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PEAK Grantmaking

Volunteers

PEAK thrives on our member community’s commitment to active volunteerism and mutual support.

Each year, over 350 individuals contribute their talent, time, enthusiasm, knowledge, and dedication to serving in a variety of volunteer roles—from leading our peer networks, speaking at events, and sharing innovative ideas for our convening to serving on our board, providing guidance on resources, and contributing thought leadership.

Our volunteers act as champions for equitable, effective grantmaking practice change and are advocates for their peers to become change agents with them. We always welcome new and returning volunteers to lead and support our efforts!

Shantelice's headshot

As a Journal team, I felt like we were practicing what we were preaching every day, coming together and wrestling with the working definition of what it means to be an emergent learning individual and organization.

Shantelice White, Asociate Director, Grants Operations
MacArthur Foundation
Journal Guest Editor
Lourdes Inga

When I started my career in philanthropy, I was fortunate to find GMN, now PEAK. Serving as a Journal guest editor was a way to give back by highlighting the career journeys of my peers in philanthropy who are advancing big ideas and moving the field from conversation to action.

Lourdes Inga, Executive Director
International Funders for Indigenous Peoples
Guest Editor, PEAK Grantmaking Journal
Candy Champion

Each year, PEAK’s conference provides grantmaking professionals with unsurpassed options to expand their philanthropy knowledge. Serving as cochair in 2021 and 2022 was a highlight of my career and an invaluable opportunity to bring the PEAK family together and help see how it can make change happen.

Candy Champion, Director of Grants and Office Administration
Turner Foundation
PEAK2021 Committee Cochair

As a chapter leader, I’m excited to bring our region together for conversation and programming that deepens our collective commitment to equitable grantmaking practices. This network has been so helpful to me in my work. We learn together, share ideas, and I enjoy supporting that valuable community building across our region.

Dorothy Wickens, Grants Manager
McKnight Foundation
PEAK Minnesota Cochair
Adam Liebling's headshot

The experience of cocreating the Journal stands as a highlight of my career in grants management. Serving as a guest editor is an incredible opportunity to bring together voices in philanthropy on critical issues facing our sector.

Adam Liebling, Director of Grants Management
Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Journal Guest Editor

Why volunteer with PEAK?

We hear time and again that volunteers not only value the opportunity to give back to the field, but they also gain new skills, raise their professional profile, and build their network.

You can enjoy the following benefits by volunteering with PEAK:

  • Deeper relationships with peers in philanthropy
  • Opportunities to lean into career-building roles and responsibilities that you may not have in your current role
  • Expanded skills and knowledge
  • The chance to give back to the field of philanthropy and the PEAK community
  • Ways to elevate your professional profile
  • An exclusive invitation to the PEAK Volunteer Leadership Summit, our signature annual gathering that supports our volunteer leaders as change agents via programming designed to develop leadership and professional skills, instill self-care practices, and provide networking opportunities with your peers and the PEAK team to build your professional community
  • An exclusive invitation to the volunteer appreciation reception at our annual convening and the year-end virtual volunteer appreciation party
  • Recognition on our website, in our annual impact report, and on social media
  • Recognition of your contributions sent from PEAK leadership to your organization’s leadership
  • Special PEAK swag and equity-minded gifts of appreciation

We take a people-first approach to supporting volunteers. We know that you have full-time jobs and lives full of family, friends, and hobbies. That’s why we want every volunteer experience with PEAK to be a positive addition to your life and work. You can expect the PEAK team to always provide clear expectations for your role; support, resources, and guidance to ensure your success; and an open channel of communication for you to voice any challenges and share learnings and feedback.

We believe that volunteering with PEAK lives on a continuum. We strive to offer a variety of volunteer opportunities that allow members to find a good fit for their professional and personal goals, their availability, where they are in their careers, and how they’d like to contribute their skills, knowledge, and spirit to the community and sector. We encourage folks to volunteer when and how they can. We take pride in having great volunteer retention and seeing volunteers return to take on different roles, like board alumni coming back as chapter volunteers, chapter leaders becoming board members, or Insights contributors becoming peer group leaders.

What opportunities are available?

Below is a comprehensive list of our volunteer opportunities. For current openings, please review our volunteer board here.

Affinity Group Steering Committees 

PEAK affinity group volunteers work collaboratively as a leadership team to build community amongst those who identify as the same professional identity to connect, network, and support one another and lead the planning and implementation of 2-4 meetings per year for the affinity group. 

  • Volunteer opportunities: 10+
  • Positions and scope: Specific roles and current openings vary by affinity, but here are general position descriptions for affinity group steering committees: 
    • Cochair
  • Term: Jan 1–Dec 31, officers serve 2-year terms, committee members serve 1-year terms   
  • Eligibility: Current PEAK members who meet the criteria for the affinity group’s eligibility

Insights Contributors

PEAK Grantmaking seeks articles from across the PEAK community and social sector allies that illuminate how grantmaking professionals can rethink current practices, live and work by our Principles for Peak Grantmaking, and transform the field of philanthropy to best support our nonprofit partners and the communities we all seek to strengthen. 

  • Volunteer Opportunities: Unlimited
  • Scope: Contribute an article for a PEAK newsletter   
  • Eligibility: By invitation, and we also welcome pitches 
  • More information

PEAK Board of Directors

Deeply committed to an equity-centered, values-driven grantmaking world, the PEAK Grantmaking board of directors provides organizational governance and works alongside staff to realize our mission and vision. For more information, meet our current board of directors here. 

  • Volunteer opportunities: 7–20
  • Positions and scope: 
  • Term: 3-year commitment (up to 6 years). Terms run June 1–May 31.
  • Eligibility: New board members are selected each year through a nominations process. Review the process here.

Board Committees

As outlined in the bylaws, PEAK Grantmaking has four standing committees (Executive, Governance, Finance, and Audit), and the Board of Directors may designate and appoint additional committees, including advisory boards and task forces, to undertake the work of the organization (such as the Strategy and Organizational Effectiveness Committee). Board members serve on one committee as part of their Board commitment and may invite additional members from the community to participate. Learn more here

Board Nominating Committee 

The Nominating Committee identifies and recommends to the Governance Committee a slate of board members who are aligned with PEAK Grantmaking’s strategic direction, advance PEAK’s leadership role in promoting the field of effective philanthropy, and bring the knowledge, skills, attributes, and abilities needed to govern PEAK Grantmaking. Learn more here

  • Volunteer opportunities: 10-12
  • Positions and scope:
  • Term: September-November 
  • Eligibility: Nominating committee members are invited by PEAK board and staff. Members may also share interest to serve to participate.

Chapter Steering Committees 

PEAK chapter volunteers work collaboratively as a leadership team to support the engagement of chapter members through planning and hosting 2-4 events per year, serving as the chapter’s liaison to PEAK Grantmaking staff, and building local partnerships that support the chapter’s work. 

  • Volunteer opportunities: 70+ leading 14 chapters
  • Positions and scope: Specific roles and current openings vary by chapter, but here are general position descriptions for chapter leadership committees:
    • Chair
    • Vice Chair
    • Communications Chair
    • Programs Chair
    • Membership Chair
    • Committee Member 
  • Term: Jan 1–Dec 31, officers serve 2-year terms, committee members serve 1-year terms   
  • Eligibility: Current PEAK members who work or live in the chapter for which they serve

Caucus Steering Committees 

PEAK caucus volunteers work collaboratively as a leadership team to build community amongst those who identify as the ethnic identity relevant to the caucus to connect, network, and support one another and lead the planning and implementation of 2-4 meetings per year for the caucus. 

  • Volunteer opportunities: 10+
  • Positions and scope: Specific roles and current openings vary by caucus, but here are general position descriptions for caucus steering committees: 
    • Cochair
    • Committee Member 
  • Term: Jan 1–Dec 31, officers serve 2-year terms, committee members serve 1-year terms   
  • Eligibility: Current PEAK members who meet the criteria for the caucus’ eligibility

GM101 Cohort Advisors

Cohort advisors are senior-level professionals in the field, providing opportunities to connect in small groups, explore content more deeply, receive coaching, and have accountability for growth goals.

  • Volunteer Opportunities: 6 per session
  • Scope: Prepare for and facilitate 6 cohort learning sessions,  participate in workshop sessions, and answer cohort member questions and offer guidance throughout the program
  • Term: Throughout the online learning series, about seven months 
  • Eligibility: PEAK board alumni

Mentorship Pilot Program

The PEAK team partners with a PEAK chapter to host this pilot program. Selection Committee members serve.

  • Volunteer opportunities: 40+
  • Positions and scope: 20 mentors, 20 selection committee members 
  • Term: One year  
  • Eligibility: Current PEAK members

Speakers 

Speakers commit to present at our annual convening and at peer network events virtually and inperson throughout the year. Most of our speakers are volunteers from the PEAK community who share their knowledge and experience with peers through presentations, serving on panel conversations, or facilitating discussions. 

  • Volunteer positions: Unlimited
  • Positions and scope: Annual convening, peer network events
  • Term: 30-, 60-, or 90-minute sessions or full-day sessions, as well as preparation time with event lead
  • Eligibility: Varies by meeting, we welcome speakers from our membership and the broader philanthropic and nonprofit sectors

Journal Guest Editors and Contributors 

The PEAK Grantmaking Journal is our member magazine published annually online and in print. Through the Journal, we elevate stories of impact from our members. 

  • Volunteer Opportunities: 10-15 
  • Positions and scope: 
  • Term: Guest editors serve for 6-9 months and support visioning the Journal, brainstorming and selecting contributors, and editing contributors’ work. Contributors commit to writing a piece. 
  • Eligibility: Guest editors are invited by the PEAK team. Members who would like to contribute to the Journal may share interest. The PEAK team, in collaboration guest editors, determines authors from interested folks ensuring that the beautiful diversity of our community is well represented.

Advisory Councils

Advisory council members provide guidance, feedback, and collaborate thought partnership to the PEAK team on a specific project (such as updating the Grants Management Competency Model and our Knowledge Management work)

  • Volunteer Opportunities: 10-15 
  • Positions and scope: Members participate in meeting led by PEAK facilitators and may 
  • Term: Varies by council 
  • Eligibility: Cochairs are invited by the PEAK team. Individuals who would like to serve on the council may share interest with the PEAK team. The PEAK team determines council membership from interested folks ensuring that the beautiful diversity our community is well-represented.