Volunteer Services Coordinator Interview w/ Habitat

Tell me about yourself

My name is Nevaeh Gutierrez. I graduated from Whittier College with a B.A. in Sociology. I recently finished my year of AmeriCorps VISTA service, and a big part of that experience was working with volunteers, coordinating projects, and getting involved in community-based events.

At L.A. Works, I helped lead volunteer RSVP leaders for Camp FAVE and was involved in both the planning and on-the-ground execution of the program. I helped with volunteer coordination, activity preparation, check-in, and setup and breakdown.

At Cayenne Wellness Center, I coordinated a large, multi-stakeholder advocacy project and helped plan an event with more than 200 attendees. I recruited and trained a 15-person advocacy team, coordinated logistics and registration, and worked with community partners to bring everything together.

I'm interested in this position because I see a lot of overlap with what I've already done, and I'm also interested in building my development and fundraising experience, which is something I had some exposure to at Cayenne and would like to grow further.

Why are you interested in this role?

I really connect with Habitat’s mission, especially the focus on equitable and affordable homeownership in the local community.

I also really like Habitat’s model of bringing people together to make that possible. You don’t have to have construction experience to come out to a build site and contribute, and I think there’s something really meaningful about volunteers being able to see the impact of their work firsthand.

I’ve worked with a really wide range of volunteers, including youth, adults, and older adults, so I’ve seen how different people can contribute in different ways. I’d love the opportunity to bring that experience to Habitat, while continuing to learn and grow. I’m someone who genuinely enjoys helping others, working with people, and being part of something that has a direct impact on the community.

Questions for interviewer

1. what does successful build day coordination look like?

2. 
   

Tell me about a time you managed volunteers

At L.A. Works, I was the Project Manager for Camp FAVE, where I led the Project Leaders who were RSVP volunteers and also worked with teen counselor volunteers. I was involved in coordinating the volunteers and making sure they had what they needed to carry out their roles, while also being involved in the day-to-day program.

I helped with activity preparation, setup and breakdown, and checking children into the camp, so I got experience both managing volunteers and being hands-on with program operations.

Tell me about your fundraising experience

At Cayenne, I supported several development and fundraising activities, but I also led the development of the infrastructure and tools for our advocacy event and ongoing advocacy work. I built the event webpage, including the donation functionality and messaging used for the campaign, and set up and managed Ticket Tailor for registration and fundraising. I also secured the nonprofit discount for the platform.

The event was part of an ongoing effort advocating for $15 million in state funding, and the website, messaging, and other tools I developed are still being used to support that work.

I also worked on grant applications and did a lot of external outreach, including recruiting community professionals as speakers for our advocacy trainings and coordinating outreach to more than 1,000 federally qualified health centers.

I’m interested in this position because I’d like to build on that experience and develop stronger skills in fundraising and development.

How would you solicit in-kind donations for silent auctions?

I'd start by leveraging our existing networks, including those of our volunteers, staff, and board members, to identify local businesses and organizations that might be interested in contributing. I'd also look for businesses whose missions or values align with Habitat's work and build relationships with them.

I would develop a wishlist of potential donations, ranging from gift certificates and services, like car detailing or car wash packages, to locally curated gift baskets and unique experiences. I'd want to create a variety of items that would appeal to different interests and encourage competitive bidding.

When reaching out to businesses, I'd explain what their donation would support and emphasize that it's an opportunity to invest in the local community by helping Habitat build homes, repair properties, and strengthen neighborhoods. I'd also highlight the benefits to the business, including exposure to event attendees, an opportunity to demonstrate their community involvement, and the potential to introduce their products or services to new customers.

Ultimately, I'd want businesses to feel that their participation is mutually beneficial. They're supporting a meaningful local cause while also building relationships with potential customers, and I'd focus on developing those relationships beyond a single event so we could continue working together in the future

How do you manage competing deadlines and last minute changes?

I start by getting a clear picture of everything that needs to be done, identifying deadlines and prioritizing tasks based on urgency and how much they affect other people or the overall project. I use tracking tools to keep responsibilities organized, monitor progress, and make sure follow-ups don't fall through the cracks.

During my AmeriCorps service at Cayenne Wellness Center, I helped coordinate the Sickle Cell Disease Advocacy Day at the State Capitol, which involved managing logistics for more than 200 attendees, coordinating vendors, organizing registration, and working with multiple stakeholders. With so many moving parts, I had to stay on top of deadlines while being prepared to adjust when things changed.

If something unexpected comes up, I assess what needs immediate attention, communicate with the people affected, and adjust the plan while keeping the overall goals in mind. I also try to anticipate potential issues in advance rather than waiting until the last minute.

For a role like this at Habitat, I know there will be times when volunteer schedules, event needs, and other priorities overlap, so I'd focus on staying organized, communicating early, and being flexible without losing track of the details.

Tell me a time you had to handle a difficult volunteer situation

When I was managing volunteer coordination for Camp FAVE at L.A. Works, we typically had four volunteers scheduled for each shift throughout the week. On one occasion, three of the four volunteers let me know just a few hours before their shift that they wouldn't be able to make it.

I knew we still needed enough help to get the camp set up, including moving some heavier items, so I first reached out to volunteers from previous shifts who had offered to be contacted if we ever needed extra help. Unfortunately, neither of the people I contacted was available.

At that point, I adjusted my approach and prepared to take on a more hands-on role than I normally would, so I could help with the setup and make sure the work got done with the limited staffing we had.

That experience taught me the importance of maintaining relationships with volunteers who may be able to help when needed, and being flexible when things don't go according to plan. It also reinforced that, as a volunteer coordinator, you have to be prepared to adapt rather than letting an unexpected change derail the program.

Tell me a time you had to navigate conflict?

When I was the Justice and Equity Committee Chair in Student Assembly, I was responsible for leading the discussion and vote on a resolution that came before our committee. There were a lot of differing opinions, and at one point, people were arguing and speaking over one another, which made it difficult for everyone to be heard.

I recognized that I needed to bring the conversation back to a place where we could have a productive discussion. I worked to make sure everyone had a fair opportunity to speak, redirected the conversation when it became unproductive, and helped the group focus on discussing the resolution rather than talking over one another.

Ultimately, we were able to reach a decision and move forward with passing the resolution. That experience taught me the importance of staying calm, facilitating respectful communication, and making sure people feel heard even when there's disagreement.

Rather than making assumptions about why they weren't responding, I let my manager know about the delay and asked whether they had been able to reach the coworker, since most of our team worked remotely. We eventually learned that my coworker had been hospitalized.

In the meantime, I adjusted my priorities and focused on other parts of the project that I could move forward independently, so I could continue making progress while my coworker had time to recover.

That experience reinforced the importance of communicating proactively, not jumping to conclusions, and being flexible when something unexpected affects a project. I think it's important to address delays directly while also recognizing that there may be circumstances you aren't aware of.