NotJustYou volunteers step into leadership with new Directors of Volunteerism

In March 2026, NotJustYou onboarded new Directors of Volunteerism. On Wednesday, April 22, volunteers gathered for the NotJustYou Cup, a Volunteer Social with team games, where NotJustYou introduced new volunteer leadership positions.

The new positions open a path for volunteers to take on leadership at NotJustYou. They also arrive in a busy year.

A busy start to 2026

The first months of 2026 were full. In the first quarter alone, NotJustYou hosted:

• The Afro-Jazz Experience on January 24, celebrating its seventh year
• The very first CELLS.irl dinner, in Edmonton on February 6
• Its first Black History Month group blood donation on February 21
• Cellular Vancouver on March 6

Each one needed people to plan, set up, welcome guests and share the story afterward. NotJustYou’s volunteers are sickle supporters, and their work helps remove stigma and shame from sickle cell disease, whether they are coordinating an event or keeping the organization running behind the scenes.

The NotJustYou Cup

The NotJustYou Cup turned the spring Volunteer Social into a friendly competition, with volunteers playing team games. It was also where NotJustYou introduced its new volunteer leadership positions, so the people who show up for NotJustYou can grow into the people who lead it.

Last year’s Volunteer Social set the tone. Volunteers posed with “Proud Volunteer” and “#NoShame #NoStigma” signs and gathered for a group photo with giant N, J and Y letters. The signs reflected the stance at the centre of NotJustYou’s work: no shame and no stigma around sickle cell.

Open roles

NotJustYou is recruiting now, with roles that range from on-call event help to finance and grant writing. Five volunteer roles are open:

• General Volunteer (on call): help at events and projects, and with fundraising and outreach
• Creative Volunteer (on call): photography, video, design, content creation, event planning, decor, music production or copywriting, with two or more years of experience
• Finance Coordinator: budgets and financial plans, financial reporting to the board, cash flow and compliance
• Grant Writer: research grant opportunities, then write and submit proposals that fund NotJustYou’s programs
• Social Media Manager: plan, create and schedule content, and grow NotJustYou’s social media accounts

General and Creative Volunteers work on call, joining events and projects as they come up. The other three roles carry ongoing responsibilities behind the scenes.

Why volunteer with NotJustYou

NotJustYou’s mission is to be an easily accessible, broad support network for individuals and families affected by sickle cell disease. A broad network needs many hands, in every part of the work.

NotJustYou looks for students, young adults and professionals who want real experience in the non-profit sector and a chance to make a difference in their community. Its volunteer team is built around collaboration and problem-solving, and NotJustYou aims to help volunteers build skills for what comes next.

That focus on growth is what the new leadership positions build on. NotJustYou’s volunteer page speaks of cultivating long-term relationships with current and future leaders, and the new roles give volunteers a clear place to lead.

How to apply

Apply through our volunteer page: choose a role and tell us your city and why you want to join NotJustYou. If you are a good fit for an open role, the team will be in touch to schedule an interview.

Applications for all five roles are open now. Questions about a role can go to the team through our contact page.