How to Volunteer at a Wildlife Foundation

A wildlife foundation provides sanctuary for unique animals while educating the public on the diversity of nature. Your visits to a wildlife foundation may increase your interest in helping with administrative, maintenance and educational tasks.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Convince a friend to work with you as a volunteer at a wildlife foundation. You can double the impact of your work and get through difficult tasks at the foundation with the help of a friend.

2. Research basic facts on every animal highlighted by the wildlife foundation before you volunteer. You should look at the foundation's past newsletters and campaigns to help guide your research.

3. Offer your services to a wildlife foundation as a maintenance worker. Foundations connected with a zoo or wildlife habitat need volunteers to maintain the condition of displays for each animal. Your experience with painting, carpentry and mechanical repair can help the foundation save vital funds.

4. Meet with the public as you volunteer for a foundation in your role as a volunteer tour guide. A few hours each weekend showing people around habitats and explaining the problems faced by a particular species can draw in donors to the foundation.

5. Speak with a volunteer coordinator at a wildlife foundation about special skills you can use while volunteering. Video production and artistic skills can help a foundation create unique advertisements without the expense of working with an ad agency.

6. Participate in fundraising drives for a wildlife foundation to increase funding for educational efforts. You can stuff envelopes to past donors and spend time at the phone banks to help fund the organization's upcoming efforts.

7. Help a wildlife foundation cut down on administrative expenses by helping fill out paperwork and working the office phones. You can spend time answering questions from the public via phone and completing supply purchases to eliminate the need for a full-time office assistant.

8. Reach out to kids about the wonders of wildlife as an outreach volunteer with a wildlife foundation. You can have fun with students at a local school by bringing videos and coloring sheets to accompany your presentation.

Tips & Warnings

• Establish a regular schedule in order to maximize the time you volunteer at a wildlife foundation. Smaller foundations might have the experience of volunteers leaving after a few days of work due to lack of free time. You should use nights, weekends and natural breaks from work to help your local wildlife foundation.