Opportunities From: Montgomery County Volunteer Center

About Arise and Flourish, Inc.

Arise and Flourish, Inc. is a nonprofit organization registered in Maryland and Virginia, dedicated to preventing substance use and misuse among middle and high school students. For over 12 years, we have partnered with public and private school systems across Maryland and Virginia, reaching more than 49,000 students in nearly 400 schools.

Our Substance Use and Misuse Prevention Program is a powerful, classroom-based educational experience that combines personal storytelling from individuals in recovery with interactive instruction on the Cycle of Addiction. By presenting addiction as a disease and addressing the underlying causes of substance use, we work to reduce stigma, promote early intervention, and empower students to make healthier choices.

Position Summary

Arise and Flourish is seeking a passionate and detail-oriented Volunteer Grant Writer to support our mission by identifying funding opportunities and preparing compelling grant proposals. This role is ideal for someone who wants to use their writing skills to make a meaningful impact on youth substance use and misuse prevention and education.

The Volunteer Grant Writer will work closely with the President/Vice President, Program Manager, and Board Members to help secure funding that sustains and expands our school-based prevention programs.

Key Responsibilities

Research and identify grant opportunities from foundations, corporations, and government sources aligned with substance use prevention, education, mental health, and youth development Write, edit, and submit grant proposals, letters of inquiry, and funding applications Collaborate with organizational leadership to gather program data, outcomes, and narratives Help prepare progress reports or renewal applications as needed Ensure grant proposals clearly reflect Arise and Flourish’s mission and impact

Qualifications

Experience with grant writing, nonprofit development, fundraising, or research (preferred but not required) Strong written communication skills Ability to translate program outcomes and data into clear, compelling narratives Organized, detail-oriented, and able to meet deadlines Passion for youth, education, recovery, mental health, and substance use and misuse prevention Ability to work independently and collaboratively in a remote environment

What We Provide

Access to program descriptions, outcomes, evaluations, and impact data Support and collaboration from experienced nonprofit leadership and board members Flexibility in schedule and workload The opportunity to directly support life-saving prevention education for youth

Why Volunteer With Us

Your work will help ensure that thousands of students continue to receive honest, impactful education about addiction - education that saves lives, reduces stigma, and promotes hope and recovery. Grant funding plays a critical role in sustaining and expanding this mission.

How to Apply

Interested volunteers may contact us at info@ariseandflourish.org with a brief introduction and relevant experience.

Arise and Flourish, is a nonprofit organization based in Montgomery County, Maryland that speaks to students about substance abuse prevention by sharing stories from persons in long-term recovery. Through the schools and community, we bring real life stories to our youth showing the devastation of the disease of addiction. By emphasizing the importance of understanding the cycle of addiction, our goal is to arm our youth with the knowledge of the dangers associated with drug and alcohol use, how to prevent addiction, and how to seek help.

Since 2017, Arise and Flourish has helped to bring a greater awareness of the addiction problem by visiting 490 Middle and High schools in Montgomery County, Maryland and speaking to more than 49,000 students.  We are run by volunteers who dedicate their time to visiting the schools. In order for our organization to grow and bring continued awareness to the schools and community, we need your help to continue our mission.

We are looking for young people in recovery who have been sober for one year or more and are interested in becoming a volunteer with Arise and Flourish, Inc. to speak to MCPS MS and HS students, sharing their personal story and educating them about the cycle of addiction.

PLEASE NOTE THIS IS NOT A MCPS SSL OPPORTUNITY

Please complete and submit the volunteer form below, including the ACTUAL signatures of BOTH the student and parents (if under the age of 18 parent signature is also required). Completion of this form, including the ACTUAL required signatures, is required by all volunteers to participate in this SSL opportunity.

Please do not use your MCPS email to respond with us as we cannot not reply to you via this type of email address.

This is an amazing opportunity to gain volunteer experience helping Arise and Flourish, a non-profit organization based in Montgomery County, Maryland that speaks to students about substance use and misuse.  During the last twelve years, Arise and Flourish has paved the way through public and private schools on educating our youth of the dangers associated with addiction. Our program delivers a robust and real-life look into the cycle of addiction and provides an understanding, knowledge and insight on how to exercise prevention. Arise and Flourish’s family of dedicated volunteers have delivered our program to nearly 400 schools and have reached over 49,000 students with our impactful message of prevention and hope. In addition to our visits to schools, we are also asking for the student’s assistance to continue the education of addiction and prevention through SSL hours. 

What students will do:

Student will first need to complete the volunteer form/parent/guardian permission slip and submit via to e-mail info@ariseandflourish.org. Please note that MCPS has not vetted the YouTube videos created by our organization and parents/guardians are responsible for previewing the videos and then providing parent permission for their students to view the videos.

Once approved, students will watch two video presentations provided by our organization. 

One video is our speakers who are people in recovery who share their personal experience The second video is the presentation on the cycle of addiction which has information on how addiction happens. 

Students can obtain SSL hours in two ways:

Write a 2-page paper based on their understanding of drug and alcohol prevention on the information received from the two videos. Papers will only be reviewed by our organization. Create an art project, including a paragraph explaining their artwork, based upon their understanding of prevention on the information they received from the videos. Art projects might be shared on our social media platforms so please review the privacy information below when submitting your project.

How to earn community service hours (SSL):

Students have the ability to earn 1 SSL hour for the quality completion of this project and can earn up to 4 SSL hours in total (cumulative - not per year) for each speaker video watched and paper written (up to 4 speaker videos along with the one video for the cycle of addiction).

When your paper or art project is complete, e-mail info@ariseandflourish.org your 2-page paper or an electronic copy of your art project and paragraph to collect your signed SSL sheet for this project. Students will need to cc their parents as well on the email submission. Please allow 3-5 business days to receive your signed SSL form.

Privacy:

Please, do not share any pictures or likeness of the students as well as personal information such as home address, email or phone number etc. in your paper or artwork. Also, please do not include any real-life pictures or images of yourself. We ask that students include their first name, grade and school only on each submission.

Student participation in this service project is at the discretion of the student’s parent/guardian. The nonprofit organization is responsible for maintaining student safety and privacy at any time the student is interacting with the nonprofit and its clients. The nonprofit organization will determine the number of SSL hours awarded based on the evidence submitted. Parents/guardians should contact the nonprofit directly with any questions and/or concerns. This service activity is designed to be completed within the safety of the student’s home until schools resume normal status.

Volunteer Registration Form (Parent/Guardian Permission Slip)

 Please complete this form as accurately as possible. Completion of this form is required by all volunteers.

* This form is not completed without both YOURS and YOUR PARENTS or GUARDIAN SIGNATURE. 

VOLUNTEER LEGAL NAME: _____________________________________________

VOLUNTEER SIGNATURE: ______________________________________________

SCHOOL NAME: _____________________________________________________

VOLUNTEER EMAIL ADDRESS: __________________________________________

AGE: _________ DATE OF REGISTRATION: ________________________________

PARENT/GUARDIAN NAME: ____________________________________________

PARENT/GUARDIAN SIGNATURE (If Volunteer is under 18 years): ___________________________________________________________________

DATE: ________ EMAIL: _______________________________________________

ADDRESS: __________________________________________________________

PHONE: ____________________________________________________________ 

Contact Us at Arise and Flourish Email: info@ariseandflourish.org

Website: http://www.ariseandflourish.org/

Privacy:

Student volunteer participation is at the discretion of the student’s parent/guardian. The nonprofit organization is responsible for maintaining student safety and privacy. The nonprofit organization will determine the number of SSL hours awarded based on the evidence submitted. Parents/guardians should contact the nonprofit directly with any questions and/or concerns. This volunteer activity is designed to be completed within the safety of the student’s home.