" The trainees are not the only ones whose lives are touched by the connection to the seeds and soil. HGP affects the lives of all who pass through it. "
- Rosalie Evans, Former HGP Intern
Available Staff Positions
Description of Organization and General Function:
The Homeless Garden Project (HGP) is a nonprofit organization based in Santa Cruz, CA that provides job training, transitional employment and support services to people who are homeless. As an important complement to these programs, HGP operates a vibrant community volunteer and education program. The training, employment, education and volunteer programs take place in an organic farm and related enterprises.
Our grassroots program is funded through a mix of donations from individuals, grants, events and earned income. On average about 70-75% of our income came from donations, grants and events, the remainder from sales of products made in our training program. We are preparing for a time of growth and a new, permanent, consolidated site; our goal is to serve three times as many people each year and to increase the percentage of income brought in by our enterprises.
As HGP develops our enterprises, we are seeking a skilled, versatile, committed member of the team as Business and Finance Manager to manage HGP’s financial resources according to GAAP as well as play a key role in enterprise development through monitoring of a business plan. Our team cares about the natural environment and ending homelessness. We work in a simple environment and value the essentials.
Reports to: Executive Director
Part-time 16 days of paid vacation per year, 9 holidays, pro-rated.
Primary Responsibilities
Financial Management:
● Works with the Executive Director to manage the financial resources of HGP
● Maintains and analyzes accounting records
● Prepares accounting schedule, reports and financial statements
● Prepares journal entries and reconciles ledger accounts
● Assures compliance with accounting principles and policies, procedures and contracts
● Oversees payroll
● Supervises data entry staff
● Supports the ongoing development and improvement of financial processes and systems, coordinating with other business units such as the farm, retail business, and fundraising.
● Works with CPA to prepare annual return
● Manage HGP’s annual audit
● Works with Executive Director to maintain banking relationship
● Responsible for other duties as assigned in relation to financial management of HGP Preparation and
Knowledge Qualifications
● Demonstrable qualifications in accounting or bookkeeping or equivalent experience.
● Familiarity with QuickBooks Desktop
● Demonstrated experience in financial reporting
● Experience working with non-profit agencies and non-profit run businesses desirable but not essential.
● Ability to recognize problems and provide solutions.
● Effective communication and proven ability to supervise and develop the skills of others.
Applications: Email resume, cover letter and contact information for three references to Darrie Ganzhorn, Executive Director, darrieg@homelessgardenproject.org. Resumes will be accepted until position is filled.
Internships & Volunteer Openings
Email volunteer@homelessgardenproject.org with internship inquiries.
Details
Schedule: 10-13 hours per week, from June through to the end of September
Salary: This is a volunteer, unpaid internship. If you are using this internship to gain course credit or seek
out grants with your college, please include this information in your cover letter.
To apply: Along with your resume, please send us a brief cover letter highlighting why you’re interested
in the program. Send your materials to volunteer@homelessgardenproject.org and include the volunteer
position for which you’re applying in the subject line.
Description
The Homeless Garden Project is looking for a volunteer to help translate while program participants are
working. HGP is looking for a fluent volunteer in both English and Spanish. The focus would be on
translating: helping to describe farm tasks and translating social and emotional needs.
Schedule
● Tuesday: 9:00 am - 10:30 am *Required
● Wednesday: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
● Thursday: 9:00 am - 2:00 pm
● Friday: 9:00 am - 10:30 am
The set day would be Tuesday. We could work with the volunteer to figure out the best times for them. Ideally, we have one or two full days, 9:00-2:00.
Responsibilities:
● Translate verbal communication in real-time, reciting everything verbatim
● Build excellent relationships with program participants
● Help program participants feel connected to the HGP program
● Ability to understand and translate documents
● Translate emotional needs for program participants
Qualifications
● Intermediate to advanced understanding of Spanish
● Excellent written and verbal communication
● Understanding trainee confidentiality
● Proficient in sensitive communications
● Time management
● Organization and attention to detail
● Commitment to racial equity
The Homeless Garden Project is an equal opportunity employer. People of color, transgender and
gender-nonconforming people, women, people with abilities in multiple languages, immigrants, and
people living with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Sales & Retail Internship
Details
Schedule: 10-13 hours per week, from late September, 2021 to early January, 2022
Salary: This is a volunteer, unpaid internship. If you are using this internship to gain course credit or seek out grants with your college, please include this information in your cover letter.
To apply: Along with your resume, please send us a brief cover letter highlighting why you’re interested in the program. Send your materials to atalantak@homelessgardenproject.org and include the internship position for which you’re applying in the subject line. Applications accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
Description
The Homeless Garden Project (HGP), founded in 1990 and based in Santa Cruz, California, provides job training, transitional employment and support services to people experiencing homelessness. In addition, HGP operates a thriving community education and volunteer program. Our programs take place on our 3.5 acre organic farm and related social enterprises, including the Homeless Garden Project Store. The HGP Store sells its own products that are made by program trainees from herbs, flowers, and produce grown on our 3.5-acre organic farm as well as some products made by local artists sold on consignment. HGP products include bath & body, food & beverage, candles, and more. HGP Store sells products at its two retail locations in Santa Cruz and Capitola, online (shop.homelessgardenproject.org), and through wholesale partners. HGP Store does a significant portion of its business during the holiday season.
We are seeking an enthusiastic and hardworking intern who will support our Value-Added Enterprise program. The Sales & Retail Intern will work with the Value-Added Enterprise Manager to create new materials for the program, build relationships with the local and extended communities, and spend time at both of our HGP Store locations.
Responsibilities
- Support staffing our Pacific Avenue storefront, and our Capitola storefront by taking on a certain number of store shifts per week as a Shift Manager
- Shift Manager role includes tasks such as customer service, ringing up customers, inventory management, and light cleaning
- Create a wholesale catalog for distribution
- Track potential wholesale buyers, influencers, and other PR opportunities
- Reach out to potential leads through emails and/or calls.
Qualifications
- Self-motivated, detail-oriented individual
- Ability to prioritize, multi-task and meet deadlines
- Dependability, flexibility and ability to maintain confidentiality
- Superb communication skills, both written and verbal
- Interest in sustainable agriculture and social justice
- Ability to work independently and with others, including staff, volunteers, donors and vendors
- A demonstrated commitment to HGP’s mission and values
- Excellent ethical standards and personal integrity
- Customer service experience a plus
- Graphic design skills a plus (Canva or other design program)
Intern Will Gain:
- Diverse skills and hands-on experience for a growing nonprofit organization
- Experience supporting Homeless Garden Project Store outreach coordination and communications
- Experience building relationships with a wide range of community members and businesses
- Outreach experience
- Opportunities to contribute and implement creative insights and feedback regarding value-added enterprises
- Opportunities to interact with professionals in both nonprofit and for-profit sector
Work Schedule/Time Commitment
Start Date: September 2021
End Date: January 2022
Commitment: ~10-13 hours per week
Pacific Ave Store
Location: 1338 Pacific Ave
Two (2) - 3 hours shifts (flexible days)
Capitola Store
Location: 222 Esplanade
Saturdays: One (1) - 4 hours shift
Outreach/PR
Location: remote or in-office
1-3 hours/week
The Homeless Garden Project is an equal opportunity employer. People of color, transgender and gender-nonconforming people, women, people with abilities in multiple languages, immigrants, and people living with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Details
Schedule: 20 hours per week, from May 20, 2022 to October 21, 2022
Salary: This is a volunteer, unpaid internship. If you are using this internship to gain course credit or seek
out grants with your college, please include this information in your cover letter.
To apply: Along with your resume, please send us a brief cover letter highlighting why you’re interested in
the program. Send your materials to omarg@homelessgardenproject.org and include the internship
position for which you’re applying in the subject line. Applications accepted on a rolling basis until the
position is filled.
Description
The Homeless Garden Project (HGP), founded in 1990 and based in Santa Cruz, California, provides job
training, transitional employment and support services to people experiencing homelessness. In addition,
HGP operates a thriving community education and volunteer program. Our programs take place on our
3.5 acre organic farm and related social enterprises.
We are seeking an enthusiastic and hardworking intern who will support our Community Supported
Agriculture (CSA) program in the Spring and Summer. The CSA Intern will lead member pick-up and
u-pick hours and will develop the weekly newsletter to members.
CSA: CSA members provide crucial support to HGP by investing in the farm by making a commitment to
buy produce from HGP each week during the harvest season and paying in advance for the produce.
Their commitment to sustainable agriculture and transitional jobs enhances HGP's planning and financial
stability and creates a community of people who are deeply committed to HGP's success. In return, we
seek to provide CSA members with quality and diverse organic produce, tips and recipes for using the
produce, and news and stories about the farm, trainees and our programs that enhance their community
experience. HGP also operates its Feed 2 Birds program which donates CSA shares to local agencies
serving individuals who may not otherwise have access to fresh organic produce.
Responsibilities
Farm
● Manage and check off CSA customer pick-up and u-pick
● Manage and check off Feed 2 Birds agency pick-ups
● Welcome and engage CSA members and visitors at the farm
● Assist in harvest, wash/pack, and quality control of produce
● Perform farm work as needed to support farm and CSA production
● Manage any additional farm stand purchases during CSA pick-up and u-pick hours
Administrative
● Create a weekly CSA newsletter (interview staff/trainees, write farm narratives, take regular
photos of the farm and the work, promote HGP events, research recipes, etc.)
● Support CSA record keeping using Excel and Google sheets.
Qualifications
● Self-motivated, detail-oriented individual
● Ability to prioritize, multi-task and meet deadlines
● Dependability, flexibility and ability to maintain confidentiality
● Superb communication skills, both written and verbal
● Interest in sustainable agriculture and social justice
● Ability to work independently and with others, including staff, volunteers, donors and vendors
● A demonstrated commitment to HGP’s mission and values
● Excellent ethical standards and personal integrity
● Completed or working toward a college degree, preferred
Intern Will Gain:
● Diverse skills and hands-on experience for a growing nonprofit organization
● Experience supporting Homeless Garden Project CSA coordination and communications
● Education around sustainable agriculture and Organic crop production
● Experience building relationships with a wide range of community members
● Opportunities to contribute and implement creative insights and feedback regarding CSA and
value-added enterprises
● Opportunities to interact with professionals in both nonprofit and for-profit sector
Work Schedule/Time Commitment
Start Date: May 17th, 2022
End Date: October 18th, 2022
Commitment: ~20 hours per week
CSA U-Pick/Pick-Up Hours
Location: HGP Farm
Tuesday: 1:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Friday: 10:30 PM - 6:30 PM
Saturday: 9:30 AM - 3:30PM
Newsletter
Location: Remote
~ 2-4 hours each week
The Homeless Garden Project is an equal opportunity employer. People of color, transgender and
gender-nonconforming people, women, people with abilities in multiple languages, immigrants, and
people living with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
The Homeless Garden Project (HGP), founded in 1990, provides job training, transitional employment and supportive services to people who are experiencing homelessness. In complement, HGP operates a thriving community education and volunteer program. HGP's programs take place in a 3.5-acre organic farm and related enterprises. Social Work Volunteers (SWV) work with HGP's Connecting with Community program. SWV work one-on-one with trainees to promote trainees' full participation in our job training and transitional employment programs by addressing needs such as health care, legal issues, transportation, and shelter. With SWV, trainees identify goals that will create and sustain their own well-being. SWV monitor trainee progress toward goals and support meaningful engagement in accomplishing goals. In addition, SWV foster trainee progress toward unsubsidized employment as a key long-term goal related to a career plan.
Duration of position: mid-May through early September
Schedule: 10-12 hours/week; Tuesday/Wednesday/Thursday/Friday; Thursdays are currently required; social work and staff meetings are held Thursday, 1-2PM
HGP offers Social Work Volunteers a schedule with some flexibility and choice within the structure of our trainees’ weekly work schedule. Meetings with trainees take place during their workday; Tuesday-Friday, 9:00-2:00. Social Work Volunteers work with trainees to find the best times to meet. Thursdays are currently required; supervision, social work and staff meetings are held on this day. Meetings take place in person at our 3.5-acre organic farm.
Responsibilities include, but not limited to:
- Assessment: work with trainees to identify current needs.
- Service Planning: collaboratively develop a plan focused on supports, activities, and resources required to achieve personal goals.
- Advocacy and Referrals: help educate and connect trainees to available and appropriate resources.
- Counseling & Goal Setting: provide support and structure for relevant goal setting.
Desired Traits & Skills:
- Good listening skills
- Well organized
- Appreciation of diversity & commitment to social justice
- Bachelor’s degree in related field
Orientation & Training:
- Work under supervision of Licensed Clinical Social Worker
- Training in Motivational Interviewing, service planning and evaluation
Benefits to Volunteer:
- Experience working in nonprofit social service setting
- Familiarity with community resources
- Develop counseling skills
- Gain training in Motivational Interviewing and Positive Psychology
To apply: Submit resume to evanj@homelessgardenproject.org
Details
Schedule: 5 - 10 hours per week, from June 2022 to September 2022
Salary: This is a volunteer, unpaid internship. If you are using this internship to gain course credit or seek
out grants with your college, please include this information in your cover letter.
To apply: Along with your resume, please send us a brief cover letter highlighting why you’re interested
in the program. Send your materials to omarg@homelessgardenproject.org and include the internship
position for which you’re applying in the subject line. Applications accepted on a rolling basis until the
position is filled.
Description
The Homeless Garden Project (HGP), founded in 1990 and based in Santa Cruz, California, provides job
training, transitional employment and support services to people experiencing homelessness. In addition,
HGP operates a thriving community education and volunteer program. Our programs take place on our
3.5 acre organic farm and related social enterprises.
We are seeking an enthusiastic and hardworking intern who will support our social media accounts. The
Social Media Intern will work directly under the supervision of the Value-Added Enterprise Manager as a
member of the social media team.
Responsibilities
● Manages the HGP Store social media accounts
● Brainstorms, pitches and implements ideas for social media campaigns and posts
● Creates content for publication, including taking photos, sourcing photos from HGP staff,
developing graphics, and writing engaging photo captions.
● Conducts account research to like, follow, and engage with others on Facebook and Instagram to
grow HGP’s audience and engagement
● Conducts Instagram hashtag research
● Monitors social media conversations and responds to comments on Facebook and Instagram
● Reaches out to press, influencers and bloggers to promote HGP Store
● Analyze data to gauge the success of campaigns and posts and assists in creating performance
reports
Qualifications
● Experience and understanding of social media platforms, particularly Facebook and Instagram
● Passion for social media and storytelling
● Excellent written and verbal communication skills
● Meticulous attention to detail
● Self-motivated multi-tasker with a strong work ethic
● Highly organized in a fast-paced environment
● Enthusiasm and an eagerness to learn
● Ability to collaborate and be a team player
● Graphic design skills a plus
Intern Will Gain:
● Diverse skills and hands-on experience for a growing nonprofit organization
● Experience building relationships with a wide range of community members
● Opportunities to interact with professionals in both nonprofit and for-profit sector
The Homeless Garden Project is an equal opportunity employer. People of color, transgender and
gender-nonconforming people, women, people with abilities in multiple languages, immigrants, and
people living with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Details
Schedule: 5 - 10 hours per week, from June 2022 to September 2022, with the potential to extend past the Winter Quarter/Semester.
Salary: This is a volunteer, unpaid internship. If you are using this internship to gain course credit or seek out grants with your college, please include this information in your cover letter.
To apply: Along with your resume, please send us a brief cover letter highlighting why you’re interested in the program. Send your materials to omarg@homelessgardenproject.org and include the internship position for which you’re applying in the subject line. Applications accepted on a rolling basis until the position is filled.
Description
The Homeless Garden Project (HGP), founded in 1990 and based in Santa Cruz, California, provides job training, transitional employment and support services to people experiencing homelessness. In addition, HGP operates a thriving community education and volunteer program. Our programs take place on our 3.5 acre organic farm and related social enterprises.
We are seeking an enthusiastic and hardworking intern who will support our Value-Added Enterprise program. The Marketing Intern will design email marketing campaigns and seek out third party gift guides and influencers that can feature us and direct traffic to our online store.
Responsibilities
- Write and design 1-2 marketing newsletters a month. The focus here is to increase online sales, and draw locals into our storefronts.
- One newsletter a month is part of our “Meet the Makers” Campaign
- Repurpose content from our organizational newsletter.
- Getting HGP into gift guides, catalogs, blogs, newspaper articles, etc as a way to extend our outreach and drive more people to our online and in person store.
Qualifications
- Self-motivated, detail-oriented individual
- Ability to prioritize, multi-task and meet deadlines
- Dependability, flexibility and ability to maintain confidentiality
- Superb communication skills, both written and verbal
- Interest in social justice
- Ability to work independently and with others, including staff, volunteers, donors and vendors
- A demonstrated commitment to HGP’s mission and values
- Excellent ethical standards and personal integrity
- Experience with Canva, Shopify, Google Suite and email software programs are a plus
Intern Will Gain:
- Diverse skills and hands-on experience for a growing nonprofit organization
- Experience supporting Homeless Garden Project marketing coordination and communications
- Experience creating email campaigns and blog posts
- Opportunities to contribute and implement creative insights and feedback regarding value-added enterprises
- Opportunities to interact with professionals in both nonprofit and for-profit sector
Work Schedule/Time Commitment
Start Date: June 2022
End Date: September 2022; possibility of extension
Commitment: ~ 5 - 10 hours per week
The Homeless Garden Project is an equal opportunity employer. People of color, transgender and gender-nonconforming people, women, people with abilities in multiple languages, immigrants, and people living with disabilities are encouraged to apply.
Our volunteer program is flexible to allow for varied interests and schedules.
Learn more about our current volunteer needs here or contact us if you'd like more information about our volunteer openings.