Volunteer

Change the way you see the world and your role in it !

The MOT offers Volunteer opportunities for people with many different interests, skills and abilities. Be a Greeter, Exhibit Assistant, Museum Docent or Tour Guide, assist the Library & Archives, work in the Gift Galleria and Bookstore, and much more.

Benefits of Volunteering

• Make an important difference in your own life and in the lives of others.
• Make new friends, and become part of a community.
• Participate in lifelong learning experiences while developing new skills.
• Guide visitors to gain new perspectives about themselves and the world around them.
• Be a part of a dynamic team that strives to change the world one person at a time.

Characteristics of a MOT Volunteer

• Dedication to the mission, goals and ideals of the MOT.
• Respect for cultural diversity and a commitment to social justice.
• Motivation to empower individuals to make a difference.
• Enthusiasm for continual learning and training.
• Reliability as a MOT volunteer.

Requirements to become a MOT Volunteer

• Minimum age of eighteen years.
• Completion of application and personal interview.
• Commitment to a minimum of 10 hours of service per month.
• Completion of all training and certification before beginning active volunteer service.

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Volunteer Opportunities

The MOT is currently welcoming Volunteer applicants for:

Greeter and Exhibit Assistants:

You are Host/Hostess for the MOT, greeting and guiding public visitors through exhibits, and helping out at various exhibit areas in the MOT.

Museum Docents or Tour Guides:

Over 150,000 students participate in guided tours at the MOT each year. Volunteer guides bring their enthusiasm and skills to shape a highly interactive educational experience at the MOT. You will be trained to facilitate tours in the Tolerancenter/Holocaust exhibit and/or in the Finding Our Families, Finding Ourselves exhibit.

Library and Archives:

You will be trained to assist with daily library operations, answering phones, cataloging and research, and with the preparation of digital archival material.

Gift Galleria and Bookstore:

You will greet customers and assist staff.

Volunteer Internships

The MOT offers unpaid Volunteer Internships in the fall, spring and summer semesters.  Opportunities include: Youth Action Lab Assistant; Research and Evaluation Assistant; and Museum Education Assistant. Interns are expected to volunteer 10-15 hours per week

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Volunteer Training

Volunteer Applications are accepted throughout the year. Prospective candidates must participate in a personal interview, followed by reference checks. If accepted to our Volunteer Program, prospective volunteers may attend the MOT Volunteer Orientation Training, which is offered in October and in January or begin our Independent Volunteer Training Program, which is offered throughout the year.

Volunteer Training is followed by a flexible Apprenticeship period designed to allow our Volunteers to become comfortable with the MOT, its exhibits and the various Volunteer opportunities, before being certified as an Active Volunteer.

The Volunteer Orientation Training is an 8-week program, scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays, from 1:00-4:30pm, which includes:

• An introduction to the MOT mission & goals 
• Visitor Service workshops
• Museum Education methodology 
• MOT exhibit information and training
• Holocaust History series, conducted by Senior Researcher
• Global hate.com exhibit and updates, conducted by Senior Researcher
• Tolerance workshops, conducted by professional staff 
• Facilitation skills workshops and training
• Logistics of Museum flow
• Apprenticeship to follow training

The MOT Independent Volunteer Training (IVT) Program is designed to offer greater flexibility for prospective volunteers who are unable to attend the 8-week program, due to school or work schedule conflicts. 

• Prospective volunteers commit to a regular day and time each week that works with their schedule to conduct their training.
• The Independent Volunteer Training Program includes a syllabus with three levels of training, as well as a journaling component designed to encourage reflection and synthesis of the material: 
           1. Level One: Mandatory Training- Introduction to the Museum, its exhibits, and historical
                                 content. 
           2. Level Two: Logistics/ Exhibit Assistant Training 
           3. Level Three: Continuing Education/ Docent Preparation Apprenticeship to follow training

The MOT also offers ongoing training classes and professional development workshops available to all Volunteers throughout the year.

We ask our Volunteers for a commitment of at least 1 year and 100 hours (about 10 hours a month), in addition to completing any required training. There is an administrative fee of $45 to cover the cost of training materials.  We also encourage Museum membership.

How to Apply

Become a Volunteer
Complete the online application form using the link above. If you have and questions or need any more information please contact:

Director, Museum Volunteer Services:

Museum of Tolerance
9786 West Pico Blvd Los Angeles CA 90035
Telephone: 310.772.2468
Fax: 310.772.7685
e-mail: volunteer@museumoftolerance.com

MAKE A DIFFERENCE — BECOME A VOLUNTEER TODAY!

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