VOLUNTEER with Charlotte Pride
Our volunteer teams are made up of individuals from all backgrounds, talents, and skill sets — whether this is your first time volunteering or you have years of experience. We strongly encourage applications from women, people of color, and trans and gender-diverse individuals.
Perks of Volunteering with Charlotte Pride:
Professional Development: Build your portfolio and gain hands-on experience.
Networking Opportunities: Connect with professionals and community leaders.
Make a Difference: Support LGBTQ+ visibility and equality.
Fun & Community: Be part of a passionate, fun-loving team!
general expectations
- Meet monthly with the entire Charlotte Pride team and monthly with individual teams to ensure projects are progressing on schedule
- Regularly communicate with staff, board, and other coordinators/volunteers through Charlotte Pride-provided email account
- Attend our Monthly Team Huddles (First Meeting – December 2024 – TBD)
- Be present from Friday morning through Sunday evening of the Charlotte Pride Festival and Parade Weekend, scheduled for August 16 – 17, 2025
- Attend and/or volunteer at three Charlotte Pride events throughout the year, not including the Festival and Parade weekend
* Members of the Reel Out Charlotte Team do not need to attend monthly team huddles and should expect to be present for the week of the film festival, May 14-18, 2025.
How to Apply
- Read the general expectations and requirements above
- Peruse the listing of team descriptions and open positions below
- Click on the application button to apply
Application Timeline
- September 30 — Applications open
- October 25 — Applications closed
- November 22 — Applicants notified
- December — Combined 2025 Festival & Parade, Communications, and Programming Team Meeting / Welcome and Onboarding (Details TBD)
Application and Interview Process
This process helps Charlotte Pride identify new leaders, voices, and skills to help increase the impact that we can make on our community together. Before any community member takes on a leadership role, we want you to be aware of the amount of work and time you’ll be expected to commit. The descriptions of our team responsibilities, as well as this interview process, will help you make the best decision on where your time and talent can best be utilized.
All team lead applicants will be required to attend an interview with Charlotte Pride staff. Team member applicants may be asked to attend an interview if staff have questions or would like to get to know you better.
Please be sure you have completely reviewed the description and time commitment expectations of the role for which you are applying.
Have questions? Feel free to email us at staff@charlottepride.org.
Festival & Parade Team
2025 Team Descriptions
The Festival & Parade Team is made up of dedicated volunteers who oversee key areas of the Charlotte Pride Festival & Parade. Working closely with Charlotte Pride staff, this team ensures the successful planning and execution of the weekend’s events. Volunteers contribute to everything from entertainment and stage management to logistics, vendor coordination, and parade operations. Each member plays a crucial role in creating an inclusive, safe, and celebratory experience for the LGBTQ+ community and allies during the festival and parade weekend.
Who are we looking for?
Our Festival Zone Team Coordinator is a logistical superstar with incredible attention to detail. They are comfortable with managing large databases and helping coordinate a variety of project components. In order to support the Team Coordinator, members should have significant amounts of freedom in scheduling to ensure participation in team meetings on a nearly weekly basis upon the onset of festival vendor application review.
What will they be doing?
Along with the Festival Zone Team Coordinator, this volunteer will help evaluate, organize, and select vendors for the Charlotte Pride festival. Serving as the primary points of contact for all vendor questions and concerns, the team will communicate regular updates with applicants and approved vendors. Additionally, Festival Zone Team volunteers will assist in the development of new and improved check-in/check-out processes for vendors and work with the Operations Team to develop the festival map.
This person will also assist with vendor load-in on Friday, August 16, and Saturday morning, August 17, as well as vendor load-out on Sunday, August 18. In addition, they will help ensure vendor satisfaction through friendly support and help in answering various vendors’ questions and helping to meet their needs.
Who are we looking for?
An individual passionate about the role of LGBTQ-inclusive and -affirming faith communities in the greater Charlotte community. This person values and respects the various faith traditions without prejudice and prioritizes the contributions of often underrepresented religious and ethnic communities. This team member will support the work of the Interfaith Team Coordinator and current team members.
What will they be doing?
The Interfaith Team is tasked with planning each year’s Charlotte Pride Interfaith Service, planned for August 10, 2025, including coordination on identifying a host congregation or venue, marketing needs, and programmatic development. This committee of volunteers should prioritize intentional outreach to underrepresented faith groups (e.g., Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and others).
Who are we looking for?
This volunteer will be incredibly logistics-minded, ready to dive into complex projects, and work to ensure thoughtful solutions that help streamline and support the entire festival and parade weekend. This role isn’t the most glamorous, but it is a perfect place for those who want to really play an essential role while staying a bit more behind-the-scenes.
Operations and Logistics Team Members will be logistics-minded and ready to turn on a dime to solve problems, run errands, set up signs, deliver or pick up items or people, help with event set-up, execution (such as ice delivery to vendors), and much more. This person will be able to lift 30 pounds and is equipped for physical work. They should be able to drive a golf cart, U-Haul, or even a forklift in special cases.
What will they be doing?
This person will be vital in helping the event run smoothly and successfully by helping plan and support the weekend’s set-up, and tear-down.
Who are we looking for?
We are looking for an individual who is willing to go above and beyond in a volunteer role, with an attentive, professional work ethic, who enjoys rising to challenge, and finding solutions to complex and logistical obstacles. This person is excited about the opportunity to create something exciting, engaging, and sustainable for our community, while understanding and valuing the intensive time commitment that it will take to oversee the operational, logistical, and creative components of the Charlotte Pride Parade.
What will they be doing?
As a key volunteer position, this individual is expected to have a professional or educational background that is relevant to the coordination of large-scale event planning and management. This role supports the Parade Team Coordinator to oversee the parade line-up, parade staging, and outreach to parade participants, including best practices for parade check-in and staging and participant organization and line-up. This individual will work with the full committee of parade volunteers tasked with helping to plan and execute the parade, with a focus on parade staging, emcee guide, parade route crowd control, and management of the de-staging area.
This person will play a key role in executing the parade on Sunday, August 17th, 2025, from early morning through the afternoon.
Who are we looking for?
We are seeking volunteers who have a passion for the arts and creating inclusive, welcoming environments. Under the leadership of our Flourish Team Coordinator, volunteers should be comfortable working with LGBTQ+ performing and fine arts groups, as well as spoken word artists and filmmakers. This team will plan and manage this free, indoor arts activation which is held in an air-conditioned space where attendees can relax and enjoy the arts during the Charlotte Pride Festival.
What will they be doing?
The Flourish Team will coordinate and manage performances and presentations from LGBTQ+ artists, including live music, spoken word, short films, and more. Volunteers will help set up and maintain this dedicated arts space, ensuring a comfortable environment for both performers and attendees. Responsibilities include assisting with logistics, coordinating with artists, and making sure the space stays inviting and engaging.
Who are we looking for?
We are seeking individuals with strong leadership and organizational skills to join the Finance Team and oversee ticket sales operations during the Charlotte Pride Festival and Parade weekend. Supervisors should be comfortable assisting staff, managing event logistics, and ensuring smooth ticketing processes.
What will they be doing?
The Ticket Tent Supervisors will oversee the setup and takedown of registers, assist with ID checks and wristband distribution, and ensure ticket sales staff are properly trained and supported. They will work closely with the Finance Team to maintain efficient and organized ticket sales operations throughout the event.
PROGRAMS TEAM
The Charlotte Pride Programs Team has grown to now include a broader range of focus areas, including nightlife, fundraising events, affinity groups (Latinx, Trans, and Women’s Pride), accessibility, and Reel Out Charlotte: the Queen City’s Annual LGBTQ Film Festival. These teams consist of passionate volunteers who work closely with staff to execute impactful programming that supports and uplifts the LGBTQ+ community. Each team plays a crucial role in creating safe, inclusive, and celebratory spaces for various identities and interests within Charlotte’s LGBTQ+ population.
2025 Team Descriptions
Who are we looking for?
Individuals who are passionate about intersectional, intentional community outreach. The ideal volunteers will represent the various communities of the Charlotte Pride programs and help facilitate renewed growth and expansion of our program offerings and outreach.
What will they be doing?
These volunteers will be working to create unique events, activities, and programs that specifically uplift and highlight the unique lives of people from different communities. Activities may span from small support spaces to large scale events to festival and parade special activations. The only limit of these roles is your imagination!
Who are we looking for?
This person is dedicated to creating safe, inclusive spaces of self-expression and fun! Our Nightlife Team will work to develop events that offer unique nightlife experiences and parties for various members of our community. This volunteer should have some experience in planning events, parties, or gatherings.
What will they be doing?
This volunteer will work to identify unique opportunities to bring together our full community or particular groups within our community (e.g. queer women, bears, trans folks, POC, etc.) to have fun, lighthearted events that can help fundraise for year-round social and support programs.
Who are we looking for?
We are looking for volunteers who are passionate about fundraising and have experience in grant writing.
What will they be doing?
This volunteer will help identify grant opportunities, write proposals, and plan fundraising events. The goal is to help secure funding for Charlotte Pride’s year-round programs through grants, sponsorships, and engaging events.
Who are we looking for?
We are seeking volunteers who are dedicated to creating accessible, inclusive environments for all and have experience or interest in accessibility standards, especially related to Charlotte Pride programs and events.
What will they be doing?
This team will review Charlotte Pride’s events to ensure they are accessible to all attendees. Responsibilities include evaluating venues, developing accessibility plans, and producing the Accessibility Guide for the Festival & Parade weekend. The team will also be responsible for monitoring accessibility during the Festival & Parade weekend, ensuring that all activations are inclusive and accessible to everyone. Volunteers will collaborate with staff and other teams to ensure inclusivity in physical spaces, online content, and communications.
Who are we looking for?
Individuals passionate about LGBTQ Cinema and bringing together communities with the goal of storytelling. Our Reel Out Charlotte Team will help oversee short and feature-length film selections, programming, and staffing the event itself.
What will they be doing?
A large portion of this role is watching films and helping make informed decisions about the best picks for the festival. If you enjoy movies, this is the role for you.
Communications TEAMS
The Charlotte Pride Communications Team is composed of creative, passionate volunteers skilled in photography, videography, social media, graphic design, and writing. Under the leadership of the Communications Manager, these volunteers work closely with staff to amplify the stories, messages, and events of Charlotte Pride. The team helps create, capture, and share content throughout the year, with a special focus on the Charlotte Pride Festival & Parade weekend. Each member plays a vital role in live event coverage, social media management, and ensuring all content aligns with Charlotte Pride’s voice and brand.
2024 Team Descriptions
Who are we looking for?
We are seeking individuals who are passionate about capturing the vibrant energy and stories of the LGBTQ community. Our Photography Team members should have experience with DSLR cameras and photo editing, and be familiar with event photography. This role is perfect for those who want to help document Charlotte Pride events in a meaningful way.
What will they be doing?
The Photography Team will be responsible for capturing key moments during Charlotte Pride events, especially the Festival & Parade weekend. Volunteers will take photos of performances, crowds, and special moments, ensuring that the spirit of Pride is visually documented. Team members will also assist with post-event photo editing to create a polished collection of images for promotional and archival use.
Who are we looking for?
We are looking for individuals who are passionate about creating engaging and impactful content for social media. Our Social Media Team members should be familiar with platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook, and have experience creating posts, stories, and Reels. Creative thinkers who enjoy staying on top of social media trends are perfect for this role.
What will they be doing?
The Social Media Team will craft and schedule posts, manage social media accounts, and create engaging content to promote Charlotte Pride’s events and mission. Volunteers will help with live event coverage, ensuring timely and relevant updates throughout the Festival & Parade weekend.
Who are we looking for?
We are looking for creative individuals with experience in video recording, editing, and production. The ideal volunteer should have a strong interest in capturing dynamic content and working on short-form videos, event highlights, and promotional material for Charlotte Pride.
What will they be doing?
The Video Production Team will handle filming and editing video content throughout the Charlotte Pride events, especially during the Festival & Parade weekend. Volunteers will help create engaging videos for social media, promotional campaigns, and event recaps.
Who are we looking for?
We are seeking creative individuals with experience in graphic design who are passionate about visually representing the LGBTQ community. Volunteers should be proficient in design software like Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop, or Canva and enjoy creating eye-catching visuals that align with Charlotte Pride’s branding.
What will they be doing?
The Graphic Design Team will create digital and print assets, including social media graphics, promotional materials, and event signage. Volunteers will help ensure a cohesive, visually engaging look for all Charlotte Pride communications and events.
Who are we looking for?
We are looking for volunteers with strong writing and editing skills who are passionate about storytelling and crafting compelling narratives. Ideal candidates have experience in professional writing, journalism, or copywriting and are excited to help amplify Charlotte Pride’s message.
What will they be doing?
The Professional Writing Team will craft press releases, newsletters, blog posts, social media captions, and articles for the annual Charlotte Pride Magazine. Volunteers will ensure that all written content aligns with Charlotte Pride’s voice and effectively communicates our programs, events, and initiatives year-round.
