Volunteer

CLIENT FACING VOLUNTEERS

DAIS Client Facing volunteers provide direct services to adults and children fleeing violence and work to build a society where all people can live their lives free of violence and fear. To learn more about all the Client Facing opportunities, please view the opportunities below and click the role to view the position description.

Available Client Facing Volunteer Opportunities:

Children’s Advocate:Do you enjoy spending time with children? Is playing with kids, engaging in both free play as well as planned themed activities like making slime and building marble tracks, your kind of fun? If playing tag, red light-green light, and pushing swings is your thing, then volunteering as a DAIS Children’s Advocate is the way to go. Helping children thrive, one evening at a time. DAIS is seeking caring volunteers who can provide a structured, safe, and fun environment for the children who are staying in the DAIS shelter or receiving other DAIS services. Children’s Advocate Volunteers play a vital role in advancing DAIS’ mission and supporting our children’s programming. By consistently sharing their time and creativity, advocates help ensure children are cared for in a safe, engaging environment while their parents address important steps toward family safety.

Help Line Advocate: Are you a good listener? Do you enjoy talking on the telephone? Are you interested in being a supportive advocate to people impacted by domestic violence? Our Help Line is supported by advocates who volunteer their time and provide crisis intervention, support, safety planning, information, and referrals through the 24-hour Help Line and Text Line. Help Line Advocates are often one of the first points of contact for individuals seeking support or assistance. Services are available 24/7 to survivors of intimate partner violence, as well as their family members, friends, service providers, and the public. Volunteers are essential members of the DAIS team, contributing directly to the sustainability and effectiveness of our services.

Shelter Support Volunteer: If you have excellent listening and communication skills, are comfortable interacting with individuals who may be in need of emotional support and resources, and are passionate about DAIS mission, our Shelter Support Volunteer role may be for you. Shelter Support Volunteers play a vital role in advancing DAIS’ mission through compassionate, survivor-centered services. By offering trauma-informed, empowerment-based emotional support and advocacy, Shelter Support Volunteers help to ensure that survivors of intimate partner violence and their children experience safety, dignity, and respect within the shelter community as they work to address the impact of intimate partner violence in their lives. Grounded in DAIS values of mutual respect, openness, collaboration, and shared responsibility, volunteers provide a consistent and supportive presence that helps cultivate a welcoming, inclusive, and healing environment where residents can feel secure, respected, and empowered as they move toward safety and stability.

Shelter Cook: If you enjoy cooking for others and bringing people together over a shared meal, the Shelter Cook volunteer role may be a great fit for you!Shelter cooks share their love of cooking by preparing nutritious, delicious, home-cooked dinners for our shelter community. Shelter Cooks prepare meals on-site within the shelter kitchen. Providing a meal gives DAIS clients a welcome break from daily responsibilities and creates an opportunity to gather, connect, and enjoy time together in a supportive environment. No professional cooking experience is required – just basic kitchen skills, a positive attitude, and a desire to be part of a team that makes a meaningful difference one meal at a time.

Support Group: Support Groups offer a powerful space for connection, healing, and shared strength among survivors of intimate partner violence. DAIS invites compassionate volunteers to help facilitate weekly support groups where survivors can feel heard, respected, and supported. As a Support Group Volunteer, you help foster a warm, inclusive environment by upholding group guidelines that ensure safety, confidentiality, and mutual respect for all participants.

If you are interested in joining our next group of DAIS Client Facing Volunteers, APPLY HERE.

DAIS advocates interact with sensitive information and vulnerable clients, making proper training essential. To ensure safety and confidentiality, all required trainings must be successfully completed before working directly with clients. All Direct Client Facing Volunteers must attend the entire New Advocate Training as well as all Program Specific Training.

DAIS SERVICE VOLUNTEERS

DAIS Service Volunteers are an essential part of our community and play a meaningful role in supporting the DAIS mission. Volunteers help create a welcoming and supportive environment in many ways – from maintaining clean and safe spaces, to greeting visitor, to representing DAIS with care and compassion in the community. While Service Volunteers typically do not work directly with clients, their time and dedication are vital to ensuring that everyone who comes to DAIS feels safe, respected, and supported.

Available DAIS Service Volunteer Opportunities:

Ambassadors: Are you outgoing, welcoming, and passionate about sharing the mission of DAIS?DAIS Ambassador Volunteers are the friendly faces of our organization, connecting with the community and spreading awareness about our services. Ambassadors attend community events, fairs, and tabling opportunities to share information and start meaningful conversations. They may also help post event flyers around the community and lend a hand at larger DAIS fundraising events – all while helping DAIS build strong, visible connections across Dane County.
Communications Volunteer: Are you passionate about social media, research, and strategic communication? DAIS Communication Volunteers provide valuable behind-the-scenes support by helping identify how DAIS appears across every media and public conversations. In this role, volunteers monitor local, national, and global current events to gather information relevant to DAIS’ work, strengthen communication efforts, and support the organization’s mission through thoughtful research and engagement.
Court Watch: Are you passionate about social justice and interested in how the legal system impacts survivor safety? As a DAIS Court Watch Volunteer, you will play a meaningful role by observing restraining order injunction hearings at the Dane County Courthouse and documenting what you see. The Court Watch program uses these observations to better understand how the court system supports victim safety and promotes accountability in intimate partner violence cases – helping to inform on positive, trauma-informed change for our community.
Development & Event Planning Volunteer: Do you enjoy meaningful events and connecting with community supporters? DAIS Development and Event Planning Volunteers play an essential role in helping our events run smoothly and successfully. In this role, volunteers support donor outreach by following up on donation requests, engaging with community partners, and assisting with day-to-day administrative tasks within the development department. This is a wonderful opportunity for individuals who are organized, personable, and passionate about supporting DAIS’ mission.
Front Desk Reception: Do you love being the friendly first face people see when they walk in the door? Are you comfortable answering phones and helping connect people with the support they need? As a DAIS Front Desk Receptionist Volunteer, you play a vital role in creating a safe, welcoming, and compassionate first impression. Front Desk Receptionist Volunteers interact with a wide range of individuals including people seeking walk-in services, current clients, donors, vendors, visitors, and staff – while ensuring everyone feels respected and supported. Volunteers also help maintain a calm, organized, and inviting environment in the main lobby, meeting rooms, and reception area.
Kids’ Space Cleaning Crew: Do you enjoy organizing, cleaning, fixing, and making spaces feel ready and welcoming? Kids’ Space Cleaning Crew volunteers are the behind-the-scenes people who help ensure our environments are safe, clean, organized, and inviting for the children and families we serve. From repairing toys and making sure games have all their pieces, to restocking books and dolls, these volunteers help keep Kids’ Space running smoothly. By cleaning Kids’ Space and child friendly meeting rooms, Kids’ Space Cleaning Crew volunteers play an essential role in creating a comforting, welcoming environment for all survivors.

If you are interested in joining our next group of DAIS Service volunteers, APPLY HERE.

To protect the safety and well-being of the clients DAIS serves, all volunteers must complete a background check as part of the application process. Volunteers who provide direct client services may also be required to undergo fingerprint-based screening.

If you have any questions about volunteering, please contact volunteer@abuseintervention.org.

All Volunteer Job Descriptions: (note, some are not accepting new applications)

Ambassadors: Are you outgoing, welcoming, and passionate about sharing the mission of DAIS?DAIS Ambassador Volunteers are the friendly faces of our organization, connecting with the community and spreading awareness about our services. Ambassadors attend community events, fairs, and tabling opportunities to share information and start meaningful conversations. They may also help post event flyers around the community and lend a hand at larger DAIS fundraising events – all while helping DAIS build strong, visible connections across Dane County.
Children’s Advocate: Children are involved in both structured activities and free play through the DAIS Parent and Child Advocacy Program. Volunteers help lead group activities, as well as assist individual children. Volunteers must be able to commit to one 2-hour shift per week for a minimum of 1 year. Most shifts are weekday evenings, M-TH from 6:15pm – 8:15pm. Daytime and weekday hours may be available based on programming.
Communications Volunteer: DAIS Communication Volunteers provide valuable behind-the-scenes support by helping identify how DAIS appears across every media and public conversations. In this role, volunteers monitor local, national, and global current events to gather information relevant to DAIS’ work, strengthen communication efforts, and support the organization’s mission through thoughtful research and engagement.
Court Watch: Court Watch Volunteers are trained to observe court hearings on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday mornings, 8:00am – 12:00pm. Volunteers must be able to commit to one 4-hour shift per week for a minimum of 6 months. Shifts take place at the courthouse downtown.
Development & Event Planning Volunteer: DAIS Development and Event Planning Volunteers play an essential role in helping our events run smoothly and successfully. In this role, volunteers support donor outreach by following up on donation requests, engaging with community partners, and assisting with day-to-day administrative tasks within the development department.
Donation Room Volunteer: *currently not accepting new applications* Volunteers help organize, tidy, and track our in-kind donations that are given to us by our generous community. Volunteers are expected one 2–4-hour shift per week with more opportunities available during high volume times of the year.
Front Desk Reception: Be the first friendly face our visitors and clients see when they come to DAIS. Offer a warm welcome and address general reception tasks. Available shifts are 4 hours (Monday – Friday), must be able to commit to one (or more) 4-hour shift per week. Minimum commitment of 3-months required.
Gardening Volunteer: *currently not accepting new applications* Volunteers help plant and care for our garden that is used by our clients, staff, and volunteers. Hours are dependent on weather and are expected to be 6-10 hours per week. Note: this position is not required to attend the full 26-hour New Advocate Training, DAIS staff will discuss training with you.
Help Line Advocate: Volunteers are trained to answer the 24-hour Help Line and Text Line. Calls and texts from survivors, concerned family and friends, other health/service professionals, and staff from other organizations are typical. Volunteers must commit to at least one 3–4-hour shift per week for a minimum of 6 months. Shifts are available from 7:00am-11:00pm.
Kids’ Space Cleaning Crew: Do you enjoy organizing, cleaning, fixing, and making spaces feel ready and welcoming? Kids’ Space Cleaning Crew volunteers are the behind-the-scenes people who help ensure our environments are safe, clean, organized, and inviting for the children and families we serve. From repairing toys and making sure games have all their pieces, to restocking books and dolls, these volunteers help keep Kids’ Space running smoothly. By cleaning Kids’ Space and child friendly meeting rooms, Kids’ Space Cleaning Crew volunteers play an essential role in creating a comforting, welcoming environment for all survivors.
Shelter Cook: Volunteer Cooks work together to cook and serve dinner once a week to shelter clients and families in the DAIS Kitchen and Shelter, in addition to dishes and clean-up after dinner.
Shelter Support Volunteer: Volunteers will assist in maintaining a safe and welcoming environment for all shelter residents. Tasks will include supporting daily operations, helping to keep shared spaces tidy, and ensuring rooms are ready for new families. Volunteers must be able to commit one or more 4-hour shift per week. Shifts take place from 5:00pm-9:00pm daily.
Support Group Advocate: Advocates lead and facilitate one peer-based support group weekly. Opportunities are available Friday 12-1:30 pm. Advocate must be able to facilitate one group a week for a minimum of 1.5 years.

Thank you for your interest in volunteering with DAIS – we hope to work with you soon!