Museum of Reclaimed
Urban Space

Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space (MoRUS) volunteers have the opportunity to learn about the workings of a history museum and contribute valuable services to a nonprofit organization. We accept applications at all times and keep those we don’t contact immediately on a waiting list to be reconsidered when more positions become available.

Your application should include your contact information, availability, previous volunteer and professional experience, and a personal statement addressing why you wish to volunteer at the Museum of Reclaimed Urban Space, and what interests, skills and experiences you would bring to the position.

Below are the descriptions of available volunteer opportunities at this time (also available at Idealist and VolunteerMatch):

Long-Term Positions

FUNDRAISING COORDINATOR

We are currently seeking a Fundraising Coordinator to oversee fundraising activities for the museum. A major component of this position is grant writing. The museum is funded largely through grants and donations. Any type of fund-raising, including grant-writing, is vital to our survival. This position includes identifying funding sources and writing grants. Ideally, we are looking for an enthusiastic individual who is able to meet deadlines and is a self-starter. Experience in non-profit and/or corporate fundraising is strongly preferred.

ASSISTANT TO THE DIRECTOR

We are currently seeking an Assistant to the Director. This position involves assisting with a variety of different activities including but not limited to: setting up events, managing spaces, organizing committees and meetings, and networking with other organizations and volunteers. Please note that a significant amount of time will be spent assisting the Director with drafting, emailing, and computer work, also includes transcription of dictation. Applicants must be flexible, computer savvy, and must be proficient in written/ spoken English with good grammatical skills. Commitment is approximately 10-20 hours per week. There is a 3 month minimum commitment.

ARCHIVES

Gain access to the records of this neighborhood’s history. Interns will gain experience cataloging data formatted to the Dublin Core schema, adherence to DACS descriptive standards, and brainstorm/develop unique ways to promote the material including public programs, blogposts, and exhibitions. 1-2 days a week commitment. You will: assist with daily operations (front desk, opening, closing, cleaning, sales), attend monthly archive committee meetings, process and organize collections, catalog data from the records of community gardens and squats, digitize materials, manage our database, house and rehouse documents.

PHOTO/VIDEO EDITOR

MoRUS is a living archive and we are constantly receiving new photographs and videos to archive. The volunteer video editor will work on small video editing projects to put on the website and social media outlets and make small documentaries and movies, etc. The hours/days are flexible and this is a great opportunity to use your skills to take part in preserving the history of the activism, community gardens and squats in the Lower East Side. (Editing skills required) Contact us for more details!

COMMUNITY GARDEN COORDINATOR 

MoRUS works with community gardeners in the East Village to start new community gardens, clean up existing community gardens, and work on community garden legislation. We are looking for someone to help advertise our work days, and maintain our garden committee e-mail list. Let’s plant some seeds and make New York green. MoRUS partners with Time’s Up on all our garden projects, from clean-ups to advocacy to starting new gardens.

VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR

Are you a “people person”? MoRUS is looking for outgoing and friendly volunteers who would like to become Volunteer Coordinators. This position involves contacting people who would like to become MoRUS volunteers (via email, phone, meetings, parties, and events), finding out their talents and interests, helping them get “plugged-in” to MoRUS by steering them to the appropriate meetings, events, or coordinators.