Anyone hoping to volunteer with Harm Reduction Circle must first complete a volunteer application which can be found on the Volunteer Page, or by Clicking Here. Once a volunteer application has been submitted, reviewed, & approved the volunteer will be sent a Welcome Email with a link to join the Inner Circle, Harm Reduction Circle's Volunteer Hub.

The Inner Circle is our site exclusively for staff & volunteers of Harm Reduction Circle, where you'll find everything you need to get started with volunteering. We've developed the Inner Circle to make it easy for you to find information, answer your questions and access our resources. Stay up-to-date with significant updates and changes by checking out our Blog Page, or connect with our team and other volunteers through our Discord server. The Events Calendar lists all upcoming bookings and enables volunteers to take on shifts for upcoming events. Need to prepare for an event? Visit the Training Page for online courses on harm reduction topics, and explore our Resources Page to access key documents such as our Policy and Procedure Handbook, Liability Waiver, and COVID-19 Guidelines. As a volunteer with HRC, you can also benefit from our 501(c)(3) status, by taking advantage of discounts and promotions listed on our Benefits Page. Don't forget to check out our FAQ Page before posting a question on the Q&A forum, and if you need to contact a specific member of HRC management, visit our Contact Page.

Booth Team: This position is part of our Event Team. The Booth Team members are volunteers who are participating in in-person events and are working at our booth. This entails welcoming guests, peer-to-peer education, and providing additional services to them aimed at reducing harm. Volunteers participating with our Booth Team are doing the actual distribution of our goods and services which include substance testing, Narcan distribution, and more. Volunteers working the Booth Team will report directly to their Team Supervisor or Regional Operations Manager, as necessary.

Roaming Homies Team: This position is part of our Event Team. The Roaming Team members are volunteers who are participating in in-person events, actively roaming the event and informing guests about our harm reduction booth and all of the services offered. Since not everyone is aware of the importance of harm reduction and substance testing, it would be your job to educate them. Members of the Roaming Team may carry brochures and flyers, test kits for on-the-spot substance testing, and Narcan. Roaming volunteers report directly to their Team Supervisor or Regional Operations Manager when necessary.

Management Team: Our management team consists of our Board of Directors, various Coordinators, Regional Operations Managers, Team Supervisors, Equipment Supervisors, and other members of Harm Reduction Circle to elect to take on a role outside of working our Event Team or Roaming Team.

Regional Manager: The major responsibility of the Regional Manager is to implement proper processes and supervise all members and operations within their assigned region. A Regional Manager's responsibilities also include managing all materials and resources for the region's inventory, ordering supplies as needed, and complying with all written policies and procedures. They may either delegate responsibilities to Team Supervisors or other volunteers in their region, or they may choose to take on the role of Team Supervisor themselves for certain events. Occasionally, the Volunteer Coordinator may ask for assistance with recruiting to fill unfilled positions in their region. Developing strategies to improve operational procedures, collaborating with the Board of Directors to make changes to any written policies or procedures to improve overall performance, and ensuring Harm Reduction Circle's long-term growth and success.

Team Supervisor: For each in-person event Harm Reduction Circle attends we’ll have at least one Team Supervisor who will be responsible for supervising all of the volunteers who will be working onsite. Team Supervisors will use the Shift Schedule Sheet to ensure that everyone is on time for their shifts. Supervisors will use a walk team-talkie system to communicate with the booth when they are unable to be physically present. Supervisors must submit a Post-Event Reporting Form with detailed inventory information, the number of donations collected, and all test results data from each member of the Event Team at the end of each event.

Equipment Supervisor: This role entails both managing and transporting our essential materials and our larger pieces of equipment. Equipment Supervisors will report directly to their Regional Manager. In some cases, this role may also include storing some equipment. Volunteers taking on the role of Equipment Supervisor will work alongside Team Supervisors and report to their Regional Operations Manager. Equipment Supervisors may receive travel reimbursement for events where they transport equipment to or from.

Harm Reduction Circle provides harm reduction services at a variety of events, including music festivals, concerts, & other nightlife events.

In short, our Event Services include providing peer-to-peer education, drug checking, Narcan training & distribution, lounge space, trip sitting support, along with other key services geared toward harm reduction. Visit the Event Services Page for a full list of the services provided by our Event Teams.

Our first team was founded in Southern California. Our newly established teams are based in Arizona, Florida, Oregon, Texas, & Utah. We are planning to establish teams in Colorado, Michigan, Nevada, New England, Northern California, Ohio, & Washington.

No specific qualifications are required to volunteer with us. We provide training & support to all volunteers.

Absolutely! Volunteers are never asked to pay for tickets when they are volunteering with Harm Reduction Circle. Volunteers must have a signed Liability Waiver on file, complete the mandatory training courses, & serve at least the required number of shifts for that event in order to receive a free ticket.

The number of hours/shifts we require our volunteers to work varies depending on a variety of factors. Some events are longer than others, & some organizers may limit the number of volunteers we may bring, while others supply adequate volunteer tickets. For each event, we change the shift duration & number of required shifts based on these and other criteria.

The duration of shifts our volunteers are required to work varies based on a variety of circumstances. Some organizers may have restrictions on the number of volunteers we may bring, while others may provide ample volunteer tickets. Shifts are typically longer when there are fewer volunteers. Depending on these & other factors, the shift time varies from event to event.

Absolutely! Unlike other harm reduction organizations, we believe in allowing our volunteers to pick their own schedules based on their availability. Team Supervisors may make adjustments as needed.

In very rare circumstances we may implement a deposit on volunteer tickets. We haven’t done this to date, but it’s in our Event Team Guidebook our policy states “Certain events may require an upfront ticket deposit to secure a complimentary ticket. This is typically for larger events, highly sought-after events, new volunteers, or volunteers with a history of commitment issues. When an upfront ticket deposit is requested volunteers must pay the deposit before their ticket request is confirmed. Contact the Team Supervisor for information on paying any required ticket deposit. Volunteers understand their ticket deposit will not be refunded if they miss more than one scheduled shift or more than 6 hours total — whichever occurs first. Ticket deposits will be refunded no later than 14 days after the event has concluded.” Ticket deposits will be no more than 50% of the full price of an event ticket.

Outside of working festivals or events, we have a variety of management opportunities available, such as a seat on our Board of Directors, program management, facilitating incoming bulk shipments of Narcan, taking the initiative to start a new local team, various administrative tasks, or other management roles which are key to the long-term growth & success of our organization.

There are currently no paid positions available at this time.

We always encourage volunteers to recruit their friends! However, when friends volunteer together we ask that no two volunteers schedule themselves their shifts more than 50% of the time. This is because although available shifts may be taken, this doesn’t fill available time slots. Any time slots without at least 1 volunteer must be filled by the Team Supervisor. For this reason, we limit each volunteer intentionally scheduling their shifts together more than 50% of the time.

For example, if Jack & Jill are needed to work three shifts each at a three-day event in order to get a volunteer ticket, but both Jack & Jill work the 2pm to 5pm shift each day, that may fill available shifts but not time slots. In this case, even if Jack had not volunteered, Jill would have been able to handle the 2pm to 5pm shift on her own.

The Event Team Guidebook states that “Occasionally +1 tickets are offered to volunteers either by event organizers or by Harm Reduction Circle.” Although we have never implemented ticket deposits for +1 tickets, the Guidebook continues that “In these cases, upfront ticket deposits may be required for up to 100% of the value of the ticket. Individuals who receive a +1 ticket are required to sign a Liability Waiver which will expire 1 day after the event concludes.”

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization Harm Reduction Circle is privy to many different discounts & promotions. We do our best to pass those off to our volunteers whenever possible. This includes free Microsoft 365 Business Premium ($264 value) with the latest versions of Word, Excel, PowerPoint, & more, 33% off any VistaPrint purchase, discounts on Airbnb & rental cars, free Canva Pro account ($119 value), Norton 360 Deluxe, Fiverr Business, custom volunteer merch, & more. Each volunteer can request up to 12 x doses for free each calendar month. & management can request up to 72 x doses, supplies like syringes, condoms, & printed materials.

Harm Reduction Circle makes its best effort to provide as much reimbursement to as many positions as possible whenever it is within the means of the organization. If travel reimbursement or other cash incentives is available it will be clearly stated in writing. When offered reimbursements will be paid out within 14 days or less of the completion of the event. As of 4/30/2022 Harm Reduction Circle offers .35 per mile. If travel reimbursement is available & clearly stated in writing. When offered reimbursements will be paid out within 14 days or less of the completion of the event.

In most circumstances, each volunteer is expected to pack enough food & drink to meet their needs. However, if provide meal plans, meal vouchers, or catering is offered to our volunteers, we will, of course, extend this to our team. Unless otherwise specified, each volunteer must be self-sufficient for the duration of the event.

Harm Reduction Circle is unable to provide volunteers with lodging or food arrangements. Each volunteer must be self-sufficient for the length of the event unless otherwise stated. This includes camping equipment, appropriate clothing for the region & time of year, & enough food & drink to last the length of the event.

Volunteers are only required to be at the venue during their scheduled shifts. Our team members are welcome to come & go as they like, as long as they are present, on time, & prepared to perform their duties during all scheduled shifts.

For example, if a volunteer is working an event that starts on Thursday & concludes on Monday, but has only booked shifts on Friday & Saturday, the volunteer is not obliged to be on-site until their first shift on Friday.

Of course! Volunteers are more than welcome to enjoy the event/festival before & after their scheduled shifts; as long as they are present, on time, & prepared to perform their duties during all scheduled shifts.

Even between shifts when team members are not actively performing activities during a scheduled shift, they are still representing Harm Reduction Circle. Maintaining HRC's reputation is essential! As a result, we do not allow our volunteers to take drugs or alcohol during any event in which they are involved.

We have many remote opportunities available outside of our Event Teams.