Join our volunteer community
Domestic Violence - Stability - Community Education
Compass Center serves more than 5,000 clients each year and relies on volunteer support. We offer a variety of short- and long-term opportunities to become involved with our programs, services, and operations.
To learn more about volunteering at Compass Center, you can view our post on Why Volunteering at Compass Center Might Be Right for You.
If you have questions about volunteering or interning, please email dvassocdir@compassctr.org
Now recruiting volunteer Support Group Facilitators
Training June 2025!
For more information about our next training, please review the position descriptions below and complete a Compass Center Volunteer Application. Staff will get back to you with more information when training dates are confirmed.
You can view current paid and unpaid internships here.
Domestic Violence Crisis Services
Using active listening and crisis intervention skills, advocates provide emotional support and informational resources (legal, medical, mental health and shelter options) to survivors of domestic violence as well as their friends and family members. In addition, daytime advocates meet with walk-in clients to provide crisis counseling and other assistance, including support completing safety plans and domestic violence protective orders (DVPO/50Bs).
Daytime advocates are needed in our office Monday – Friday and generally sign up for shifts from 9am-1pm or 1pm-5pm. We also need after-hours overnight advocates who respond to calls remotely from home during non-office hours (evenings, weekends, and holidays). A special need exists for bilingual (Spanish/English, English/Karen, English/Burmese) advocates for daytime and overnight/weekend shifts.
We welcome volunteers of all genders and cultural backgrounds. Requirements for this position include:
Completion of 42-hour training over six weeks; training will cover topics including the dynamics of domestic abuse, domestic violence and the law, active listening, legal issues and community resources
Completion of two shadowing shifts with an experienced volunteer or staff person
Commitment of 3-4 shifts per month for at least 9 months or two semesters for daytime advocates
Commitment of four nights or one-weekend shift per month for at least 9 months or two semesters for overnight advocates
Provide in-person legal advocacy and assistance to survivors involved in the criminal and/or civil court systems at the Orange County Courthouse in Hillsborough, NC. Court advocates provide emotional support, assist with filing domestic violence protective orders, and offer community referrals. Requirements for this position include:
Completion of our 42-hour hotline training over the course of 6 weeks
Additional court-specific advocacy training and shadowing
Consistent availability on Thursdays mornings starting at 8:30am
Reliable transportation to Orange County Courthouse in Hillsborough
Experience with the criminal and civil legal system preferred but not required
A unique opportunity for people bilingual in Spanish and English to serve as translators and collaborate on creation of culturally appropriate documents. Translator volunteers are vital to ensure that clients have language access and receive equitable crisis and other services from Compass Center.
Requirements for this position include:
Completion of a 20-minute screening call and 8-hour training
Commitment of 10-12 hours per month for 12 months
Support group facilitators help create a safe space for Compass Center clients to work on self-growth, healing, and making positive changes in their lives.
The support group program encompasses a number of different group offerings throughout the year:
- Domestic Violence support groups and workshops
- Relationship endings/healthy beginnings
- Black and African American survivor support groups and workshops
- Latinx survivor support groups and workshops (Spanish fluency required)
- LGBTQIA++ survivor support groups and workshops
- Self-esteem support groups
- Coping with the holidays (offered in English and Spanish)
- Art of Healing (Arts-based workshop for survivors of domestic violence)
Requirements for this position include:
Completion of 20-hour Compass Center support group facilitator training
Commitment of three hours a week for 8 weeks for group sessions and additional planning time with co-facilitator for a period of at least 12 months or three semesters
Previous support group facilitation experience is preferred but not required
COVID-19 note: Support groups are currently offered remotely, but as the COVID-19 landscape changes in 2022, this position may return in-person with standard COVID safety protocols.
Stability Services
The Information & Referral (I&R) volunteer’s primary responsibility is to act as a first contact to individuals who call or walk into Compass Center. I&R volunteers assess client needs to determine whether those needs can be met through one of Compass Center’s programs. If not, volunteers refer clients to appropriate services in the community. Information & Referral volunteers are also asked to assist staff members with various in-house administrative tasks, as well as tabling at community events and fairs.
Requirements for this position include:
Completion of an 18-hour training over the course of 4-6 weeks
Completion of shadowing shifts with experienced volunteers and/or staff
Availability to volunteer during business hours (Monday-Friday 9-5pm)
Commitment of at least 3 hours per week for 6-9 months or two semesters
COVID-19 note: I&R shifts are currently remote with easy Zoom/phone access to staff support, but as the COVID-19 landscape changes in 2022, this position may return in-office with standard COVID safety protocols.
Career counselor volunteers empower clients to take control of their careers! As a volunteer you will meet one-on-one with clients in-person, over the phone, or via Zoom to provide information, strategies, support and encouragement as they take steps toward their career goals. Career counselors provide a non-judgmental and supportive environment for clients to clarify their goals, build their skills, explore their options and take concrete steps in their careers.
Requirements for this position include:
Completion of 8-hour general Compass Center training and 4-hour program-specific training (depending on experience)
Monthly check-ins with self-sufficiency program staff
Commitment of two 60-minute career counseling appointments per month for at least 12 months or three semesters
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills including ease talking with diverse people about charged and complex topics
Understanding of/willingness to learn about and apply principles of economic justice with Compass Center clients
Understanding of/willingness to learn about the intersections of domestic violence and economic stability and the impacts of economic abuse on individuals and communities
Working knowledge of workforce or career processes including but not limited to:
Job search strategies
Resume building
Cover letter writing
Interviewing and networking
Entrepreneurship
Worker's rights/protections
Financial counselors empower clients to take control of their finances and overall financial wellness! As a financial counselor you will meet one-on-one with clients either in-person, over the phone, or via Zoom to provide information, strategies, support, and encouragement as they take steps toward their financial goals. Financial counselors provide a non-judgmental and supportive environment for clients to clarify their goals, build their skills, explore their options and take concrete steps toward their financial goals. Some financial counselors also facilitate financial empowerment groups for community members.
Requirements for this position include:
Completion of 8-hour general Compass Center training and 4-hour program-specific training (depending on experience)
Monthly check-ins with self-sufficiency program staff
Commitment of two 90-minute financial counseling appointments per month for at least 12 months or three semesters
Minimum of one year of professional experience such as banking, investing, asset management, business, real estate, and/or accounting. For students, at least two semester of relevant coursework.
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills including ease talking with diverse people about charged and complex topics
Understanding of/willingness to learn about and apply principles of economic justice with Compass Center clients
Understanding of/willingness to learn about the intersections of domestic violence and economic stability and the impacts of economic abuse on individuals and communities
Working knowledge of finance and credit systems including but not limited to:
Budgeting
Money management
Banking/saving
Building credit
Reducing debt
Attorneys partnering with Compass Center through our Legal Information Services (LIS) Program answer pre-scheduled 15-minute phone calls from clients who have questions about a variety of legal issues primarily in the practice areas of family law and domestic violence legal protections. We also welcome attorneys with expertise in landlord/tenant law, immigration law, public benefits/disability law, consumer protections, and criminal defense (DUI/DWI included).
Client calls are scheduled based on your availability. Compass Center staff and volunteers pre-screen clients to ensure their questions match your area of practice. Phone calls can be taken from your home or office - no travel is required.
Requirements for this position include:
Actively licensed by the N.C. Bar Association
Expertise in at least one area of law practice listed above
Community Education, Outreach, and Engagement
Community educators are the face of Compass Center and play an integral role in Compass Center’s success in prevention work. Community educators educate the community about domestic violence and Compass Center services by facilitating our Agency Services and Breaking the Silence presentations, staffing tabling events, and speaking to potential donors about the impact their donations can have on our client services. Community educators also support education efforts by reaching out to potential partners about education opportunities, entering data about presentations for our grantors, and creating educational materials including social media posts.
Volunteer opportunities are virtual and in-person. We have a strong need for both English and Spanish speaking community educators. We encourage volunteers of all genders and backgrounds to apply.
Black & African American Community Engagement and Outreach Volunteers assist with relationship-building and community awareness about ongoing challenges and successes relevant to domestic/interpersonal violence prevention and services for Black and African American survivors. Volunteers also assist with workshop promotion, facilitation, and data collection efforts in community-based settings.
Why I am involved
