Wish Granting Volunteer
A Wish Granting Volunteer collaborates with the wish child and their family to identify and refine the child’s wish, participating in brainstorming and planning. These volunteers work in pairs under Make-A-Wish staff supervision to ensure every eligible child’s wish becomes an unforgettable and transformational experience.
Becoming a Wish Granting Volunteer
A Wish Granting Volunteer for Make-A-Wish Canada is an incredibly rewarding experience that directly impacts the lives of children facing critical illnesses. These dedicated volunteers are at the heart of the wish-granting process, providing crucial support and compassion to families during challenging times. As a volunteer, you will be tasked with meeting the child and their loved ones, listening to their unique stories, and helping shape a wish into reality.
Your role involves not just the logistics but also providing emotional support and joy, becoming a beacon of hope. Through commitment and empathy, you help illuminate the path to brighter days for these courageous children, creating memories that will inspire and comfort them long after their wish has been granted.
Wish Granting Volunteer FAQs
There are no set hours for a typical volunteer opportunity. The amount of time depends on the nature of the wish or event. However, volunteers are required to commit to a minimum of two wishes or events per year.
After you apply, successful applicants will be contacted by a member of our Volunteer Engagement Team to conduct a virtual screening interview. After a successful interview, the volunteer will be asked to submit two references, one personal and one professional. The Volunteer Intake Coordinator will then send a link to Sterling Backcheck to complete their mandatory background check.
Due to the nature of our work, all volunteers must complete a criminal background check as part of the initial onboarding process and every three (3) years thereafter. Make-A-Wish Canada will not onboard/utilize a volunteer who has been convicted of a crime that is violent or sexual in nature. Other criminal convictions will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Once references and background checks have been confirmed, the volunteer receives the required onboarding documents including confidentiality, ethics and volunteer agreements, and will be required to watch the orientation video and read the volunteer handbook with Knowledge Review Form.
The minimum age to volunteer is 18 (at the time of application).
All volunteers must complete a new volunteer orientation. This orientation is delivered through a pre-recorded training video and provides necessary information on the organization’s mission and goals.
This orientation provides all new volunteers with basic information on Make-A-Wish Canada, along with our guiding policies and procedures for the volunteer program. After viewing the video, a knowledge review form is completed which is scored upon submission.
Once the general volunteer orientation is complete, wish-granting volunteers are invited to training provided through live online platforms (i.e., Microsoft TEAMS) that are designed to provide wish-granting specific information and skills that are required to successfully perform their volunteer activities.
Volunteer stories
Wish Granting Application
Thank you for your interest in volunteering with Make-A-Wish Canada.
At this time, we have paused the acceptance of new volunteer applications, except for wish-granting volunteers in the following regions:
- Manitoba
- Saskatchewan
- Centre-du-Québec, Estrie, Montérégie, Outaouais and Saguenay Regions (Quebec)
If you live in one of the regions listed above and would like to express your interest in becoming a wish-granting volunteer, please email us at [email protected] with your name, phone number, email address, and home address. We currently have sufficient volunteers in all other regions to meet our wish-granting needs.
Special Events Application
Want to volunteer at a special event in a major city near you? We’re looking for volunteers across Canada to support our regional fundraising events. Help promote brand awareness and raise vital funds to grant life-changing wishes! Please note: Event volunteers do not take part in wish reveals or the wish-granting process.
Before applying:
- For youth volunteering inquiries, please email [email protected]. Opportunities are very limited.
- Volunteer hours vary depending on the event.
- All volunteers must complete a criminal background check during onboarding and every three (3) years after. Make-A-Wish Canada will not onboard volunteers convicted of violent or sexual crimes. Other convictions are reviewed individually.
