1. Review the Volunteer Expectations
Open Door Peace volunteers must:
- Treat every person with dignity, patience, fairness, and respect.
- Protect all personal and service-related information.
- Follow Open Door Peace training, supervision, and service boundaries.
- Perform only the duties included in their assigned volunteer role.
- Ask for guidance when a request is beyond their role or experience.
- Never charge, request, or suggest payment from anyone they serve.
- Never accept fees, tips, gifts, favors, or personal compensation.
- Never use volunteer service to obtain private clients, customers, business, employment, or personal benefit.
All approved donations must be made directly to Open Door Peace through its official donation process. Donations must never be collected or accepted personally by a volunteer.
2. Complete the Volunteer Application
Applicants must submit complete and accurate information about their experience, skills, interests, languages, and availability.
Submitting an application does not automatically make someone an approved Open Door Peace volunteer.
3. Submit a Resume
A current resume is required.
The resume may include:
- Employment history
- Education
- Professional qualifications
- Community service
- Volunteer experience
- Language skills
- Other relevant experience
Applicants who do not have a formal resume may submit a simple written summary of their education, employment, volunteer service, and relevant skills.
4. Provide Three References
Applicants must provide three references who can speak about their character, reliability, work, professional experience, or community service.
References should not be members of the applicant’s immediate household.
Open Door Peace may contact the references by telephone or email.
5. Application Review
Open Door Peace will review the application, résumé, references, qualifications, availability, and requested area of service.
We will consider:
- Whether an appropriate volunteer role is available
- Whether the applicant’s experience matches the role
- Whether the applicant understands confidentiality and service boundaries
- Whether additional training or screening is required
- Whether the assignment will be safe and beneficial for everyone involved
Some applicants may be placed on a volunteer interest list until an appropriate opportunity becomes available.
6. Volunteer Conversation
Selected applicants may be invited to a brief conversation or interview.
The conversation may include:
- Volunteer interests
- Experience and skills
- Availability
- Confidentiality
- Service boundaries
- Training needs
- Possible assignments
- Questions from the applicant
7. Complete Additional Screening
Some roles may require additional screening, especially when they involve direct service, vulnerable individuals, private records, transportation, financial responsibilities, home visits, or professional services.
Additional screening may include:
- Identity verification
- Reference checks
- Background screening
- License or credential verification
- Additional interviews
- Role-specific documentation
Open Door Peace will explain any additional requirements before proceeding.
8. Complete Volunteer Training
Approved applicants must complete orientation and any training required for their assigned role.
Training may include:
- The mission and principles of Open Door Peace
- Respectful and nonjudgmental service
- Confidentiality and privacy
- Volunteer responsibilities
- Safety procedures
- Personal and professional boundaries
- Communication and documentation
- Referral procedures
- Responding to difficult or urgent situations
- Rules regarding money, gifts, and private services
A volunteer may not begin serving community members until all required training has been completed.
9. Sign the Volunteer Agreement
Before receiving an assignment, each volunteer must sign the Open Door Peace Volunteer Agreement.
The agreement confirms that the volunteer understands the following:
- Volunteer service is unpaid.
- Volunteers may not charge or request payment.
- Volunteers may not accept money, fees, tips, gifts, favors, or personal compensation.
- Volunteers may not solicit private clients or use their volunteer position for personal benefit.
- Official donations must be made directly to Open Door Peace.
- Private information must be protected.
- Volunteers must remain within their assigned duties.
- Volunteers must follow training, supervision, and safety requirements.
- Open Door Peace may change, pause, or end a volunteer assignment when necessary.
10. Complete the Initial Service Period
Each approved volunteer begins with an initial six-month service period.
During the first six months, Open Door Peace and the volunteer will review whether the assignment is appropriate, safe, dependable, and beneficial to the people being served.
At the end of the initial service period, Open Door Peace may:
- Continue the volunteer’s current assignment
- Modify the volunteer’s duties
- Provide additional training or supervision
- Assign the volunteer to a different role
- Pause or end the volunteer assignment
Completion of the first six months does not automatically guarantee continued placement.
After successful completion of the initial six-month service period, the volunteer’s registration and assignment will be reviewed once each year.
The yearly review may consider:
- Reliability and attendance
- Conduct and communication
- Quality of service
- Compliance with confidentiality requirements
- Compliance with payment and gift rules
- Completion of required training
- Current availability
- Continuing program and community needs
Continued volunteer service is subject to yearly approval and the availability of an appropriate assignment.
11. Receive a Volunteer Assignment
Volunteer assignments are based on:
- Community needs
- Available programs
- Qualifications and experience
- Language skills
- Availability
- Location
- Completed training
- Required level of supervision
Volunteers may assist with programs, special projects, administrative work, outreach, resource support, guided DIY assistance, follow-up, translation, technology, fundraising, or other approved activities.
Volunteers may perform only the duties included in their assigned role.
12. Begin Service Under Supervision
New volunteers begin service with guidance from an assigned Open Door Peace supervisor or program leader.
Volunteers must promptly report:
- Questions they cannot answer
- Requests beyond their assigned role
- Safety concerns
- Possible privacy violations
- Offers of money or gifts
- Requests for private or personal services
- Conflicts or inappropriate conduct
- Situations involving urgent professional assistance
Volunteers should never attempt to manage a serious problem alone.