Thanks for your interest in volunteering!

Do you have an artistic or athletic hobby?
Will you teach it to a kid impacted by chronic illness?
Getting matched with a kid is easy (SEE THIS 1-MINUTE VIDEO).
You don’t have to be a professional to share your hobby or skill!

What does a CoachArt volunteer do?

Through our CoachArt Connect app, volunteers are matched with a young person based on similar interests (like painting, basketball, yoga, guitar, and more). The starting commitment is just four 1-hour lessons, either online or in person. CoachArt covers the cost of materials. And don’t worry… our team will help you feel confident and inspired to get your first lesson off the ground!

Start by filling out the volunteer registration below. For more info, see our Volunteer FAQ.

Submit the Application Form Below

Complete
Volunteer Training

Log Into CoachArt Connect!

CoachArt Connect

The CoachArt Connect app makes it easy and fast for volunteer coaches to get matched with kids — watch:

Play Video Play Video

Testimonials

"Jensen has really been a blessing. You can see the spark of joy back in Keagan's eyes. He hasn't played video games at all this week, just the guitar!"
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Christal
CoachArt Mom
"I feel like I am able to contribute positively to someone's life early on in their development, which hopefully will have a ripple effect on society."
Keenan
CoachArt Volunteer
"It has been really amazing to see Brian grow as a person since I was paired with him in 2019. He seems to have become a lot more confident."
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Nick
CoachArt Volunteer
"I love how many kiddos are available to learn something new! It’s been so fun and fulfilling to share the joy of art together.”
Nikki
CoachArt Volunteer
“Derek has made such a positive impact in our son's life. His outstanding coaching and encouragement have given Troy confidence not just in basketball but in all social situations.”
coreen-coachart-mom
Coreen
CoachArt Mom
"I like that it’s only a 4-week commitment. I’m a busy working mom but want to give back and this is a great avenue to do so."
Amanda
CoachArt Volunteer
"David has joint and bone pain all the time. CoachArt helps keep his mind off the struggles and teaches him skills he wouldn’t otherwise get to enjoy!"
kristi-coachart-mom
Kristi
CoachArt Mom
"I like volunteering with CoachArt because it gives me perspective. I've enjoyed being an additional support system for my mentees and their families."
Deztiny
CoachArt Volunteer
"I love volunteering with CoachArt because I love connecting with each child. Being able to see them excited before each lesson makes the experience worth it."
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David
CoachArt Volunteer
"CoachArt gives so much to parents as well. We are truly a team! We are forever grateful for CoachArt and all they do to enrich our lives."
Marie
CoachArt Mom
"I see this as a bidirectional support: I teach/coach something and at the same time she’s teaching/coaching me back."
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Jorge
CoachArt Volunteer
"I enjoyed being able to share my passion for yoga with youth and create a space that they could share and be open in."
Simone
CoachArt Volunteer
"It’s great to see Luna being able to participate in activities that she enjoys. She can conserve her energy by being able to stay at home."
Elizabeth
CoachArt Mom
"Both of my own children were chronically ill. I wish this organization existed when they were young. Bringing joy to our kids is paramount to their well being."
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Sherri
CoachArt Volunteer
"I LOVE it! It’s very autonomous and leaves a lot of room for me to structure my lessons. This makes it so fun for my CoachArt kid."
Vanessa
CoachArt Volunteer

Frequently Asked Questions

  • If the email you are using doesn’t work to complete your application:
    • Make sure there are no spaces before your email address
    • Try a different email address
    • Contact join@coachart.org if it’s still not working
  • If you don’t have a verification code:
    • Check your email inbox for an email encouraging you to continue registration. Your verification code should be in that email
    • Contact join@coachart.org if you aren’t able to locate it.
  • If you forgot where you left off in the application process:

CoachArt children have chronic, physical illnesses and conditions that require ongoing treatment. These are children living with arthritis, cancer, cerebral palsy, diabetes, heart disease, HIV, kidney failure, Spina Bifida, craniofacial anomalies and various orthopedic disabilities, among other conditions. See a list of qualifying diagnoses here. Not all chronic illnesses are accompanied by physical symptoms, and many times CoachArt kids look and act just like their healthy siblings. All chronically ill children who participate in our program receive a medical consent from their doctor before participating in any CoachArt lesson so that we can be aware of any special needs or limitations.

CoachArt lessons take place both online and in the communities where children live. One-On-One Lessons can be a great opportunity for immunocompromised kids or for those who would benefit from individual attention; they can happen online or in the child’s home. Group Lessons and Clubs take place online or in community locations depending on the activity. Each CoachArt lesson is approximately one hour long, and can occur during the week or on weekends. CoachArt requires a parent or guardian to be on-site during the lessons.

Volunteers do not need to be experts and no formal training is required.  We ask that volunteers possess enough knowledge to teach a four-week session of beginner-level lessons and feel confident enough to provide an activity without support.  That’s easier than you might think — we have lesson plans, activity ideas, templates and other resources you can use.

Our core program requires a four-week commitment of one hour per week. It’s important that volunteers sign up for opportunities they can commit to. Therefore, CoachArt staff will work with you to determine the best fit. Please email volunteer@coachart.org to learn more.

All prospective volunteers complete an online application and attend an online training where they learn about health and safety requirements of the program and are given tips for how to best work with CoachArt kids. Volunteers are required to pass a background check before they are matched in a lesson with a CoachArt kid. All regular CoachArt volunteers must be 18 years of age or older to participate in the program; find out more on our Volunteer page. If you’re between the ages of 14 and 17, you can participate in our Junior Volunteer program; find out more here.

Volunteers can submit their receipts from their lesson materials purchase to receive reimbursement. Reimbursement typically takes 1-2 weeks. If a volunteer is unable to pay out of pocket, CoachArt can purchase lesson supplies directly. See details here.

Questions about our volunteer program?

Contact us and we’ll get back to you in 1 business day.