volunteer@maxfund.org
Volunteers are critical to MaxFund’s success! Our volunteer program brings together hundreds of people each month to care for our animals and support the mission of MaxFund. Volunteering is flexible, fun, and rewarding! No matter what your background or interests, there’s a place for you in the MaxFund family.
MaxFund, Denver’s only true No-Kill shelter, believes all healthy and treatable pets deserve the right to live. As representatives of MaxFund in the community, we expect our volunteers to be committed to our mission of taking in sick and injured animals, making them better, and helping to find them their forever homes within our adoption guidelines. All of our volunteers must be fully devoted to this mission and represent MaxFund in a professional and positive manner.
Requirements General volunteers are expected to commit a minimum of 4 hours per month for a minimum of 6 consecutive months. Volunteers must be 9 years or older to volunteer at the cat shelter and 14 years or older to volunteer at the dog shelter. Volunteers aged 9-15 must be always accompanied by a parent or guardian, who must also go through the full volunteer application and orientation process. There is a $25 fee to cover administrative costs, background checks, and badges. We do not accept volunteers who have animal cruelty or abuse charges in their histories.
Process Our training program involves one 2.5 hour session, a hands-on with a mentor at the dog or cat shelter depending on your area of interest. We keep our class sizes small in order to make the experience a positive one for our new volunteers. You will be provided with training materials prior to your hands-on experience. To make your hands-on experience more meaningful, please take the time to read the materials prior to your scheduled orientation.
To Apply We are currently accepting applications for volunteer opportunities at our dog and cat shelters. Once we have received your application and completed the background and reference check, we will contact you with available class times. We have a great deal of interest in volunteering at our shelters, so please be patient if you are not immediately scheduled for a volunteer orientation session. The time from application to attending an orientation class could take more than a month. If you are volunteering for School or Court-Ordered Community Service volunteers, please see below.
To begin your application process, click HERE and create an account under "I am new to MyImpactPage.com".
For questions or concerns email Arianne Lovelace at volunteer@maxfund.org.
Community Service Volunteers assist with the smooth running of our shelters and help with everything from shoveling snow, to cleaning kennels, to doing dishes. This is the best option for anyone who cannot make the 6-month commitment, such as school volunteers, court-ordered community service, and other short-term placements. Because community service volunteers receive an abbreviated orientation, Community Service Volunteers do not directly handle our animals (ie: walk dogs). After orientation, Community Service shifts are available seven days a week, 9 pm - 6 pm at the dog shelter, with occasional work at the cat shelters. Requirements There is a $5 fee to cover the cost of a background check. We do not accept volunteers who have animal cruelty or abuse charges in their histories. Process A short, 30-minute orientation is required before volunteers may sign up for shifts. Orientations are held in person at the dog shelter and count toward your total number of hours. To Apply Please fill out the Community Service Volunteer Application here and pay the $5 application fee. Once your application and fee are received, we will process your background check. If you're accepted, we will confirm via email and follow up with scheduling details. Please allow about 1 week for this process.
Make MaxFund the site of your next group volunteer session! Advance notice is required. In order to cover administrative costs and staff time, MaxFund asks for a suggested donation or in-kind donations from our Wishlist. To apply please click here.
MaxFund wants everyone who is passionate about animals to be able to spend that enthusiasm and passion at MaxFund. However, because we are a no-kill shelter, we do occasionally have dogs and cats from unknown backgrounds and safety needs to be our top priority! Those under 18 still have options for volunteering and we hope you make MaxFund your volunteering choice! We don't have any volunteering programs specifically designed for kids, but you are welcome to do the same volunteering activities that everyone else can, with the stipulations below.
If you are 16-17 years old, you are able to volunteer at MaxFund without having to be accompanied by a parent or guardian. For legal reasons, additional steps must take place. A waiver will need to be signed by you and at least one parent/guardian. This waiver is available at the end of the volunteer application and will need to be signed in the presence of a MaxFund staff member. You will attend orientation along with other volunteers, which allows you to volunteer 365 days a year, 7am-6pm, doing all the things volunteers are allowed to do at MaxFund.
If you are 14-15 years old, you are welcome to volunteer at MaxFund but you do have to be accompanied by a parent at all times while volunteering, including during the orientation. Also, volunteers must be 16 years old to be in control of the leash while walking dogs outside of the shelter. Some exceptions to being accompanied may be handled on a case-by-case basis, but generally speaking anyone under 16 years old needs to be accompanied by a parent at all times.
For more information, please reach out to the Volunteer Coordinator at volunteer@maxfund.org or 303-595-4917 ext. 106.
MaxFund does allow court-ordered community service hours be performed at MaxFund, with certain stipulations. The volunteering is more structured then our regular volunteer program (because we are liable to the court, volunteers must be supervised in their duties and it can't just be petting cats or walking dogs like "regular" volunteers are allowed to do) and typically involve only cleaning duties. All community service hours must be approved in advance by the Volunteer Coordinator, who can be reached at sheltermanager@maxfund.org
Volunteers for community service hours don't need to go through the standard orientations, as their duties and direct interaction with the animals will be limited.
If you are a regular ongoing volunteer and need to have some community service hours, other arrangements may be made, but they must go through the Volunteer Coordinator.
More and more schools are requiring a certain number of community service hours per year. While these hours MAY be completed at MaxFund, they must be done within the parameters of our normal volunteer program and age restrictions.
If you are looking to complete just a few hours, while your interest is appreciated, MaxFund may not be the best place for your time. We are looking for four hours a month, with a minimum of a six-month committment. If you are interested and are willing to meet the minimum commitment request, then you (and your parents if you are under age) are encouraged to apply to become volunteers.
Because of how long it takes to get volunteers started once they turn in their applications (generally 3 weeks to a month depending on the time of year), we would recommend you get started as soon as possible. To be fair to all volunteers, we don't push any volunteers forward in line to get them processed earlier so they can meet their school deadlines, so please plan accordingly if you are interested in volunteering with MaxFund.