Crisis Center for South Suburbia

About us!

The Crisis Center for South Suburbia is a non-profit community organization that provides emergency shelter and other essential services for individuals and families victimized by domestic violence and addresses the societal issues that contribute to domestic violence.

Today, the Crisis Center for South Suburbia operates a 54-bed emergency shelter and has annual impact on the lives of more than 10,000 people. With a staff of more than 83 employees and a budget of over seven million dollars, the Crisis Center continues to grow while offering free services to Chicago’s south suburban communities.

Why Us?

In both service provision and fundraising, we maintain the highest professional and personal ethical standards. We respect the diversity of the individuals we work with and serve. Each person’s contributions are valued as we work together cooperatively with open communication. We continually evaluate the effectiveness of our services, with established channels for feedback and accountability. We believe in teamwork, individual excellence, and accountability.

We embrace a history founded in creating equity – we take our principles seriously by courageously committing to a culture and workplace where all staff feel safe, welcome, visible, respected, supported, and valued.

We offer competitive salaries, health, dental, vision & life insurance, 403B matching, flexible schedules, opportunity for advancement, paid time off, wellness resources, training and development, performance-based bonuses and more.

As an equal opportunity employer, we encourage people of varied races, ethnicities, national origins, tribes, religions, ages, gender identities and expressions, genders, sexual orientations, marital statuses, disabilities, veteran/reserve national guard statuses, socio-economic statuses, thinking and communication styles to work with us.

Across our agency, we are working together to support the life-changing mission of ending domestic violence for individuals and families with the transformational impact of lives without abuse.

SUMMARY:

The Volunteer Coordinator is responsible for creating and sustaining a meaningful, engaging, and rewarding volunteer experience. This role focuses on empowering volunteers, ambassadors, and community members to actively contribute to the mission of Crisis Center for South Suburbia (CCSS). Through thoughtful recruitment, onboarding, and ongoing support, the Volunteer Coordinator ensures volunteers feel valued, connected, and equipped to make an impact.

This position leads efforts in volunteer engagement and retention, ambassador program development, and community outreach initiatives, all designed to strengthen relationships and build a sense of community among those who support CCSS. The Volunteer Coordinator plays a key role in fostering a welcoming and inclusive environment where volunteers can grow, contribute, and advocate for the organization’s mission.

By cultivating strong connections and providing meaningful opportunities for involvement, this role helps expand CCSS’s reach and build a sustainable, engaged network of volunteers and community champions. This position reports to the Retail & Resource Officer within the Operations Department.

PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES:

Volunteer Program Oversight:

Develop and implement an annual volunteer recruitment and retention strategy to meet the ongoing needs of CCSS and Neat Repeats resale stores.

Partner with internal departments to identify volunteer needs and create effective recruitment strategies.

Recruit, screen, place, and track volunteers for both direct and non-direct service roles.

Manage volunteer inquiries, placement, onboarding, satisfaction, and retention, ensuring timely and structured communication.

Coordinate volunteer assignments for Neat Repeats locations and ensure site supervisors have training plans and onboarding support.

Collaborate with the Donor Engagement Specialist to build relationships with individuals, businesses, and community groups to promote volunteer and in-kind donation opportunities.

Coordinate and supervise volunteer groups supporting donation sorting, recycling, maintenance projects, and seasonal initiatives.

Lead recruitment, training, and supervision of volunteers for fundraising events and special initiatives.

Oversee volunteer recognition efforts, including the Annual Volunteer and Staff Appreciation Luncheon and Volunteer Appreciation Month activities.

Support site supervisors in implementing ongoing volunteer recognition and engagement practices.

Represent CCSS at community events, volunteer fairs, and speaking engagements to promote awareness and opportunities for involvement.

Utilize community networks and online platforms to advertise volunteer opportunities effectively.

Facilitate DV101 training for volunteers on a quarterly and as-needed basis.

Volunteer Workforce Management:

Assess ongoing volunteer needs related to donations and operational support in partnership with supervisors and staff.

Develop and maintain a monthly volunteer schedule across facilities and donation management operations.

Serve as the primary point of contact for all volunteers, community service participants, and volunteer groups.

Provide role-specific training for volunteers supporting logistics and operations.

Maintain accurate volunteer time tracking, sign-in records, and reporting metrics using the CRM system.

Administrative & Organizational Responsibilities:

Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of volunteer engagement, ambassador activities, and community involvement.

Ensure all volunteer files, both electronic and paper, are maintained in accordance with organizational procedures.

Provide documentation and reporting support for PQI program review and organizational metrics.

Ensure compliance with policies and procedures related to volunteer engagement and in-kind donations.

Represent CCSS at meetings, conferences, networking events, and volunteer fairs.

Supervise volunteers and community ambassadors in alignment with organizational standards.

Attend monthly All Staff and Neat Repeats Managers meetings.

Prepare and present quarterly volunteer reports for Board review.

QUALIFICATIONS:

Bachelor’s degree in nonprofit management, social services, communications, or related field preferred; equivalent experience considered.

2–4 years of experience in volunteer coordination, community engagement, or nonprofit operations.

Strong organizational, communication, and relationship-building skills.

Experience working with diverse populations and a commitment to equity and inclusion.

Ability to manage multiple priorities and projects in a fast-paced environment.

Proficiency in Microsoft Office and experience with CRM systems preferred.

Comfortable with public speaking and representing the organization in the community.

WORK ENVIRONMENT & SCHEDULE:

This position requires a combination of office, retail, and community-based work. Occasional evening and weekend hours are required to support events, volunteer activities, and outreach efforts.