4 Access Partners

Volunteer

Volunteer with 4AP

Our volunteers come to 4 Access Partners from various industry-leading companies. Corporate partners refer these individuals based on their level of expertise and interest in our Intellectual Philanthropy model. Many have decades of experience navigating the food manufacturing industry in a crucial capacity. Volunteers’ expertise spans every necessary business function; we partner with engineers, food scientists, marketing and sales professionals, and other experts. These volunteers provide the critical knowledge every growing business needs – knowledge that our clients may otherwise miss out on. 

Why Volunteer?

You will be making a real difference for a Women/BIPOC entrepreneur addressing issues they are facing as the scale their business.

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  • You have value to add! (you will make a difference and a difference will be made in you)​
  • Volunteering with 4AP is flexible​
  • Projects can stretch your comfort with ambiguity and test your problem-solving skills​
  • You can gain exposure to unique emerging markets​
  • You can grow cross-cultural skills
  • Challenges often lead to great learning opportunities for professional and personal growth
  • You might not find a role that fits right away​
  • Communications can sometimes be a challenge​
  • Be patient, but not too patient. Things might be slow but don’t be afraid to ask questions of 4AP, your team or client.​​

How Do I Get Involved?

If you are an employee of one of our partner companies, register here:

Sign Up to Volunteer with 4AP

FAQs About Volunteering with 4AP

What type of assistance would I provide?

Volunteers can select from several roles including: Project Volunteer, Ask an Expert, Client Lead, Champion and Mentor. The descriptions for each role are found here. Client needs range from “Farm to Fork”.  Opportunities span across the Supply Chain and include Agricultural, Product Development, Food Processing, Food Safety & Quality, Operations, Distribution, Marketing, Sales, and more. Volunteers will typically work on projects in their area of expertise. Many also choose to work on projects that provide growth opportunities that they might not get with their day jobs. 

What is the time commitment and what if I get too busy?

For most roles, the time commitment is ~1 hour per week, with some variance depending on the role and project timeline. Estimates for each role type are here. We recognize that our volunteers have day jobs and those take priority. If you ever feel like you have become too busy for your 4AP commitment, just raise your hand and let us know! We are able to adjust teams as we go and will happily welcome you back if you desire to volunteer again once your schedule lightens up. Communication is key, of course, and we encourage you to keep us informed of any changes as early as possible so we can be respectful of the client’s time as well. 

What is the process?

Once a volunteer has filled out the official registration form, someone from the 4AP team will contact you to schedule an introductory meeting. This provides us a chance to get to know your work experience and preferences for volunteering. During this meeting we may propose a specific volunteer experience that we feel is a good fit, or we may suggest keeping you “on the bench” for a future opportunity. In that case, we will reach out to you directly when have a Client need that matches your expertise.  

Typical Flow: 

  • Projects have a defined scope and timeline and will involve a Project Kickoff, regular ongoing meetings, and a Project Close/Debrief.   
  • Ask an Expert assignments typically involve an introduction via email followed by a handful of follow up emails and/or calls between you and the client until their question is answered. 
  • Instructor/Teaching assignments vary, but they typically leverage pre-developed content that you can speak to and build upon with your own experience and stories. Occasionally there will be some content development or coordination on the front end. 
      I am not a technical expert, am I still eligible to volunteer?

      We have volunteer opportunities for all types of expertise areas, including technical and non-technical fields. Some examples include: finance, accounting, administration, learning and development, HR, Marketing, communications, and more. We will find a way to leverage your skill set to make a difference in the life of a Food Entrepreneur!