Volunteer
Make a Difference
Donate your time to Good Dads.
Join us in our mission to help kids and communities one dad at a time. Some of our best volunteers are men who want to be Good Dads themselves! But you certainly don’t have to be a dad to make a difference for fathers.
"The best way to find yourself is
to lose yourself in the service of others.”
Ghandi
Who We're
Looking For
- Retirees, empty-nesters and grandparents make exceptional volunteers.
- Educators, counselors, social workers, nonprofit leaders, faith leaders, public servants, nurses and trades workers all have a valuable impact on Good Dads’ mission, but anyone who is passionate about positive father engagement has the makings of a stellar volunteer!
- We love to work with organized, punctual people who work well in team settings.
- Interpersonal and communication skills are important for anyone volunteering with us. Volunteers need to be good listeners, and in some cases, need to be comfortable working with populations who have a history of addiction and/or incarceration.
- Volunteers need their own means of transportation.
- We wish to expressly call on the men of the area to step up and volunteer with Good Dads. Male volunteers are critically important for Good Dads’ programs that expressly target fathers. We hope to send the message that father involvement is imperative to a child’s wellbeing, and we can’t do that without positive male role models!
Find Your
Best Fit
We have volunteer opportunities that fit a variety of skills and ambitions. We are especially interested in connecting with folks in the Ozarks, Kansas City area, Central Missouri and Hannibal region passionate about father engagement and promoting healthy families.
Be a Strong Schools Captain
Great for early risers! Strong Schools Captains commit to leading the before-school program once a month or more at elementary schools throughout the Ozarks. Retired dads, empty-nesters and grandfathers are ideal for this role. Captains may be trained to teach our Strong Schools course.
Help Run Strong Schools Events
Make a big difference in the lives of elementary school students by becoming a helper at Strong Schools events once a month or more. Helpers manage the check-in table, pass out supplies and/or furnish breakfast and prizes for dads and kids who attend. They assist Captains to make sure the event runs smoothly.
Facilitate a Good Dads Class
We couldn’t do it without our New Pathways facilitators! They work in pairs to lead a weekly, 2-hour class (typically in the evening) for men enrolled in the New Pathways for Good Dads program and maintain a case management file for each participant. In many cases, facilitators are compensated for their time. Each facilitator is required to complete a training session hosted by Good Dads before they can host a class.
Mentor Dads in the Program
New Pathways Mentors may be asked to provide tangible help (furnishing meals, assisting with transportation to/from class, etc.) but their primary roles are to act as a support system to the men in our classes. They dispense advice to men in the program and may provide some academic assistance. Mentors may help run classes but do not teach the courses. They work collaboratively with New Pathways Facilitators.
Community Development
Perfect for big-picture people! Business and community leaders are valuable members of our Board of Directors. Outgoing folks are also well-suited as networking ambassadors for Good Dads to help us spread the word about our programs, classes and partnership opportunities. Sometimes all it takes is the right person and a strong cup of coffee to make all the difference.
And More!
Share your areas of expertise and/or unique ideas for volunteering at the nonprofit on our Contact Us page.
415 E. Walnut Street
Springfield, MO 65806
Call us: (417) 501-8867
Monday – Thursday: 8:00 AM – 3:00 PM
Friday: 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM
Saturday – Sunday: Closed
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