TRANS AFFIRM: VOLUNTEER QUICK GUIDE
What to Know When Volunteering With Us
Thank you for volunteering with Trans Affirm! Our volunteers help us provide resources, education, advocacy, gender-affirming items, and community connection to transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse people throughout Idaho.
This guide covers the basic expectations for anyone representing Trans Affirm at an event or volunteer opportunity. Individual events may have additional instructions, so always review the information sent to you before your shift.
Feel free to check out our FAQ & Policies.
ABOUT TRANS AFFIRM
Trans Affirm is an Idaho nonprofit supporting transgender, nonbinary, and gender-diverse Idahoans, with particular attention to communities that may have limited access to affirming resources.
Our work generally falls under four areas:
Resources • Education • Advocacy • Community Connection
Our programs and projects may include gender-affirming wear distribution, resource referrals, HRT access assistance, educational materials, community events, support programming, advocacy efforts, resource fairs, and other direct community support.
You are not expected to know everything Trans Affirm does. If someone asks a question you cannot confidently answer, please connect them with a Trans Affirm lead rather than guessing.
QUICK GUIDE TO OUR PROGRAMS
You don't need to memorize every program! This is a quick overview so you can explain the basics and direct questions to a Trans Affirm lead.
Transition Wear Program — Provides free gender-affirming items such as binders, Trans Tape, packers, breast forms, and other supplies at participating events. BY DONATION <3
HRT Access Grant — Helps eligible Idaho adults experiencing financial barriers access hormone replacement therapy. Applications are offered during designated grant cycles.
Resource Hub & Referrals — Connects trans+ Idahoans with affirming healthcare, mental health services, legal resources, community organizations, and other support throughout Idaho.
Support & Community Groups — Virtual and in-person opportunities for trans+ people to connect, receive support, and build community.
Queer Lending Library — Our Twin Falls lending library provides LGBTQ+ books and educational materials for community members to borrow.
Education & Advocacy — Trans Affirm creates educational resources, tracks issues affecting trans+ Idahoans, participates in advocacy efforts, and helps community members understand their rights and available resources.
Community Events — We host and participate in Pride events, resource fairs, Queer Connections, TDOR, TDOV, rallies, protests, educational events, and other opportunities for community connection.
Not sure whether we offer something? Ask your Trans Affirm lead rather than promising a service or program.
WHAT VOLUNTEERS MAY DO
Volunteer responsibilities depend on the event. You may be asked to:
• Welcome and speak with community members
• Explain the basics of Trans Affirm and our mission
• Distribute educational materials and resources
• Help organize, stock, or distribute supplies
• Assist with gender-affirming items
• Help with merchandise or fundraising activities
• Assist with event setup and cleanup
• Direct people to appropriate resources
• Help maintain an organized and accessible space
• Support other volunteers and Trans Affirm team members
Your event or shift lead will explain your specific responsibilities when you arrive.
WORKING WITH OUR COMMUNITY
Our spaces serve people with many different identities, experiences, disabilities, backgrounds, and levels of familiarity with LGBTQ+ terminology.
While representing Trans Affirm:
✓ Respect people's names and pronouns
✓ Never assume someone's identity based on appearance
✓ Respect privacy and personal boundaries
✓ Ask before providing physical assistance
✓ Avoid unnecessary comments about someone's body or transition
✓ Be respectful of different transition choices and experiences
✓ Be patient when someone needs additional time or assistance
✓ Keep personal information you learn while volunteering private
There is no single correct way to be transgender or gender-diverse. Volunteers should never pressure someone toward a particular identity, transition path, medical decision, or way of presenting themselves.
If you don't know something, it's completely appropriate to say:
“I'm not sure, but let me find someone who can help you.”
GENDER-AFFIRMING ITEMS & BINDER SIZING
Some Trans Affirm events include our Transition Wear Program, where we distribute gender-affirming items such as binders and other supplies.
If your event includes binder distribution, we may ask you to review our binder sizing information before your shift.
Additional training will be provided when necessary.
Never guess someone's binder size or recommend that someone size down for additional compression. If you're unsure, ask a trained Trans Affirm team member.
Some events will not include Transition Wear at all, so follow the instructions provided for your specific event.
PROFESSIONALISM & REPRESENTING TRANS AFFIRM
While volunteering, you are representing Trans Affirm to community members, partner organizations, families, donors, and the general public.
We ask volunteers to:
• Be welcoming and respectful
• Follow instructions from the event or shift lead
• Remain present and engaged during their scheduled time
• Avoid arguments or confrontations with attendees
• Keep the volunteer area reasonably clean and organized
• Avoid using alcohol, cannabis, or other intoxicating substances while actively volunteering
• Refer media, organizational, legal, or policy questions to a Trans Affirm lead
• Never make promises or commitments on behalf of Trans Affirm without authorization
Personal opinions should not be presented as official positions of Trans Affirm.
CLOTHING & PERSONAL PREPARATION
Please dress appropriately for the event and expected weather.
Self-expression and Pride attire are welcome when appropriate for the event. However, while actively representing Trans Affirm, please avoid excessively revealing clothing, major cleavage, sexually explicit clothing or accessories, or clothing containing discriminatory or otherwise inappropriate imagery or language.
For outdoor events, we strongly recommend:
• Comfortable shoes
• Water
• Sunscreen
• Weather-appropriate clothing
• Any medications or personal accessibility items you may need
Specific events may have additional dress or safety requirements.
HEALTH & ILLNESS
Please be considerate of other volunteers and community members.
If you are mildly sick but still able to volunteer, please wear a mask.
If you are significantly ill, contagious, or unable to safely complete your responsibilities, contact your lead as soon as possible.
Do not put yourself or others at unnecessary risk simply because you committed to a shift.
ARRIVING FOR YOUR SHIFT
Unless you receive different instructions, plan to arrive approximately 10–15 minutes before your scheduled start time.
When you arrive:
Find the Trans Affirm booth, table, or designated meeting location.
Check in with your event or shift lead.
Receive any event-specific orientation or training.
Ask questions before beginning if anything is unclear.
Please do not begin distributing items, handling money, or providing program information until you understand the procedures for that event.
BREAKS
Breaks are absolutely okay when needed.
Before leaving your assigned area, tell your lead so they know where you are and can maintain appropriate coverage.
If you need an accommodation, additional break, seating, reduced standing, or another adjustment to volunteer comfortably, please communicate with your lead.
PHOTOS, CONFIDENTIALITY & PRIVACY
Even when volunteering at a public event, remember that some people interacting with Trans Affirm may not be publicly out or may be discussing sensitive circumstances.
Do not publicly share someone's:
• Transgender status or identity
• Medical or transition information
• Financial circumstances
• Resource requests
• Contact information
• Personal story or situation
Please receive clear permission before taking or posting identifiable photographs of people accessing Trans Affirm services or gender-affirming items.
SAFETY & DIFFICULT SITUATIONS
If you encounter harassment, threats, aggressive behavior, a medical emergency, a serious conflict, law enforcement, media requesting an official statement, or another situation you are unsure how to handle:
Get your Trans Affirm lead.
You are not expected to handle serious or potentially unsafe situations by yourself.
Prioritize your own safety and the safety of the people around you.
EMERGENCY RESPONSE
Your first responsibility during an emergency is your own safety and the safety of those around you. Volunteers are not expected to act as medical professionals, security personnel, or crisis responders.
For an immediate or life-threatening emergency:
• Call 911 or alert event security/emergency personnel immediately.
• Notify your Trans Affirm event or shift lead as soon as it is safe to do so.
• Follow instructions from emergency responders, event staff, or your Trans Affirm lead.
• Do not physically intervene in fights, threats, or dangerous situations unless necessary to protect yourself from immediate harm.
• Do not provide medical treatment beyond your level of training.
• Keep other attendees away from the situation when possible and maintain a clear path for emergency personnel.
• Protect the privacy of anyone involved. Do not photograph, record, post about, or share identifying information regarding an emergency.
If someone expresses that they may hurt themselves or someone else, makes a serious threat, experiences a medical emergency, or appears to be in immediate danger, get your Trans Affirm lead immediately and contact emergency services when necessary.
For situations that are concerning but not an immediate emergency—including harassment, disruptive attendees, interpersonal conflict, or someone needing additional support—contact your Trans Affirm lead rather than attempting to manage the situation alone.
After any significant emergency or safety incident, please remain available to your lead so Trans Affirm can document what occurred and determine whether additional follow-up is necessary.
When in doubt, prioritize safety and get your lead.
ATTENDANCE & CANCELLATIONS
When you sign up for a volunteer shift, we plan our staffing around your commitment.
Trans Affirm is a volunteer-supported nonprofit, and many of our events depend heavily on community members giving their time. Even one unexpected absence can significantly affect coverage.
We understand that emergencies, illness, transportation problems, and unexpected circumstances happen.
However, if you know you cannot attend, please contact your lead as early as possible. The more notice we receive, the more opportunity we have to find another volunteer.
Please do not simply no-show for a scheduled shift.
MONEY, SALES & DONATIONS
Some Trans Affirm events may include merchandise sales, fundraising, donations, or other financial transactions.
Only Trans Affirm board members, designated event leads, or volunteers who have been specifically assigned and trained to handle transactions should handle money.
If you have not been assigned to handle sales or donations:
• Do not take or hold cash from attendees
• Do not make change or access the cash box
• Do not use or access Trans Affirm payment accounts
• Do not accept payments through your personal Venmo, Cash App, Zelle, PayPal, or other account on behalf of Trans Affirm
• Do not offer discounts, change prices, or give away merchandise without approval
• Direct anyone wanting to make a purchase or financial donation to the designated person handling transactions
If you are assigned to handle transactions, your event lead will explain the payment methods being accepted, pricing, cash procedures, and any event-specific instructions before you begin.
All money collected belongs to Trans Affirm and should remain in the designated cash box, payment system, or other approved location. Never place organizational funds in your personal wallet, bag, or account.
If the amount received is incorrect, money appears to be missing, a payment does not process correctly, or you are uncertain about a transaction, stop and get your event lead rather than attempting to correct it yourself.
When in doubt: do not handle the transaction until you have checked with your lead.
YOUR EVENT LEAD
For each event, Trans Affirm will provide information about your designated contact or shift lead.
Your lead is the person to contact if you:
• Cannot find the event or booth
• Are running late
• Need to cancel
• Need a break or accommodation
• Have a question about Trans Affirm
• Don't know how to handle a request
• Encounter a difficult situation
• Need help during your shift
CONCERNS & REPORTING AN INCIDENT
If something happens while volunteering that makes you uncomfortable, feels unsafe, violates Trans Affirm expectations, or you believe leadership should know about, please report it. This includes concerns involving attendees, other volunteers, staff, board members, discrimination, harassment, safety issues, inappropriate behavior, or problems with how an event was handled.
• For an immediate concern, speak with your event or shift lead.
• If your concern involves your lead, contact another Trans Affirm board member.
• For concerns that don't require immediate action, you may contact Trans Affirm on our website or via email at info@transaffirm.org
• Include what happened, approximately when it occurred, who was involved, and any witnesses or other relevant information you remember.
You will not be penalized for raising a good-faith concern. We would rather know about a problem so it can be appropriately reviewed than have a volunteer feel they need to stay silent.
For emergencies or immediate threats to someone's safety, follow the Emergency Response procedures instead.
WHEN IN DOUBT: ASK
You are not expected to be an expert on transgender issues, every Trans Affirm program, every resource in Idaho, or every situation that may come up.
The most important things we ask of our volunteers are to:
Be welcoming. Be respectful. Protect people's privacy. Follow your training. Ask when you're unsure.
Thank you for volunteering your time with Trans Affirm and helping us make resources, support, education, and community connection more accessible throughout Idaho.
