As a volunteer, you will create a supportive community where every child has the resources, mentorship, and opportunities to thrive. At Apex, volunteering is a shared journey where you’ll grow alongside the youth you work with.
Access to fun seasonal social events and interest groups with Apex’s dedicated volunteer community.
Apex for Youth is more than a volunteer opportunity—it’s a community. Connect with a network of 1,000+ passionate volunteers, community leaders, and industry professionals.
Share fun, meaningful experiences with the young people you work with — whether it’s ice skating, rock climbing, or enjoying a Broadway show together.
Fill out the form below to receive your application link via email.
*We’ll also email you the application link for your convenience.*
Note: The application takes approximately 15-20 minutes to complete. That’s as long as it takes to order a cup of coffee!
Disclaimer: By submitting this form, you consent to receive communications from our program staff. These may include updates, program information, and event invitations.
1 in 2 Asian American youth live in or near poverty
Suicide is the leading cause of death for Asian American youth
20% of Asian American youth in NYC live in homes where no one over 14 speaks English or at all
of Apex youth – upon graduating from high school – feel more confident speaking up when something is important to them.
of Apex young adults are satisfied and fulfilled by their college or career pathway.
of Apex youth feel good about themselves and that they can embrace their strengths and identities at Apex.
of youth build positive relationships with their volunteer
Every Apex program is designed to meet youth where they are—whether they’re discovering their voice in elementary school or preparing for college and careers. Time commitments vary by program (from 2 hours/month to weekly sessions), but all volunteers receive training, ongoing support, and the chance to make a lasting impact.
Note: For exact requirements, steps and deadlines, visit our age-specific pages.
Questions? Email volunteer@apexforyouth.org
Learn more about Apex program approach.
Support young learners through interactive lessons, support basketball/yoga activities, or develop the love of reading.
You may be a good fit if you are:
Season Start
School Year: October – May
Time Commitment
One full school year or summer programs (Athletics) on Saturdays
Location
Chinatown, Manhattan | Sunset Park, Brooklyn | Flushing, Queens | Virtually
Guide students through mentorship, identity exploration, and teamwork-building.
You may be a good fit if you are:
Season Start
September – June
Time Commitment
2 Saturdays a month. Minimum 2 years.
Location
Lower East Side, Manhattan | Sunset Park, Brooklyn
Mentor students as they prepare for college, career exploration, and independence.
You may be a good fit if you are:
Season Start
September – June
Time Commitment
Monthly workshop and meetings with high school youth on Saturdays. Minimum 1-2 years depending on programs.
Location
Lower East Side, Manhattan | Virtually
Learn More >
Provide career mentorship and professional development support.
You may be a good fit if you are:
Season Start
Year-round opportunities available
Time Commitment
Varied — workshop-based or ongoing mentorship, depending on programs.
Location
In-person & virtual opportunities available
Note: We accept applications year-round, but most reviews begin in June for the fall cohort. If you apply after the program placement period, your application may be held for the next cycle, but always feel free to reach out to volunteer@apexforyouth.org for further questions.
Join us for a volunteer climbing hangout with Apex, Asian Climbing Tribe, and Movement Gowanus! Connect with volunteers and staff, explore volunteer opportunities, and give bouldering a try with ACT’s pros!
When: Saturday 4/19 from 3:00 – 6:00PM
Where: Movement Gowanus – 42 Butler St, Brooklyn, NY 11217
Where: ELM Roastery, 8330a Broadway, Elmhurst, NY
When: Saturday, 4/19 from 4-6pm
Who: Current and prospective volunteers for Apex’s Elementary & Athletics programs!
Come connect with fellow volunteers, learn more about how you can make an impact, and have fun! We’ll kick off the event with an exciting hour of TRIVIA, so make sure to arrive on time!
Where: Sunset Park – 6th Avenue &, 41st St Brooklyn, NY 11232
When: Sunday, May 4 | 9:30am – 12:30pm
Who: Current and prospective volunteers.
Fun, casual 5 Miles Run. 10-11’ Pacing. Connect with fellow runners and learn about volunteer opportunities. Enjoy treats from local businesses.
Prospective Volunteer? Come chat with our staff and have your volunteer questions answered in our virtual info sessions!
Attend one of the following sessions:
Support for our volunteers includes:
Comprehensive Volunteer Training
Structured Staff Guided Sessions
1:1 Staff Check-Ins
No prior experience is needed.
Joining Apex is probably one of the best decisions I ever made when I moved to New York. It has helped me meet so many new friends, create life long connections, be more in touch with being Asian American and investing in my mentee and seeing first hand how impactful these programs are in supporting youth in their development and growth.”
Volunteer since 2017
The best part of the program was seeing some kids start to show signs of improvement, and also to see engagement go up as new drills and games were incorporated into the program. Playing games was also great because those times were essentially focused on only having fun.”
PS 169 Elem Basketball coach in FY24
Loved the volunteers, leaders and students! The people really make the program, especially with all of the enthusiasm and support from Isabelle and Erica. I love that both halves of the school year had their own themes for the students, with clear learnings for the students to takeaway.”
BK Explorers in FY24
I loved that it was a small group and therefore relatively tight-knit. I really enjoyed the activities we did during the workshop and felt that they were a good mix of fun and educational/constructive activities for the group. The Apex staff were so dynamic, kind, and dedicated. I also loved that Sunset Park was not just a location for the workshops, but a community which we had the opportunity to learn about and be a part of – it was special getting to learn about and better understand the community that our mentees grew up in/spent a lot of time in.”
6th grader mentor in MSMP BK in FY24
Joining Apex is probably one of the best decisions I ever made when I moved to New York. It has helped me meet so many new friends, create life long connections, be more in touch with being Asian American and investing in my mentee and seeing first hand how impactful these programs are in supporting youth in their development and growth.”
Volunteer since 2017
The best part of the program was seeing some kids start to show signs of improvement, and also to see engagement go up as new drills and games were incorporated into the program. Playing games was also great because those times were essentially focused on only having fun.”
PS 169 Elem Basketball coach in FY24
Loved the volunteers, leaders and students! The people really make the program, especially with all of the enthusiasm and support from Isabelle and Erica. I love that both halves of the school year had their own themes for the students, with clear learnings for the students to takeaway.”
BK Explorers in FY24
A successful Apex volunteer enjoys interacting with and supporting young people, growing and learning about themselves, and understands the importance of committing to the full time period required by their program.
We recommend selecting a program based on:
Apex accepts volunteer applications year-round on a rolling basis. Most applicants are contacted for interviews between June and September. Successful candidates are placed into programs starting in September/October for school-year roles or June for summer programs. For exact dates and schedules, visit our program-specific pages.
Don’t be discouraged if you haven’t heard from us yet! For exact timelines or to check your application status, visit your program-specific page or email volunteer@apexforyouth.org.
Apex for Youth schedules volunteer interviews between June and September. If you haven’t received an update by late September, please email our team at volunteer@apexforyouth.org.
To ensure meaningful engagement and consistency, we have our volunteers participate in only one program at a time. This allows our team and youth to build strong, transformative relationships.
All Apex volunteers must commit to their program’s full duration, which ranges from 6 weeks (summer programs) to 2 years (long-term mentorship). If your availability changes during a program year, please let staff know as soon as possible so that proper transition changes can be made. You can also explore flexible options like short-term opportunities on our Volunteer Programs page to find a better fit, but bear in mind that short-term options are limited.
Note: Process details, requirements, and timelines vary slightly by programs. For exact steps and deadlines, visit our program-specific pages.
