Volunteer | TEDxABQ

Volunteer with TEDxABQ

We invite you to join TEDxABQ and become part of a vibrant community where ideas change everything. As a volunteer, you’ll expand your professional network, develop valuable skills, and build curiosity through engaging with diverse perspectives. Together, we’re building a better future —and we need your passion to make it happen.

TEN REASONS YOU SHOULD JOIN US:

Expand Your Network – Connect with diverse, passionate individuals and build meaningful relationships with like-minded change-makers.
Develop Professional Skills – Gain hands-on experience in areas like event planning, community outreach, fundraising, and volunteer management that transfer to any career path. You don’t have to be an expert or know much to try out something new!
Build Curiosity – Immerse yourself in an environment that constantly explores new ideas, challenges assumptions, and fosters intellectual growth and wonder.
Create Community Impact – Contribute directly to ABQ’s cultural and intellectual landscape by helping surface diverse local voices and stories.
Join a Supportive Team – Experience a volunteer journey designed with care, including proper onboarding, skills development, and celebration of your contributions.
Grow as a Leader – Take on responsibilities that challenge you to develop your leadership abilities in a supportive environment.
Express Your Creativity – TEDxABQ values innovative approaches to everything from community engagement, resource generation, and event production.
Help Create Something Meaningful – Help create sustainable systems that will benefit the organization and community for years to come.
Access Learning Opportunities – Engage with thought leaders, innovative thinkers, and experts across various disciplines throughout the year.
Be Part of a Global Movement – Connect local efforts to the worldwide TED community that believes “ideas change everything” and is dedicated to spreading transformative thinking across cultures and borders.

Volunteer Needs

Community Connector

Position Summary

As the Community Connector for TEDxABQ, you will be the vital bridge between our organization and the vibrant Albuquerque community and serve on our OrganiXer Board. This volunteer role focuses on building meaningful relationships with the broader ABQ+ ecosystem, discovering diverse local voices, and creating pathways for community engagement beyond our main events.

Time Commitment

Participation in OrganiXing Board meetings up to once per week (typically Fridays, 2:30-4:00 PM, though timing can be negotiated)
Flexible additional hours for community engagement activities

Key Responsibilities

Stay informed about activities, initiatives, and happenings throughout the ABQ+ area to identify connection opportunities for TEDxABQ
Identify and cultivate strategic community partnerships that align with our mission
Create and implement pathways for community participation and visibility beyond event attendance
Develop speaker discovery systems to surface diverse local voices
Facilitate year-round learning and connection opportunities
Manage the connector community (ambassador program)
Build and nurture a sub-team as desired to ensure all responsibilities are effectively fulfilled

Decision Authorities

Identify and pursue strategic community partnerships
Make decisions regarding community participation and engagement pathways
Experiment with and implement speaker discovery systems
Design and execute year-round learning and connection opportunities
Structure and manage your sub-team as needed

Ideal Candidate

Strong networker with existing connections in the Albuquerque community
Passionate about ideas and curiosity
Self-motivated with the ability to work independently
Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
Tenacity to see things from ideation to completion
Experience in community organizing, event planning, or public relations is a plus

Benefits

Help shape the future of TEDxABQ’s community presence
Build your professional network across diverse sectors
Develop leadership and team management skills
Be part of spreading innovative ideas in our community

How to Apply

Please submit a volunteer interest form here and include “Community Connector” in the submission along with a brief description of why you would be an ideal candidate.

TEDxABQ values diversity and encourages applications from all qualified individuals regardless of race, color, religion, gender, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, national origin, disability status, or any other characteristic protected by law.

Resource Generator

Position Summary

As the Resource Generator for TEDxABQ, you will lead our efforts to build sustainable funding models through relationship-centered approaches. This vital volunteer role on our OrganiXer Board focuses on developing diverse revenue streams while ensuring all funding partnerships align with our core values and mission to spread ideas worth sharing in the Albuquerque community. You will work closely with our Governance Board to execute on this role.

Time Commitment

Participation in OrganiXing Board meetings up to once per week (typically Fridays, 2:30-4:00 PM, though timing can be negotiated)
Flexible additional hours for relationship building and resource development activities

Key Responsibilities

Develop a comprehensive resource strategy that goes beyond traditional fundraising methods
Create a compelling case for support tied directly to community impact
Build diverse revenue streams including grants, sponsorships, individual giving, and earned income
Ensure ethical alignment between funding sources and organizational values
Design and maintain a partnership journey/experience that is intentional and value-driven
Build and nurture a sub-team as desired to ensure all responsibilities are effectively fulfilled

Decision Authorities

Design and implement the comprehensive resource strategy
Make decisions regarding fundraising approaches, grant pursuits, and revenue stream diversification
Authority to reject funding sources that conflict with organizational values
Structure and manage your sub-team as needed

Ideal Candidate

Experience in fundraising, development, or revenue generation
Strong relationship-building and networking skills
Understanding of ethical fundraising practices
Strategic thinking with ability to create sustainable funding models
Excellent communication and presentation skills
Passionate about ideas and curiosity
Self-motivated with the ability to work independently

Benefits

Help create a sustainable foundation for TEDxABQ’s future
Expand your professional network among diverse community sectors
Develop strategic leadership skills
Contribute to spreading innovative ideas in our community
Create lasting impact through resource development

How to Apply

Please submit a volunteer interest form here and include “Resource Generator” in the submission along with a brief description of why you would be an ideal candidate.

Volunteer Cultivator

Position Summary

As the Volunteer Cultivator for TEDxABQ, you will be responsible for creating a meaningful and collective volunteer experience. This key leadership role on our ORganiXer Board focuses on curating the complete volunteer journey while ensuring that each person’s talents are matched with organizational needs and their contributions are recognized and celebrated.

Time Commitment

Participation in OrganiXing Board meetings up to once per week (typically Fridays, 2:30-4:00 PM, though timing can be negotiated)
Flexible additional hours for volunteer management, recruitment, and community-building activities

Key Responsibilities

Design comprehensive volunteer journeys from recruitment through alumni status
Develop and maintain effective volunteer onboarding, training, and offboarding practices
Ensure volunteers are well-informed and uphold team agreements and expectations in alignment with our strategy and values
Represent volunteer perspectives and on-the-ground insights to the OrganiXer team
Build systems for skills development, recognition, celebration, and community among volunteers
Organize and execute the annual Volunteer Thank You Party
Implement care practices to ensure volunteer wellbeing and prevent burnout
Match volunteer talents with organizational needs and growth opportunities
Build and nurture a sub-team as desired to ensure all responsibilities are effectively fulfilled

Decision Authorities

Final authority on volunteer journey design (recruitment to alumni status)
Approve onboarding, training, and offboarding practices for volunteers
Decide on systems for volunteer skill development, recognition, and community-building
Implement wellbeing and burnout prevention practices
Structure and manage your sub-team as needed

Ideal Candidate

Experience in volunteer management or team leadership
Strong interpersonal and communication skills
Empathetic and people-oriented approach
Organizational skills with attention to detail
Ability to recognize individual strengths and match them to appropriate roles
Passion for creating community and fostering belonging
Share our love for ideas and curiosity
Self-motivated with the ability to lead others

Benefits

Help build a thriving volunteer community at the heart of TEDxABQ
Develop leadership and people management skills
Create systems that enhance the volunteer experience
Build relationships with diverse community members
Be part of spreading innovative ideas in our community

How to Apply

Please submit a volunteer interest form here and include “Volunteer Cultivator” in the submission along with a brief description of why you would be an ideal candidate.