Volunteer

Thank you for thinking about joining Felines of Chicago team! We are in constant need of volunteers and fosters to help us save lives and make an impact on the surrounding community. Felines of Chicago has many volunteer opportunities with not only our organization, but also our rescue partners ranging from simple volunteer work like sharing on social media to more extensive volunteering like TNR and networking.

Volunteer Opportunities

  • Foster

    Become a foster! This is literally the most important volunteer role in animal rescue. Pets need homes to decompress in and/or heal in before they find their forever home. 

  • Networker

    As a volunteer networker you will be communicating with fosters and rescues to help network cats out of open admission shelters and assist with matching fosters with rescues best suited for them. This is one of the most important volunteer positions at Felines of Chicago. Position requires a minimum of 10 hours per week commitment. Much of our networking is done on social media and e-mail. Training materials and mentor is provided. 

  • Transporter

    Help us save lives—one ride at a time! Our transport volunteers are a vital link in getting cats safely from shelters to rescues or foster homes. Whether it’s a quick trip across the city or a longer lifesaving journey, every mile helps a cat get closer to safety. FOC provides all the coordination—you just provide the wheels and a little bit of time.

  • Hardship Assistance & Rehoming

    We would love families to stay together. Something we want to provide as an organization is education, materials, pet food pantry and additional assistance needed to these families. As a hardship assistance volunteer you council the family to find what best works for their situation. Should they need to re-home the pet, you will work as a volunteer to assist with re-homing them, providing the information required, helping locate a foster and rescue. Position requires a minimum of 10 hours a week. 

  • TNR - Trap, Neuter, Return

    Do you have TNR experience? Do you want to bring TNR to your community? Help to put an end to cat over-population! Felines of Chicago is looking for new volunteers that can assist with TNR projects throughout the Chicagoland area. Volunteer position includes knowledge on TNR and cat behavior along with setting up traps responsibly and not leaving unattended, providing guidance on how to operate traps when needed, informing businesses and neighbors that you are trapping, taking cats to and from appointments, caring for the cat for the duration of the required time needed for care.

  • Petco/Petsmart Volunteer

    Many of rescue partners utilize Petco & Petsmart stores to host adoptable cats and events. They need volunteers to stop in often to provide basic daily care such as feedings, cleaning, and providing TLC.​

  • Grant Writer

    ​​You’d be responsible for writing compelling grant proposals to different companies, foundations, trusts, and educational institutions. Additionally, you’ll be identifying grant proposal opportunities and collaborating with our development team. Our Grant Writer will be fundamental to developing and maintaining relationships with key stakeholders. Grant writing experience and excellent communication is required.

  • Fundraiser

    Within fundraising there comes many positions ranging from helping organize a fundraiser or event to volunteering at the event for various positions. In addition, we have peer-to-peer fundraising. 

  • Mentor & Educator

    We especially are looking for those who have experience with fostering and caring for: neonatal kittens, cats with acute injuries, cats with chronic medical issues such as diabetes, cardiac conditions, and cerebellar hypoplasia (CH), blind and deaf cats, behavioral and socialization needs, mothers with kits, ringworm cases, as well as FIV/FELV and panleukemia. Sharing your knowledge with our community directly impacts and improves live outcomes of our feline friends.

    Team up with our new fosters and provide support and know-how! Some fosters have never had cats before while others are learning how to care for needs such as bottle feeding, wound care, or how to give injections such as insulin and sub q fluids. Other common mentee needs are for standard kitten care and development as well as the eventual foster introduction process to other resident cats. Becoming a mentor is a more personal, one-on-one volunteer role than being a community educator, however these roles can overlap if you desire to become involved with our workshops and educational videos.