VOLUNTEER
OPPORTUNITIES
VOLUNTEER WITH JUNIOR ACHIEVEMENT
impact a student's future
Junior Achievement volunteers help students explore careers, build financial literacy skills, and discover what’s possible for their futures. Whether you have one hour or one day to give, there’s a volunteer opportunity for you.
Ready to Get Started?
Becoming a JA volunteer is a simple three-step process:
The application includes acknowledgement of JA volunteer policies. View the JA Volunteer Compliance Documents
Complete Your Volunteer
Application
All volunteers must complete a volunteer application each school year. The application includes a background screening and electronic acknowledgement of JA volunteer policies and requirements.
Receive Your Volunteer Portal Access
Once your application has been approved, you'll receive access to the JA Volunteer Portal via email from Volunteer Odyssey.
Applications are typically processed within 48 hours.
Volunteer registration closes one week prior to each program date.
Choose Your Volunteer Opportunity
Log in to the Volunteer Odyssey to browse available programs, view dates and locations, and register for opportunities that fit your interests and schedule.
- FIRST-TIME VOLUNTEER?
Don’t worry—we’re with you every step of the way. Training, materials, and support are provided for all JA volunteer opportunities. Whether you’re leading lessons, coaching students, or sharing your career story, we’ll help you feel prepared and confident.
Volunteer Opportunities
JA in a Day - classroom
Introduce elementary students to important life skills through interactive lessons and activities. In a single day, volunteers help students connect what they’re learning in school to future careers, money management, and their role in the community.
TIME COMMITMENT:
8:15am – 1:45pm
LOCATION:
K-5 School Classroom
TRAINING:
On-site before classroom visit, no teaching experience required
What You’ll Do
As a JA in a Day volunteer, you’ll serve as the primary classroom facilitator for the day. JA provides the lesson guides, materials, and training, and the classroom teacher remains present to support students.
You’ll typically:
- Lead 5–6 JA lessons throughout the day
- Facilitate discussions using guided prompts
- Read stories and introduce activities
- Guide hands-on games and exercises
- Encourage student participation and questions
- Help students connect classroom concepts to the real world
Junior Achievement BizTown combines classroom learning with a hands-on simulation where 5th-6th grade students run businesses, manage finances, and experience what it takes to be an active member of a community.
TIME COMMITMENT:
8:45am – 1:30pm
LOCATION:
Wang Experiential Learning Center
TRAINING:
Pre-event training and day-of support provided by JA staff
What You’ll Do
Volunteers play an active role throughout the simulation by coaching students as they perform their assigned jobs and manage the daily operations of their businesses.
You’ll typically:
- Support students at an assigned business or location
- Help students complete workplace tasks
- Encourage teamwork and problem-solving
- Answer questions and provide guidance
- Help keep activities running smoothly
Junior Achievement Finance Park® gives students a realistic look at life after high school, helping them explore the connection between education, careers, income, budgeting, saving, and financial decision-making. Through an immersive simulation experience, students discover how the choices they make today can impact their futures.
JA Finance Park Entry: 7th-8th grade
JA Finance Park Advanced: 9th-12th grade
TIME COMMITMENT:
8:45am – 1:30pm
LOCATION:
Wang Experiential Learning Center
TRAINING:
Brief volunteer orientation and day-of support provided by JA staff
As a Finance Park volunteer, you’ll serve as a coach and mentor, helping students work through real-world financial decisions during the simulation.
You’ll typically:
- Guide students as they create and manage a personal budget
- Help students evaluate spending and saving choices
- Encourage students to think critically about financial decisions
- Answer questions and provide real-world perspective
- Support students as they navigate simulation activities and challenges
CAREER SPEAKER SERIES - classroom
Share your story and help students discover what’s possible. Career Speakers give students valuable insight into different career paths while helping them understand the skills, education, and experiences needed for success.
TIME COMMITMENT:
Approx. 1 hour, varying start times
LOCATION:
K-12 classroom, auditorium, virtual sessions, or ELC Lunch & Learn
PREP:
Speaker may bring presentation, props, or samples related to their career.
What You’ll Do
As a Career Speaker, you’ll spend time talking with students about your educational and professional journey.
Volunteers will:
- Share your career story
- Discuss a typical day in your profession
- Explain educational and career pathways
- Answer student questions
- Encourage students to think about their own futures
JA It's My Future - classroom
Help middle school students explore career pathways, workplace readiness skills, and the decisions that can shape their future success. Through engaging lessons and activities, students gain practical insight into careers, personal branding, and preparing for the world of work.
TIME COMMITMENT:
8:15am – 1:45pm
LOCATION:
8th Grade Classroom
TRAINING:
On-site before classroom visit, no teaching experience required
What You’ll Do
As a JA It’s My Future volunteer, you’ll serve as the primary classroom facilitator for the program. The curriculum is designed specifically for volunteers, and all lesson materials, training, and support are provided.
You’ll typically:
- Lead interactive lessons and activities with a classroom of students
- Facilitate discussions about careers, workplace expectations, and future goals
- Guide students through self-reflection and career exploration exercises
- Share real-world experiences and examples from your own professional journey
- Encourage participation and help students think about their futures
The JA Stock Market Challenge gives high school students the opportunity to experience the excitement of investing through a fast-paced stock market simulation. Working in teams, students make real-time trading decisions while learning about risk, strategy, teamwork, and market forces.
TIME COMMITMENT:
4-5 hours, morning of
November 18, 2026
LOCATION:
Wang Experiential Learning Center
TRAINING:
On-site before event
What You’ll Do
As a Stock Market Challenge volunteer, you’ll help create an engaging and exciting experience for participating students. Volunteers support student teams, answer questions, and assist JA staff throughout the event.
You’ll typically:
- Welcome and assist student teams during the event
- Help students understand event procedures and schedules
- Encourage teamwork and strategic thinking
- Support event activities and competition logistics
- Answer questions and help maintain an exciting, positive atmosphere
- Celebrate student accomplishments throughout the competition
- JA Launch Lessons (9th-12th)
JA Launch Lessons is an interactive learning experience in which local entrepreneurs and small business owners lead and inspire high school students to explore entrepreneurship. Students gain an understanding of the opportunities, challenges, and necessary steps needed to become successful in the global economy. This program is offered annually in November to coincide with National Entrepreneurship Month. This year, JA of Memphis and the MidSouth will focus on Foodpreneurs…introducing students to all of the entrepreneurship career pathways involved in bringing a meal from the farm to table.
During the volunteer one-time JA Launch Lessons session, the volunteer guest speaker is asked to discuss his or her career with students, how they entered that career, share details about the work that is involved and insight surrounding their educational experience. The volunteer guest speaker may bring props, samples of his or her work, or other visuals to help engage students. While this is a low time commitment, it is a high impact volunteer opportunity.
Volunteers will need to arrive at the assigned school with their government issued id and check in at the main office 15 minutes prior to class start time. We ask that volunteers dress according to your profession and in comfortable shoes as you will be standing and interacting with your students. Organization or company shirts are welcome.
Suggested experience level of volunteers is at least 5 years of experience in the agriculture, food science, hospitality, and tourism industry. Volunteers are required to successfully complete the volunteer registration and background check process prior to the signup deactivation date. If these requirements are not successfully met, the interested party will be unable to volunteer.
Memphis is an incredibly diverse city. As such, we welcome bilingual volunteers. Within the application process, please let us know if you are bilingual and what language(s) you speak.
Time commitment is one (1) hour.
Click the following link to start the 2-step application process which includes the one (1) time per school year background check followed by the ability to sign up for these inspiring JA experiences upon receipt of your username and password: JA Volunteer Application (NOTE: CAN TAKE SEVERAL DAYS TO PROCESS)
Please Note: Signup Deactivation occurs at 4p (CST) 2 weeks prior to the event date.
- JA Inspire (6th-8th Grade)
The JA Inspire Career Expo is a unique career exploration program for eighth grade students that culminates each spring at the JA Inspire Career Expo. This is a student self-guided and exhibitor-led program. It is designed for students to take ownership of their futures while engaging with exhibit industry experts to learn about high-wage and fast-growing careers in our regional economy. JA Inspire brings together a variety of employers and thousands of students to create an immersive experience that exposes students to different careers, the skills and different educational pathways needed to pursue a future in these industries.
A virtual orientation is provided during the week prior to the event for those who cannot attend the in-person orientation and walk-through held the day before the event. The volunteers serve in various post and station roles to ensure the students navigate successfully through the different career journeys within the Expo and receive an insightful and rewarding experience.
We ask that volunteers arrive with their government issued ID 15 minutes prior to their shift and to dress comfortably as you will be standing and interacting with your students. Volunteers will receive a t-shirt to be worn during the event. A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided. However, if you have any dietary restrictions, you may prefer to provide your lunch.
Volunteers must be at least 18 years of age and are required to successfully complete the volunteer registration and background check process prior to the signup deactivation date. If these requirements are not successfully met, the interested party will be unable to volunteer.
Memphis is an incredibly diverse city. As such, we welcome bilingual volunteers. Within the application process, please let us know if you are bilingual and what language(s) you speak.
Time commitment is a 2.5 hour shift.
Click the following link to start the 2-step application process which includes the one (1) time per school year background check followed by the ability to sign up for these inspiring JA experiences upon receipt of your username and password: JA Volunteer Application (NOTE: CAN TAKE SEVERAL DAYS TO PROCESS)
Please Note: Signup Deactivation occurs at 4p (CST) 1 week prior to the event date.
- JA Subject Matter Expert (9th-12th)
JA’s biggest source of high school programming are semester long business courses that cover our three educational pillars (financial literacy, entrepreneurship and career readiness). These courses cover marketing principles, economics, financial capability, financial literacy, entrepreneurial mindset, business communication, and business and technology. These programs are predominantly led by the classroom educator with volunteer guest speaker interaction.
The volunteer guest speaker is asked to visit the class five times over the course of the semester to provide their expertise on the course topic by listening to student presentations and giving feedback on the course case study. The initial date is a scheduled date, but the remaining four dates are scheduled as per the guest speaker’s availability.
Volunteers will need to arrive at the school with their government issued id and check in at the main office 15 minutes prior to class start time. We ask that volunteers dress according to your profession and in comfortable shoes as you will be standing and interacting with your students. Organization or company shirts are welcome.
Suggested age of volunteers is at least 25 years old. Volunteers are required to successfully complete the volunteer registration and background check process prior to the signup deactivation date. If these requirements are not successfully met, the interested party will be unable to volunteer.
Memphis is an incredibly diverse city. As such, we welcome bilingual volunteers. Within the application process, please let us know if you are bilingual and what language(s) you speak..
The time commitment is 5 hours over the course of the semester (five 1-hr sessions).
Click the following link to start the 2-step application process which includes the one (1) time per school year background check followed by the ability to sign up for these inspiring JA experiences upon receipt of your username and password: JA Volunteer Application (NOTE: CAN TAKE SEVERAL DAYS TO PROCESS)
Please Note: Signup Deactivation occurs at 4p (CST) 2 weeks prior to the event date.
- JA Community Partner Program (K-12th Grade)
The Community Partner Program is a volunteer commitment in which the volunteer would facilitate sessions to one of our community partners that provides Junior Achievement programs to their student participants. Volunteers should have a general understanding of financial literacy, entrepreneurship, and work/career readiness as these are the topics in which the community partner’s chosen JA program would involve. Typically, community partner programs are offered during after school hours or weekends.
The volunteer would work with the community partner organization’s schedule to determine the exact time commitment and arrival time. Volunteers will be provided training from Junior Achievement that is specific to the JA program the community partner has selected.
Suggested age of volunteers is at least 18 years old. Volunteers are required to successfully complete the volunteer registration and background check process prior to the signup deactivation date. If these requirements are not successfully met, the interested party will be unable to volunteer.
Memphis is an incredibly diverse city. As such, we welcome bilingual volunteers. Within the application process, please let us know if you are bilingual and what language(s) you speak.
Click the following link to start the 2-step application process which includes the one (1) time per school year background check followed by the ability to sign up for these inspiring JA experiences upon receipt of your username and password: JA Volunteer Application (NOTE: CAN TAKE SEVERAL DAYS TO PROCESS)
Please Note: Signup Deactivation occurs at 4p (CST) 2 weeks prior to the event date.