Looking to Volunteer in NYC? Make a Difference With Womankind
Looking to Volunteer in NYC? Make a Difference With Womankind
Mentors for the Asian Youth Program for children ages 6-12, run in partnership with Columbia University since 1998
Volunteers have been at the heart of Womankind since the very beginning. Founded in 1982 as the New York Asian Women’s Center (NYAWC), Womankind was entirely volunteer-run for its first five years. What began with a small group of volunteers determined to help Asian immigrant women experiencing domestic violence has grown into an organization with approximately 70 staff members serving survivors and their families across New York City.
Yet more than four decades later, volunteers remain essential to Womankind’s work. In 2025 alone, about 85 volunteers and interns contributed more than 11,000 hours of service.
Today, volunteers support Womankind in many different ways—from providing childcare for families participating in programs and offering interpretation and translation in Asian languages and dialects to helping community events run smoothly and mentoring teens through creative expression.
For those looking to volunteer in New York City and make a meaningful, lasting impact, Womankind offers the opportunity to join a nearly 45-year tradition of service to Asian communities, immigrant communities, and communities of color.
Volunteer members of the Young Professionals Board, who advance Womankind's mission through fundraising and community engagement
A Legacy Built by Volunteers
Womankind’s history began with a small group of students from Hunter College’s School of Social Work who recognized an urgent need in Manhattan’s Chinatown.
At the time, Asian immigrant women experiencing domestic violence had few places to turn for support that addressed the cultural and linguistic barriers they faced. The students decided to do something about it. From their homes, they established a single phone line that became the first helpline for Asian domestic violence survivors on the East Coast.
Volunteers quickly became involved in much more than answering calls. In 1984, NYAWC established an all-volunteer counseling training program. By 1985, volunteers were personally taking survivors and their children into their own homes during emergencies, effectively creating the first organized shelter program for abused Asian women on the East Coast. The organization’s first staff member wasn’t hired until 1987.
In 1990, NYAWC established New York City’s first 24-hour Asian multilingual hotline, staffed entirely by volunteers. That commitment earned federal recognition in 1991, when President George H. W. Bush honored NYAWC with the President’s Volunteer Action Award. The following year, New York City officials recognized NYAWC and its volunteers for a decade of work combating violence against women at a “Tribute to Volunteers” ceremony at City Hall.
Volunteers continue to play an important role in Womankind’s 24-hour multilingual helpline today, helping connect more survivors with the services and support they need.
There’s More Than One Way to Volunteer in New York City
When people think about becoming a domestic violence organization volunteer in NYC, including culturally specific ones like ours, they may assume that volunteering always means working directly with survivors. At Womankind, there are many ways to contribute.
Individual volunteer opportunities can include supporting the multilingual helpline, providing childcare for families participating in Womankind programs, offering interpretation and translation, supporting community events, and mentoring teens through creative expression. Opportunities vary depending on the current needs of Womankind’s programs and communities.
Companies, schools, student groups, and community organizations can also get involved through group volunteer opportunities. Groups have contributed meaningfully to Womankind through in-kind drives—including culturally specific pantry food and hygiene items, backpacks and school supplies, and winter wear—First Day of Work Kits for survivors, sponsored event support, welcome kit assembly for families moving into our emergency housing, food pantry restock, children’s holiday gifts fulfilment and distribution, and other activities.
The breadth of these opportunities means that people can contribute different skills, backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to Womankind’s mission.
Volunteers and executive team members from M&T Bank’s AAPI CT/NJ/NYC Employee Group, who organized a drive and restocked Womankind's pantry for survivors. Photo courtesy of Dan Kim.
What It Takes to Be a Volunteer to Support Survivors of Gender-Based Violence
You don’t need previous professional experience working with survivors to volunteer at Womankind. But volunteering at a gender-based violence organization comes with important responsibilities.
Womankind seeks volunteers who are passionate about supporting survivors, families, and children, and who understand and advocate for our mission and vision. Volunteers should have a basic understanding of gender-based violence and recognize the importance of culturally specific services, particularly when working with immigrant communities.
Commitment is equally important. Rather than viewing volunteering as a one-time experience, Womankind hopes to build relationships with volunteers who become part of our community over time. That can look different for everyone. One volunteer might return to support a community event year after year. Another might provide interpretation and translation whenever particular language needs arise. Others may make an ongoing weekly commitment to the helpline or Womankind’s mentorship programs such as Drawing and Truth (DAT).
What matters is a willingness to build a lasting connection with the organization and the communities we serve. All new volunteers attend a New Volunteer Orientation, where they learn more about Womankind and receive training on gender-based violence, working with immigrant communities, and providing culturally sensitive, survivor-centered care. Volunteers are also expected to understand and respect the importance of confidentiality.
For people looking to volunteer for a domestic violence organization in NYC, these expectations are an important part of the experience. Supporting survivors isn’t simply about giving your time. It means showing up responsibly, respecting confidentiality, understanding the communities you’re serving, and putting survivor-centered care at the heart of the work.
What Happens After You Apply?
Interested in becoming a Womankind volunteer? The process begins by submitting an application through the Womankind website. Applications are reviewed by our team, and selected applicants are invited to interview with Womankind’s Volunteer Program Manager. This gives us an opportunity to learn more about your interests and experience while giving you the chance to learn more about Womankind and what volunteering with us entails.
Applicants who are accepted following the interview are then invited to attend the New Volunteer Orientation before beginning their volunteer work. This process helps ensure that volunteers are prepared for their roles and that each opportunity is a good fit for both the volunteer and the Womankind community. Certain roles may require additional training and/or interviews with program-specific managers. All volunteers in direct service roles will need to complete a fingerprint background check.
Looking Ahead: Building Womankind’s Volunteer Community
Womankind began with a handful of volunteers responding to a need they saw in their own community. Forty-four years later, we’re continuing to build on that legacy. Looking ahead, our goal is to create an even stronger and more connected volunteer community—one where people return year after year, deepen their connection with Womankind’s mission, learn more about the communities we serve, and become an integral part of our team.
Whether that means regularly supporting our helpline, lending language skills when they’re needed, returning to community events, mentoring young people, or contributing in other ways, volunteers continue to expand what Womankind can do for survivors and their families.
Staff and volunteers brought joy and cheer to Womankind's annual holiday party for families at St. Paul's Chapel in Manhattan
Volunteering at Womankind: Frequently Asked Questions
How can I volunteer with Womankind?
If you’re passionate about supporting survivors of gender-based violence and believe in Womankind’s mission of providing culturally responsive, survivor-centered services, we encourage you to apply through our volunteer webpage. Volunteer opportunities vary based on the current needs of our programs and communities.
Do you offer internships or practicum placements for graduate students or social work students?
Womankind does not currently offer direct internships. If your university or degree program requires an internship, please contact us at volunteer@iamwk.org to discuss potential opportunities. Your university program or course must provide the guidelines, structure, requirements, and curriculum for the internship.
For second-year Master of Social Work (MSW) practicum field placements, universities may contact volunteer@iamwk.org to inquire about current placement availability. Please note that we are unable to accommodate Master’s in Mental Health Counseling practicum placements at this time.
How can my company volunteer with Womankind?
We welcome companies interested in making a positive impact on the community through group volunteering. Opportunities depend on Womankind’s current needs and may include in-kind drives, sponsored event support, kit assemblies, skills-based volunteering, and other activities.
To explore opportunities, contact volunteer@iamwk.org and let us know your approximate group size, preferred dates or times and scheduling flexibility, and the types of volunteer activities that interest your team. Many corporate volunteer opportunities are paired with a financial contribution to help support program supplies and coordination. Please let us know if your company would be open to combining its volunteer activity with a donation or sponsorship.
How can my school, student group, or community organization support Womankind?
Schools, student groups, and community organizations can contact volunteer@iamwk.org to explore group volunteer opportunities based on Womankind’s current needs.
When reaching out, please include your approximate group size, preferred dates or times and scheduling flexibility, and the types of activities that interest your group, such as hands-on projects, skills-based volunteering, or donation drives.
What is the Young Professionals Board?
Womankind’s Young Professionals Board (YPB) is a group of dedicated volunteers who help advance Womankind’s mission through advocacy, awareness, fundraising, and community engagement. Members help organize events, raise funds for Womankind’s programs and services, and engage other young professionals in supporting survivors of gender-based violence.
How can I join the Young Professionals Board?
Applications to Womankind’s Young Professionals Board are accepted on a rolling basis and reviewed by the YPB co-chairs. If you’re interested in becoming involved, you can submit an application online.
Ready to Volunteer with Womankind NYC?
From a single phone line operated by volunteers nearly 45 years ago to the 11,000-plus hours contributed by 85 volunteers and interns in 2025, volunteerism has always been part of Womankind’s story.
If you’ve been looking for an opportunity to become a gender-based violence organization volunteer or simply want to volunteer in New York City while making a meaningful contribution to your community, we invite you to become part of Womankind’s next chapter.
Womankind’s final volunteer application cycle of 2026 opens September 1. The next application cycle will open in early 2027.
