Find a way to be part of the NF Midwest community.
Volunteering can look a lot of different ways. You might welcome a family at a Walk4NF event, help bring NF awareness to your hometown, take photos, advocate with lawmakers, support our iNFo Fair, or lead something new in your community.
You don’t need special experience. You just need an interest in helping people affected by NF feel more connected, informed, and supported.
Volunteering can give something back to you, too: new relationships, meaningful experiences, and the chance to know your time mattered.
Ways to Get Involved
Welcome & Connect
Help people feel like they belong.
- Welcome families at Walk4NF and other NF Midwest events
- Introduce yourself to people who arrive alone
- Help connect new families with others
- Mingle with participants and help create a warm, welcoming environment
Walk4NF & Events
Help make NF Midwest events welcoming, organized, and fun.
- Help with setup and cleanup
- Welcome participants and assist with registration
- Help with activities and provide route support
- Take photos
- Join a Walk4NF planning team
- Help with local outreach before an event
Help at the iNFo Fair
Be part of one of NF Midwest’s biggest education and connection events.
- Greet attendees and help with registration
- Provide directional and room support
- Assist speakers or exhibitors
- Take photos
- Help with setup and cleanup
- Help attendees feel comfortable and connected
Lead Something in Your Community
Bring NF Midwest closer to where you live.
- Serve as a local walking day captain
- Organize a standalone community walking day
- Coordinate an awareness activity
- Invite friends, neighbors, or coworkers to participate
- Represent NF Midwest at a local event
Advocacy & Awareness
Help make NF more visible.
- Request an NF Awareness Month proclamation
- Ask a local landmark to light blue and green
- Attend legislative meetings
- Share your NF story with policymakers
- Help identify local elected officials
- Support awareness campaigns
- Bring NF information into your workplace, school, club, or community
Share Your Skills
Use what you already know to help. Your skills might include:
- Photography, writing, graphic design, or videography
- Public speaking and event planning
- Community outreach and fundraising
- Business connections and professional expertise
- Administrative or special projects
Don’t see your skill listed? Tell us about it.
Join the Community Engagement Group
Help shape NF Midwest by sharing your ideas, feedback, and perspective. This can be a great way to get involved if you want to help from home, have limited time, or want to stay connected without taking on a formal event role.
Volunteer Through Your Workplace
Bring NF Midwest to work. You and your coworkers can:
- Volunteer together at an event
- Hold an NF awareness activity
- Participate in a walking day
- Use employer volunteer time
- Organize a fundraiser
- Support an NF Midwest activity together
Not Sure Where You Fit?
You don’t have to choose a role before you contact us. Tell us what interests you, where you live, and how much time you’d like to give.
Jennifer will follow up with you and help find something that fits.
Contact Jennifer Bulandr, Director of Programs and Outreach:
Jennifer@nfmidwest.org or (630) 945-3562, extension 3.
Why Volunteer?
Volunteering can be a way to:
- Meet people who understand something important about your life
- Feel more connected to the NF community
- Turn your experience into something useful for someone else
- Build confidence and make new friendships
- Use skills you already have in a meaningful way
- Learn something new and feel part of something larger
You do not need to have NF or have a family member with NF to volunteer.
Meet Our Volunteers
Our volunteers bring their time, talents, ideas, and heart to NF Midwest in many different ways.
Mary Chapman has been part of the Madison Walk4NF for 10 years and has served as Walk Chair for the past five! Her dedication, leadership, and heart for this event have helped make the walk what it is today. We are so grateful to Mary, and to her family and friends who support her and NF Midwest year after year.
Common Questions
Do I need volunteer experience?
No. Most opportunities do not require previous volunteer experience.
Do I need to have NF or have a family member with NF?
No. Everyone with an interest in helping is welcome.
How much time do I need to give?
It depends on the opportunity. Some take only a few hours, while others involve helping throughout the year.
Can I volunteer from home?
Yes. Some advocacy, outreach, planning, feedback, and special projects can be done remotely.
Can my family, coworkers, or group volunteer together?
Yes, depending on the opportunity.
What happens after I contact Jennifer?
Jennifer will reach out to learn a little more about what interests you and talk about possibilities. Getting in touch does not commit you to anything.
Opportunities Available Now
Explore the listings below. If you don’t see an opportunity that fits you right now, we’d still love to hear from you. Tell Jennifer what interests you and we’ll keep you in mind for upcoming opportunities.
One-Time Volunteer Opportunities
Sorry, there are no volunteer opportunities available right now.
Ongoing Volunteer Opportunities
Madison Walk Planning
Be a Behind‑the‑Scenes Hero for Madison Walk4NF! Love planning, connecting with people, or being part of something meaningful? Join our Madison walk4NF planning team! Volunteers help dream up ideas, spread the word, and pull together the details that make walk day fun and memorable. It’s a great way to meet others, give back to the…