Those adults interested in giving their time at the ranch are welcome to check out the opportunities we have by scrolling down through the page (look for the videos throughout!). We will maintain information based on volunteering interests, schedule, and skills. If your “profile” seems to fit a need we have, we will contact you and invite you to schedule a volunteer interview. This informal interview will give us a chance to get to know you better and go over any additional questions you may have.

We have many volunteer positions including mentor, ranch hand, marketing/fundraising and handyman, greeters, ranch hands, Critter Corner caretakers – just to name a few.

Please note, all volunteers who work onsite with children may be required to apply for and pass a background check.

TITLE: MENTOR

Dates: On-going

Times: Every Saturday for an 8-week session

Location: Reigning Grace Youth Ranch, Rio Verde, AZ

# of volunteers needed: Unlimited (No horse experience necessary!)

Details: As a Mentor, your main goal will be to work side by side with a child and a horse and to help that child develop his/her horsemanship skills to the best of their ability, as well as foster a caring connection between the three of you. You are a facilitator, and as such it will be your responsibility to keep your child safe while helping them learn to draw the parallels between what they are learning with their horse and how to apply those principals to their everyday life.

Commitment: work with a child one time a week for a 2-hour session for a complete season. Each season is approximately 8 weeks. Must arrive at least 15 minutes before sessions begin, and cannot miss more than two sessions in an 8-week period.

Helpful Skills: No experience necessary although we do ask that you have the following skills:

• Positive role model
• Patience, flexibility, openness
• Able to form a healthy and caring relationship with youth
• Able to establish firm limits and boundaries
• Strong communication and listening skills
• Cultural sensitivity

Participant Notes: Proper footwear is definitely required. All footwear must be closed-toed shoes. No sandals or flip-flops, please. Broken toes hurt!! You will be sent home if you do not have the proper footwear. During mentoring sessions please wear jeans and proper shirts. Remember we have impressionable young children that look up to us to set good examples.

TITLE: FUNDRAISER

Location: Reigning Grace Youth Ranch, Rio Verde, AZ/Virtual (but must be in Arizona in order to meet/work with founders)

# of volunteers needed: 1-5

Details: The fundraiser must be able to make connections and communicate with donors. You will be the public eye of the ranch! You will work closely with the founders and be the liaison between the ranch and marketing.

Helpful Skills:

• Good communication skills: both verbal and written.
• Database and IT skills: managing information is crucial, as the profiles of donors, companies, and trusts need to be recorded on a database, as well as a record of all communications, names of contacts, and their criteria for giving.
• Organizational skills: an ability to manage a number of things at once is vital, as fundraising is a fast-paced and challenging role.
• Relationship building
• Presentation skills
• Opportunistic: the ability to spot a potential relationship and act upon it.
• Enthusiasm and commitment: you must really believe and be committed to the cause you are addressing

TITLE: GRANT WRITER

Location:

# of volunteers needed: 1-3

Details: This individual will develop and write significant proposals to foundations, grant-making organizations, and major donors. The Writer will persuasively and clearly communicate Reigning Grace Ranch’s mission and programs to potential donors/funders. The Writer will conduct research and write proposals to fund youth programs, Horse Care and Ranch Expansion. The writer must convey ministry impact and the organization’s appreciation of support for donor funding and gifts.

Helpful Skills:

• Grant writing experience
• Proficiency in Microsoft Word
• Must possess organizational skills, have attention to detail and be able to manage multiple projects and execute writing assignments effectively and efficiently, demonstrating good time management
• Ability to work with people at all levels of the organization; ability to work both independently and be able to work as a collaborative team player
• Must have the ability to handle confidential information with a high level of integrity

TITLE: CRITTER CORNER CARETAKERS

Dates: On-going

Times: Every Saturday for an 8-week session

Location: Reigning Grace Youth Ranch, Scottsdale, AZ

# of volunteers needed: 1-3 (Depends on # of children: No experience necessary!) MUST BE AT LEAST 16 YEARS OLD

Details: Our Critter Corner Corral is looking for caretakers for the wildest critters of all! Kids ages 1-7! Responsibilities include a petting zoo, arts and crafts, and grooming/dress up with the miniature horses.

Commitment: One Saturday a week for 8 weeks Must arrive at least 15 minutes before sessions begin, and cannot miss more than two sessions in an 8-week period.

Helpful Skills: No experience necessary although we do ask that you have the following skills:

• Positive role model
• Patience, flexibility, openness
• Able to form a healthy and caring relationship with youth
• Able to establish firm limits and boundaries
• Strong communication and listening skills
• Cultural sensitivity

Participant Notes: Proper footwear is definitely required. All footwear must be closed-toed shoes. No sandals or flip-flops, please. Broken toes hurt!! You will be sent home if you do not have the proper footwear. During mentoring sessions please wear jeans and proper shirts. Remember we have impressionable young children that look up to us to set good examples.

TITLE: GREETER

Dates: On-going

Times: Every Saturday for an 8-week session

Location: Reigning Grace Youth Ranch, Rio Verde, AZ

# of volunteers needed:  1-2

Details: Greet parents and volunteers for each mentoring session.  Gather signatures from parents for ‘sign-in’ and ensure all Ranch Release forms are signed for every child and parent on the Ranch property. Gather signatures and time from Volunteers and Mentors before and after sessions. Must enjoy greeting and welcoming people (parents, children, volunteers, and donors).

Commitment: One Saturday a week for 8 weeks

Helpful Skills:

• Enjoy greeting and welcoming people in a friendly manner
• Strong and clear communication
• Reliable and trustworthy
• Attention to detail
• Ability to efficiently organize and prioritize multiple tasks
• Ability to work independently while functioning as a member of a team

Participant Notes: Proper footwear is definitely required. All footwear must be closed-toed shoes. No sandals or flip-flops, please. Broken toes hurt!! You will be sent home if you do not have the proper footwear. During mentoring sessions please wear jeans and proper shirts. Remember we have impressionable young children that look up to us to set good examples.

TITLE: VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR ASSISTANT

Dates: On-going

Times: 2-5 hours a week depending on the amount of assistance needed

Location: Home and Reigning Grace Youth Ranch, Rio Verde, AZ/Virtual

# of volunteers needed: 1

Details: Assist the Volunteer Coordinator with various administrative tasks as needed.  Duties include various clerical tasks include database entry, handling of confidential documents, filing, assistance with scheduling volunteers, maintain database of all volunteer hours of service, assist volunteer coordinator with set-up and clean-up of volunteer training and meetings; editing of various documents (i.e., newsletter and website pages), fill in as needed at ranch

Commitment: 2-5 hours a week depending on the amount of assistance needed

Helpful Skills:

• Attention to detail
• Strong and clear communication
• Reliable and trustworthy
• Ability to efficiently organize and prioritize multiple tasks
• Ability to work independently while functioning as a member of a team

TITLE: RANCH HAND

Dates: On-going

Times: 9 am – 11 am

Location: Reigning Grace Youth Ranch, Rio Verde, AZ

Details: As a Ranch Hand for the chickens, and Matilda, our pot-bellied pig, your main goal will be to provide a clean, healthy and safe environment at our facility. But more importantly, this is what you need to know. As a Ranch Hand, you are the backbone of this ministry. Without your help, the water troughs don’t get scrubbed and filled, the chickens don’t always have clean bedding and they nor the pig get fed!

Believe us when we tell you how much your contribution means to this program. You are the unsung heroes who serve week in and week out in all kinds of weather to make sure things around here are running smoothly.

Participant Notes: Proper footwear is definitely required. All footwear must be closed-toed shoes. No sandals or flip-flops, please. Broken toes hurt!! You will be sent home if you do not have the proper footwear. During mentoring sessions please wear jeans and proper shirts. Remember we have impressionable young children that look up to us to set good examples.

Helpful Skills: No experience necessary.

Many of our children benefit greatly from our riding session program but are looking for more opportunities to be involved. Allowing them to volunteer outside of session time provides them a place to be challenged and become a closer part of the ranch family. Children who choose to be more involved will labor hand-in-hand with their adult counterparts, learning from their elders, witnessing the value of a hard day’s work, and building some muscle while they are at it. Junior volunteers range in age from 8-18 and help with everything from ranch hand work to working with horses depending on their skill level.

For those looking to volunteer just a few hours for school credit, we will be providing one group volunteer Saturday a month. More details coming soon!