Volunteer Engagement Fellow

TITLE: VOLUNTEER ENGAGEMENT FELLOW

LOCATION: Grand Rapids (Michigan) - In person

ANNUAL COMPENSATION: $23/hr

RETENTION BONUS: $500 (must remain on staff through Nov 8th 2025)

POSITION DURATION: This position is considered temporary and will conclude on November 8th 2025.

This position is set to begin on June 30th.

POSITION SUMMARY

Are you someone who has an interest in how politics shapes our lives Have you ever seen or experienced systemic oppression and felt a calling to dismantle it Are you someone that doesnt feel wholly represented by business as usual politics Are you looking for a high energy political home focused on justice for 2025 and beyond

The Movement Politics Fellowship is a recruitment and training program for rising organizers who are passionate leaders of all social justice movements; especially economic equity immigrant rights workers rights. Fellowship graduates will be connected with other professional development opportunities job opportunities academic support and join a growing alumni network.

MI United / MI United Action is going to contact tens of thousands of Michiganders in 2025 with strategic resolve and an ambitious ballot signature collection strategy. In 2022 and 2024 we were the source of the largest voter contact program not affiliated with organized labor or a political party this year were planning to use the same energy and discipline to execute an incredibly large and complex independent ballot signature collection campaign.

We are looking for a team of high energy individuals to manage our Movement Politics Fellows - an organizing and leadership development program for emerging community leaders. Under the mentorship and supervision of Michigan United staff Volunteer Engagement Fellows will conduct extensive outreach into the community to educate Michiganders on statewide ballot proposals the MU/MUA is supporting and to collect signatures to ensure those proposals are on the ballot in November 2026. Fellows will also identify potential supporters for Michigan Uniteds key campaigns.

Our volunteer engagement program differs from most because our Fellows and Managers will participate in an ongoing training program to learn how to motivate others toward action to learn the history of and challenges facing the social justice movement and to develop a systems-based analysis of the power structures at the local state and federal level.

MI Uniteds Theory of Change:

Michigan United is building a vibrant inclusive movement in Michigan where community members are organizing to build power to affect change at local state and national levels. We are working to dismantle systemic barriers perpetuating inequality by building power. Michigan United defines power as the ability to act and it comes in the form of organized people and organized money. We focus on issues from a racial economic and gender justice lens. We are a hub of people-centered leadership development issue organizing and civic power building. We are movement builders.

Michigan Uniteds theory of change is rooted in our core values. We start from the position that everyone deserves the opportunity to reach their full potential and live with dignity. Were committed to bridging gaps and fostering unity across different communities recognizing that our destinies are linked in the fight for equity and justice.

Michigan United is dedicated to dismantling white supremacy economic injustice and patriarchy transforming lives through tangible victories and leadership development. We believe in the power of a united community driven by a shared vision and strategic action capable of making significant impacts at local state and national levels. Our focus on organizing communities training leaders and tackling systemic barriers is crucial in shaping Michigans future.

Our commitment to a movement that reflects our multiracial base is at the core of our work guiding us as we organize and mobilize communities build collective power and seek just outcomes. We are steadfast in these principles aiming to create a Michigan where government and economy are inclusive accountable and equitable.

Michigan Uniteds approach is grounded in practicality driven by our values and focused on building a state where dignity equity and justice are realities not just aspirations. Through strong relationship-building continuous leadership development and strategic collective action we pave the way for the radical systemic changes our communities need and deserve.

ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

As a Volunteer Engagement Fellow your responsibilities will consist of executing our signature collection program by using various community outreach methods. You will report directly to a Volunteer Engagement Manager.

Your typical week responsibilities could look similar to this:

• Roughly 25 hours / week spent directly engaging the public on our signature collection program
• Working with program management to research and find strategic signature collection points across each region daily
• Participating in a daily stand up meeting with the volunteer engagement team to receive daily instructions and updates
• Preparing and organizing your materials for daily outreach
• Once at your signature gathering location you will be responsible for correctly gathering signatures and properly handling all materials/signature sheets to be securely delivered to volunteer engagement manager
• Debriefing daily with the volunteer engagement team
• Practicing and learning organizing skills through a specific training curriculum
• Conduct daily 1:1s and community outreach with Michigan United members and volunteers

Programmatic responsibilities would include:

• Executing a high energy ballot signature gathering campaign rooted in MI United / MI United Actions theory of change
• Ensuring signature gathering integrity
• Receiving and providing feedback on training materials and curriculum
• Collecting stories videos photos and other multimedia to use for promotion
• Attending monthly staff development trainings and fellowship training opportunities
• Occasional relational outreach via SMS to family and friends to engage them around issues and the election
• At the end of the program you will be transitioning new and newly activated leaders to a permanent organizer

REQUIREMENTS

• A commitment to MI United Actions theory of change and a strong commitment to racial gender and economic justice and their intersections both inside and outside the organization
• A desire to learn and grow as a leader and a passion for developing the leadership skills of others
• Previous experience managing a culturally religiously and economically diverse staff
• Previous experience organizing campaigns ballot signature programs or electoral canvassing
• Previous experience with VAN and Google Suite
• Able to stand and walk for extended periods of time
• Effective communication skills and comfortability working with the public talking to strangers and asking people to take action
• Reliable transportation/ability to drive to and from signature collection locations
• A data-capable smartphone and familiarity with MiniVAN
• A high energy highly organized self starter capable of executing plans and implementing creative solutions to problems
• Not required but would be advantages to success in this role: Ability to work with with a team to achieve a common goal multi-lingual (particularly spanish and arabic) and committed to meeting deadlines

WORK ENVIRONMENT

Employees are expected to be in person but must be based in the State of Michigan. Team members are located throughout the state with our headquarters being in Detroit. There will be in-person events meetings and activities. Our work schedule is standard business hours with flexibility. Evenings and weekends are occasionally required. There will be periodic travel around the state with intermittent out-of-state travel.

BENEFITS

• Health Insurance and a $1200/year Health Savings Account or monthly Health insurance stipend are available after 90 days of employment
• Individual Retirement Account (IRA) after earning at least $5000 within the preceding two year period
• An internet stipend of $34.62 and phone stipend of $23.08 per pay period.
• Paid time off accruing at 4.616 hours every 2 weeks
• Paid sick time policy beginning at 16 hours and accruing up to 80 hours
• Floating Holiday Policy
• Mileage reimbursement policy

OUR COMMITMENTS:

DISABILITY DIVERSITY EQUITY AND INCLUSION

MI United / MI United Action is an Equal Opportunity Employer; womxn people of color persons with disabilities and LGBTQI people are strongly encouraged to apply.

TRAINING

MI United / MI United Action has a robust training program that will be made available to staff as part of their work schedules. Training may include developing organizer and management skills.

DEVELOPMENT

MI United / MI United Action believes in transformational not transactional organizing. We take our duty to develop our members volunteers leaders and staff into the next generation of this movements leaders very seriously. Previous staff and current members volunteers and leaders are STRONGLY ENCOURAGED to apply.

APPLICATION DETAILS

• Submit resume statement of interest and three references (at least two references must be work-related one may be personal)
• You may apply via the Paylocity link. If you are having difficulties uploading your materials to Paylocity please send them via email to: Please do not submit your resume to both Paylocity and our email.
• Please put the name of the position you are applying for in the email subject line
• Resumes that do not adhere to these instructions will be discarded

ORGANIZATIONAL BACKGROUND

Michigan United is a statewide organization of community members and institutions fighting for the dignity and potential of every person. Michigan United organizes along with the following issue areas: immigrants rights criminal justice reform environmental justice rural issues healthcare and civic engagement. Michigan United along with Michigan United Action our affiliated 501(c)(4) is serious about building long-term political power with the aim of transforming our political and economic system into one that puts people and the planet first. Our main office is in Southwest Detroit with additional offices in Grand Rapids and Flint.

As a racial and economic justice organization we actively encourage individuals who are underrepresented on the basis of race ethnicity income gender identity and sexual orientation as well as those who share the life experiences of the members we serve to apply.

Michigan United is represented by SOUL of MU & MUA (Statewide Organized United Labor of Michigan United and Michigan United Action) affiliated with the Newspaper Guild of Detroit Local 34022. The person hired for this position will not become a bargaining unit member.