Volunteer Philosophy Our Volunteers Volunteers are individuals who reach out beyond the confines of their paid employment and of their normal responsibilities to contribute time and service to a not-for-profit cause in the belief that their activity is beneficial to others as well as satisfying to themselves. Our Mission The American Red Cross strives to attract and involve a diverse and multi-skilled volunteer work force. Our volunteers insure that the American Red Cross continues to provide effective services that are responsive to the changing needs of the American public. Special emphasis is placed on the meaningful involvement of youth and young adults, the development of strong volunteer leaders, the recruitment of nurses especially student nurses, and the integration of our 1.2 million Red Cross volunteers into planning at all levels of the organization. Red Cross paid and volunteer staff work together to deliver on the American Red Cross promise, "We'll be there!" Our Mission Statement The American Red Cross, a humanitarian organization led by volunteers and guided by its Congressional Charter and the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross Movement, will provide relief to victims of disasters and help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. Volunteer Roles and Responsibilities As the largest humanitarian organization in the United States, the Red Cross depends on volunteers to accomplish the organization's mission: providing relief to victims of disasters and helping people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. To prepare volunteers to participate in this vital mission, the Red Cross provides training for most volunteer positions; the level of training varies according to the requirements of the position. For example, Red Cross disaster volunteers work in a variety of positions, with specific training courses for each job. Training for health and safety instructors starts with a four- to six-hour course, with as many as 38 additional hours of training for special skills. Nurses bring specialized skills and experience and are incorporated into all Red Cross lines of service. Volunteers serve at all levels of the Red Cross Volunteer Philosophy That the American Red Cross is and ought to be an organization governed, supported, and primarily staffed by volunteers. That paid staff are enablers of, and not substitutes for, volunteers. That the principal management roles are filled by teams of volunteers and paid managers working together and sharing responsibility. Fundamental Principals Please see our FAQ. How the American Red Cross Helps People Please see News & Profiles and Share Your Stories.