Volunteer Coordinator Jobs in Tucson, AZ
Tucson's food bank, zoo, shelters and hospices run on volunteers, and someone has to recruit, train and schedule every one of them. Volunteer coordinators here typically earn $18 to $27 an hour. Current openings are below, followed by who hires and how to break in.
Current Volunteer Coordinator Openings in Tucson, AZ
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Volunteer Coordinator Work in Tucson
Volunteer coordination in Tucson follows the city's nonprofit map. The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona runs its Gabrielle Giffords Resource Center on South Country Club Road and says it relies on 160 employees and hundreds of community volunteers. Reid Park Zoo in midtown hires a full-time volunteer program coordinator who works weekends and holidays, and hospice agencies such as Enhabit send trained volunteers to patients and families across the metro.
What sets the work apart here is the border. Casa Alitas, the migrant shelter program of Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona, brings in local, short-term and out-of-town volunteers and asks its coordinator to arrange their housing, transportation and fingerprint clearance paperwork. Refugee groups such as Iskashitaa Refugee Network and the IRC office in Tucson post similar roles, so bilingual coordinators with cultural competence stand out.
Top Tucson Employers for Volunteer Coordinators
These Tucson organizations hire volunteer coordinators and volunteer program staff:
- Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona - volunteer services coordinators handle recruitment, orientation, scheduling and the volunteer hours database.
- Reid Park Zoo - the Reid Park Zoological Society hires a full-time volunteer program coordinator to run its zoo volunteer corps.
- Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona - volunteer coordinators at Casa Alitas manage shelter volunteers, interns and site leads.
- United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona - outreach and volunteer coordinators staff the free tax preparation (VITA) program.
- Enhabit Home Health & Hospice - hospice volunteer coordinators recruit, train and match volunteers with patients and families.
- Humane Society of Southern Arizona - volunteer coordinators schedule and support the animal shelter's volunteer corps.
Volunteer Coordinator Salaries in Tucson
- Entry level: roughly $18 to $21 an hour.
- Experienced coordinator: roughly $21 to $27 an hour.
- Volunteer services supervisor or manager: roughly $27 to $34 an hour.
Recent Tucson postings ran from $18 an hour at a small refugee nonprofit to $25 to $27.40 at United Way. Bilingual English and Spanish skills, a bachelor's degree and experience managing large volunteer groups move pay up, and larger nonprofits pay more than small grassroots groups. These are estimates that vary by employer and experience.
How to Become a Volunteer Coordinator in Tucson
Arizona has no license for volunteer coordinators. Most Tucson postings ask for a high school diploma and a year of customer service or office work, and many prefer a bachelor's degree plus nonprofit or volunteer experience. Pima Community College's Social Services Certificate and AAS at West Campus are a local starting point. Shelter and youth-serving employers such as Casa Alitas require an Arizona Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card from DPS, and most want a valid driver's license with a clean record. After three years of full-time equivalent experience, the voluntary Certified in Volunteer Administration (CVA) credential is the field's national marker.
What the Job Involves
A coordinator's week runs on a calendar and a database: posting volunteer shifts, answering inquiries, screening applicants, running orientations, logging hours and filling the gaps when a group cancels. The rest is people work, from thanking volunteers and planning recognition events to reporting volunteer impact to grant funders and leadership.
Skills Employers Look For
- Recruiting, screening and onboarding volunteers of every age and background
- Scheduling and volunteer database or CRM skills, plus Microsoft Office or Google Workspace
- Clear written and spoken communication, including public speaking at orientations
- Bilingual English and Spanish, a plus at most Tucson employers
- Event planning for recognition events and group volunteer days
- Flexibility for evenings, weekends and holidays
Career Path and Advancement
Many Tucson coordinators start as volunteers or front-line staff, move into a coordinator role, then step up to volunteer services supervisor or manager at a larger nonprofit. From there the common moves are into community engagement, program management or development, since volunteers often become donors and the skills overlap.
Related Careers in Tucson
These Tucson guides cover the closest roles for volunteer coordinators:
Frequently Asked Questions
Do you need a license to be a volunteer coordinator in Arizona?
No. Arizona does not license volunteer coordinators. Some employers, especially shelters and programs that serve children or vulnerable adults, require a Level One Fingerprint Clearance Card from the Arizona Department of Public Safety.
How much do volunteer coordinators make in Tucson?
Recent Tucson postings ranged from about $18 an hour at small nonprofits to $25 to $27.40 an hour at United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona. Supervisors and managers earn more.
Which Tucson employers hire volunteer coordinators?
The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona, Reid Park Zoo, Catholic Community Services of Southern Arizona, United Way, the Humane Society of Southern Arizona and hospice agencies such as Enhabit all hire for the role. Refugee and migrant service groups post coordinator jobs as well.
Do volunteer coordinators work weekends?
Often. Food distributions, zoo events and shelter shifts happen on evenings, weekends and holidays, and most Tucson postings ask for that flexibility.
Is there a certification for volunteer coordinators?
Yes, but it is voluntary. The Certified in Volunteer Administration (CVA) credential requires about three years of full-time equivalent experience in volunteer management, recommendation letters and an exam.
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