Join our team of dedicated volunteers at Taliesin and Taliesin West and help us preserve and share the legacy of Frank Lloyd Wright at two of his greatest architectural masterpieces.
ABOUT OUR VOLUNTEER PROGRAM
At the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation, volunteers are key to our preservation and public engagement efforts. Without generous donations of time and energy, there would be no way we could keep up with the day-to-day work, artistic presentations, and maintenance of this treasured historic site. These efforts keep us closer to the truth of what this place has to offer: we are preserving the past, and creating the future for the next generation.
The Foundation partners with local schools and nonprofits, presents performances with area arts organizations, provides tours, hosts professional, civic, and corporate meetings, and influences the civic conversation on concerns relating to design and sustainability. We host nearly 100 community gatherings per year, including over 20 arts and cultural performances.
We offer a wide variety of volunteer positions and opportunities, for individuals, groups, and corporations, to match the unique skillsets of our volunteers. Volunteer opportunities are not limited to what is listed below. There are 35 different roles that volunteers serve at Taliesin West, including year-round opportunities every day of the week! We are happy to work with you to find a match for your unique skills and desires with our programs.
Meet Our Volunteers
After a class field trip to Taliesin West, Hannah Bernier became fascinated with Wright’s architecture. She’s now worked as an assistant to the Human Resources Department for several years, where she assists with volunteer orientation and other various events.
“I always feel so lucky to drive to this beautiful campus and contribute to its legacy. I enjoy volunteering at Taliesin West because I get to be a part of the dynamic environment here. There are so many inspiring and friendly people who are all working to preserve the legacy of Frank Lloyd Wright and finding new ways to connect the community with his work.”
Phil Chadwick has been a volunteer tour guide at Taliesin West for over a decade. Since late 2008, Phil has led hundreds of tours at Taliesin West, and has contributed over 2,000 hours of volunteer service to the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation.
CURRENT & ONGOING OPPORTUNITIES
We’re always looking for skilled, dedicated volunteers that can share their talents with us.
Some of our current and ongoing volunteer needs include:
- Photography (event and still)
- Data entry/processing
- Filing/clerical
- Online and physical research
- Library inventorying and shelving
- Public speaking
- Project management
- Microsoft Office (in PC and Mac settings)
- Basic accounting
- Retail customer and staff support
- Image file handling/management
- Customer service
- Specialty software such as AutoCad, Photoshop and Adobe Acrobat
- Graphic design/artistry/typography
- Event support including greeting and way finding
- Gardening and landscaping
- Basic construction
Have another skill or interest not listed here that you’d like to put to work at the Frank Lloyd Wright Foundation? Let us know! We’re always happy to find the perfect fit for you.
Corporate Volunteering
Employees at worksites throughout Greater Phoenix – whether individuals or teams – are welcome to volunteer their time and talents at Taliesin West in Scottsdale. Our volunteer program manager works with employer representatives to identify one time or ongoing opportunities that allow for meaningful and enjoyable work to be done at this Unesco-designated World Heritage Site. Contact us today to discuss project planning, site inspection, acquisition of supplies, on-site volunteer orientation and leadership, and fun, team-building elements.
APPLY
Once your application has been received, the volunteer program manager will contact you. Volunteers must pass a background check prior to starting.
Attend orientation
Volunteer orientations are held twice each month. Our volunteer coordinator will work with you to schedule your orientation.
The Foundation provides training, support, and a number of ways to get involved. For more information, e-mail volunteer@franklloydwright.org or call 602.800.5477.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What interests can be served by volunteering at Taliesin West?
Whether you’re a fan of Frank Lloyd Wright or his amazing Taliesin West property, have a membership in the FLW Foundation and want to give time and talents, are interested in a volunteer position that will fit with your intended field of study (architecture or otherwise) or supports your workplace’s community volunteer commitment, you want to share your talents with a local nonprofit that just happens to be a UNESCO world heritage site, or you want to interact with like-minded individuals who are passionate about furthering the Foundation’s focus on preservation, innovation, or education, you will join a group of amazing volunteers whose interests you share.
What are the skills needed in support of Taliesin West volunteer activities?
With more than 35 different positions into which volunteers make valued contributions, we regularly have need for the following:
• Photography (event and still)
• Data entry/processing
• Filing/clerical
• Online and physical research
• Library inventorying and shelving
• Public speaking
• Project management
• Microsoft Office (in PC and Mac settings)
• Basic accounting
• Image file handling/management
• Customer service
• Specialty software such as AutoCad, Photoshop and Adobe Acrobat
• Retail customer and staff support
• Graphic design/artistry/typography
• Event support including greeting and way finding
• Gardening and landscaping
• Basic construction
What will I gain from volunteer work?
The vision of our volunteer program is to support the culture of the FLW Foundation through the use of community volunteers who collaborate, communicate, and care for the three focus areas of our organization: preservation, innovation, and education. As you demonstrate a commitment to our organization, you can expect to be told you matter and are valued, treated with dignity and respect, given meaningful work, recognized for your contributions, kept apprised of “goings on” at Taliesin West, and more.
What is the time commitment I will need to make?
In general, volunteers who sign up for ongoing assignments tend to work a minimum of one, 3-4 hour shift every week or every other week; some even work several days per week! We have found that any less than this minimum does not allow for the synergy of projects and people to meet collective needs and mutual benefit. Having said this, we offer volunteer opportunities 7 days-a-week.
I travel outside of the Scottsdale area each summer – can I still volunteer at Taliesin West?
While many of our volunteer opportunities are year round we do accommodate our seasonal volunteers. Feel free to discuss your particular scheduling limitations with the volunteer program manager.
Do I want an ongoing assignment, a short-term assignment, or a one-time assignment?
Our volunteer program is quite flexible, as you may have the opportunity to take on ongoing assignments as well as episodic, event-specific needs. For example, we have volunteers who come in on one weekday on an ongoing basis to offer administrative support, and then they also sign up to work a hosted event at Taliesin West on one evening per month. The volunteer program manager will share the variety of long- and short-term/episodic needs with you at the time of your new volunteer orientation.
Can I volunteer to work alone, or with a group?
Through our corporate volunteer division, we host team volunteer activities for those who need that social dynamic to get them more involved in community service. If you prefer a position with more individual focus and independence, however, you will be assigned as an active member of the general volunteer team. In both instances, certain assignments are completed in collaboration with your assigned department’s team of paid and unpaid staff and/or can be done by you personally after you receive proper training to do so.
Are there remote or “work from home” volunteer assignments?
There are a limited number of administrative-related, technology-based volunteer assignments available through the FLW Foundation. Please indicate your interest in this type of work when you apply, as well as any related scheduling restrictions.
