Volunteer Fundraising & Grants Lead - Executive Team: Help Make More Art Possible!

A box of paints, a stack of sketchbooks, a child’s first art workshop, help make it happen!

Hands & Canvas is a youth-founded, volunteer-led initiative based in Toronto that makes art more accessible through free workshops and community projects. Through Beyond the Studio, volunteers also create donated artwork, handmade gifts, colouring pages, and art kits.

We’re looking for a Volunteer Fundraising & Grants Lead to join our executive team. If you enjoy researching opportunities, writing persuasive proposals, or bringing people together around a good cause, we’d love to hear from you!

YOUR ROLE:

Working directly with the founder, you’ll identify funding opportunities and turn ideas into practical support for our programs. That could mean drafting a grant application, approaching a business about donating supplies, or planning a creative fundraiser.

WHAT YOU’LL DO:

• Research suitable grants and track eligibility, deadlines, and next steps.

• Help prepare grant applications, project proposals, and simple budgets.

• Research potential sponsors and draft personalized outreach.

• Develop fundraising campaigns and art-supply drives with the team.

• Explore donations of materials, printing, and other useful goods or services.

• Track confirmed contributions, expenses, and fundraising progress.

• Help thank supporters and share what their contributions made possible.

• Collaborate with communications and marketing leads as those roles are filled.

Have an idea for an art-themed fundraiser or know a business that might help? We’ll work together to explore it!

HOW WE’LL SUPPORT YOU:

You’ll receive an introduction to our programs, funding needs, and priorities, along with available project information. We’ll choose realistic opportunities together, review drafts, and check in regularly.

You’ll take ownership of agreed projects with guidance from the founder. Applications, budgets, and external commitments will be reviewed before submission or confirmation.

You won’t be expected to personally fund activities, hold donations in your own account, or authorize spending independently.

WHO WOULD ENJOY THIS ROLE?

This could be a great fit if you:

• Enjoy researching, writing, organizing, or pitching ideas.

• Are interested in business, fundraising, finance, or community work.

• Feel comfortable drafting professional emails and following up.

• Can organize deadlines and basic budgets in a spreadsheet.

• Want to help shape a growing initiative.

• Care about making creative opportunities available to more people.

High school students, university students, and adults are welcome. Experience with clubs, events, sponsorships, fundraising, or budgeting is helpful, but not required. You don’t need to have secured a grant before applying!

WHAT YOU’LL GAIN:

Join an executive team, earn lots of volunteer hours, meet people who care about creativity, and gain experience in research, proposal writing, budgeting, and fundraising. Bring your ideas to life while supporting free art opportunities.

Completed volunteer hours can be documented and verified. Students should confirm eligibility with their school.

YOUR FIRST STEPS:

You’ll get to know Hands & Canvas, help identify our immediate funding and supply needs, and build a shortlist of suitable opportunities. Then we’ll choose a first project together: a grant application, sponsorship proposal, fundraiser, or supply drive.

We value thoughtful ideas, reliable follow-through, and good communication alongside the funds or supplies secured.

LOCATION AND COMMITMENT:

This is an unpaid, remote volunteer opportunity open across Canada, including Vaughan and York Region. Meetings take place online; any local fundraising activities would be arranged separately.

Expect approximately 2–4 hours per week, with some additional time around agreed deadlines. Scheduling is flexible around school or work.

A commitment of at least three months is preferred so you can take an idea from its first draft through outreach and follow-up.

HOW TO APPLY:

Simply apply on Volunteer Vaughn or email brianlu086@gmail.com with the subject “Fundraising & Grants Lead” and include:

• Why this role interests you.

• Your city or town and province or territory.

• Your availability and expected length of commitment.

• Any relevant experience or interests: school, club, and personal projects count!

• A fundraising or sponsorship idea you’d like to explore.

You don’t need a polished proposal to apply. We’d love to hear what you’d like to contribute!

Learn more at handsandcanvas.com or contact the Founder & Operations Executive at brianlu086@gmail.com.