wish. They work directly with children to plan wishes and work creatively to seek in-kind goods and services to implement the wish. The nature of each child’s wish determines the level of the Wish Granter’s involvement. Wish Granters must be at least 21 years old.

For additional information, contact our headquarters at 800.548.5058 or e-mail Karen Callahan, Volunteer Coordinator at kcallahan@mo.wish.org.