Volunteering

Thank you for expressing an interest in volunteering at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum. We are currently accepting volunteer applications for our February 2025 volunteer classes. Please read the information below and fill out the volunteer application form, and we will get back to you as soon as possible. 

In the meantime, we encourage you to stay connected to the Museum and its mission by contributing to ongoing virtual public projects. The Museum relies on contributors to the World Memory Project, Every Name Counts, and History Unfolded programs. This work can be done from anywhere with an internet connection.

In carrying out its important memorial and educational mission, the Museum is guided by its institutional values for our workplace: Honor the memory of the victims; carry out our work with dignity, humility, integrity and respect for others; and strive for excellence through teamwork, rigor, and a culture of continuous learning. Consistent respect for others is the foundation of trust, collegiality and inclusion.

Eligibility

The Museum accepts volunteers without regard to race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, national origin, age, or disability. You must be at least 16 years old by the start of your service and should possess the following qualities:

• Compassion to deal with difficult subject matter and those who are affected by it

• Open-mindedness and patience to work with a diverse public and staff

• Integrity to represent the Museum and oneself with the highest standards

• Dedication to the Museum’s mission and to the values of the Volunteer Program

• Reliability to consistently keep one’s volunteer commitment to the Museum

• Requirements

• Applicants must reside in the United States.

• Applicants must be fluent in written and spoken English.

Opportunities

Visitor Services Volunteer Representatives serve as ambassadors to the public, greeting visitors and orienting them to the Museum, distributing daily passes, and assisting with crowd control. They must:

• Work one four-hour shift (morning or afternoon) every week or one six-hour shift every other weekend for a minimum of one year.

• Successfully complete a basic orientation and on-the-job training. Training and on-boarding is provided four times a year (February, May, August, and November) and includes three mandatory training days. Specialized areas require additional training.

• Possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Retail experience and customer service and foreign language skills are helpful.

Education and Tour Guide Volunteers help Museum staff conduct public presentations and tours for visitors, school groups, and law enforcement professionals. They must:

• Successfully complete a training program.

• Work at least one half-day (four hours) per week.

• Possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills. Experience in teaching or museum education, public service, and/or retail is helpful.

• Must have served as a volunteer with the Museum at least one year prior to applying for the tour guide program.

Behind-the-Scenes Volunteers work throughout the Museum as well as off-site. The schedule is generally flexible but may include weekly or biweekly shifts. Tasks include research, translation, transcription, and providing customer service. Volunteers must:

• Possess various skills are needed depending on the position. These may include foreign language(s), clerical, computer, research, and writing abilities.

Museum Statement on Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Inclusion

The Museum is committed to cultivating and maintaining a culture of diversity, equity, accessibility and inclusion (DEAI). Every member of our Museum community is responsible for ensuring that the Museum is free of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation and for promoting a diverse, equitable, accessible, and inclusive institution. This includes supporting DEAI throughout our workplace—in our policies, programs, culture, facilities, and technology. Please see the Museum Statement on Diversity, Equity, Accessibility and Inclusion (PDF).