Join » Get Involved!

Thank you for your interest in volunteering for Raw Network of Washington.  We are a volunteer-based organization, and do not currently employ any paid staff members.  Thus, volunteers are critical for carrying out our mission, which is to increase public awareness of the personal and planetary benefits of the raw/living foods lifestyle; to be a "hub" of information and resources that help people identify, choose, and maintain a diet that is healthy, ethical, and sustainable; and to be a community leader that keeps the raw foods movement growing, vibrant, and alive!

Our volunteer program is specifically designed to address the diverse interests of the individuals in the raw foods community by offering a variety of unique, rewarding opportunities to get involved with our organization!   We are proud to offer four unique to get involved with our organization - as a Board Director, Committee Member, Intern, or Short-Term Volunteer.

Board Director

Our Board of Directors is responsible for determining the organization's mission, vision, and values; ensuring effective organizational planning; ensuring adequate resources and managing resources effectively; assessing the organization's performance; and determining and monitoring the organization's programs and services.

An individual’s decision to become a Director of a nonprofit corporation is a serious one.  While many of the responsibilities of a board member or an officer are similar to those of a for-profit corporation, some duties and liabilities are unique to nonprofit organizations.

The minimum commitment of a Board Director is as follows:

  1. One two-year term

  2. Approximately 20 hours of service per month

  3. Annual financial giving

  4. Monthly attendance at Board meetings

  5. Attendance at our annual fundraising events

  6. Attendance at quarterly Board Development sessions

  7. Chair one of the Board's Committees

Committee Member

We have developed a number of different committees, which are dedicated groups within the organization that have been been empowered by the Board of Directors to address a specific issue or task.  Each committee is chaired by one of Raw Network's Board Directors, and ideally has 4-6 members.  Some committees are permanently established, and others are ad hoc.  The minimum commitment of a Committee Member is as follows:

  1. One six-month term (except for ad-hoc committees)

  2. Approximately 20 hours of service per month

  3. Monthly attendance at Committee meetings

  4. Attendance at our annual fundraising event

Intern

Support the growth of our organization while gaining school credit and experience in your field of interest.  Several internship opportunities are currently available for the 2007-2008 school year:

Short-Term Volunteer

From time to time, volunteers request to help perform specific tasks.  Examples of such tasks include event promotion (e.g. hanging flyers, sending out press releases, posting to online event calendars), assisting with fundraising activities (selling Chinook Books during our annual Chinook drive, being a table captain at our annual fundraiser, selling PCC Scrip cards, etc.), writing articles for our newsletter, etc.

Organizational Committees

Community Outreach Committee
Seeks out opportunities for Raw Network of Washington to be represented in the greater community; oversees publication of Fresh Perspectives, our organization's newsletter; plans and conducts community outreach activities; and develops strategies for increasing public awareness

Events Committee
Plans, promotes, and executes social and educational events; proposes new program developments; monitors and evaluates existing programs; facilitate discussions about program priorities for the organization

Organization Development Committee
Collaborates with Board of Directors on keeping the organization’s policies and procedures up to date; ensures diversity within the organization; conducts Strategic Planning in conjunction with Executive Committee; oversees Board governance processes; and maintains the Board Policy and Governance Manual.

Fund Development Committee
In conjunction with the Finance Committee, Board of Directors, and Executive Director, determines the fundraising goals for the organization. Develops an annual fundraising plan that will generate the funds needed to meet our fundraising goals; develops a plan for involving the organization's membership in the non-grant resource development activities of the organization. Seeks out and applies for grants. Investigates new resource development projects, activities, and ideas for possible use in the future.

Finance Committee
Accountable for the our financial policies and procedures. Oversight of development of the budget; ensuring accurate tracking, monitoring, and accountability for funds; and ensuring adequate financial controls.

Public Relations Committee
Plans, develops, and maintains our website; responds to public inquiries; oversees marketing strategies; ensures a strong web prescence; conducts outreach with news media; in collaboration with the Community Outreach Committee, plans and conducts community outreach activities

Membership Committee
Serves our organization's individual and organizatonal members. Determines and implements member benefits; ensures retention of our members through the offering of services that meet our member's needs; implements the means for making prospective and current members aware of the resources, services, and membership benefits; implements policies, procedures, and strategies for enhancing the membership; implements ways to acknowledge new members and encourage participation in activities Identify members' and nonmembers' needs and perceptions, analyzes them, and makes recommendations to the Board of Directors.

Next Steps

Step 1:  Submit an application.

To download an application, please select one of the following.

 Volunteer Application - PDF file

Step 2:  Send in your completed application.

By E-mail:
getinvolved@rawwashington.org

By mail:
Raw Network of Washington
 1037 NE 65th Street, #210
Seattle, WA  98115-6655

Step 3:  Interview and Background Check.

Once we receive your completed application, you will be contacted to set up a date for an interview.  If you are volunteering for the Finance or Fund Development committees, you will also be required  to complete a background check.

If you are unsure about which committee you would like to volunteer on, during the interview process you will have the opportunity to find out more about the activities of each committee to assist you in deciding which committee you would like to put your energy into.

Step 4:  Attend Orientation.

We have our next orientation scheduled for Saturday, November 22 from 2:00 - 4:00 p.m. RSVP by calling Monika at (206) 334-7111.


Who should I contact if I have questions?

If you have general questions about volunteering for Raw Network of Washington, please call Raw Network of Washington's Grand Central Line at (206) 923-8908.