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Looking to engage with us but not sure how to begin? Wondering how you can contribute your talents to positively influence the global feeding tube community?

 

Volunteering with us offers a seamless way to join the feeding tube community, forge new relationships, and provide support to ensure that no family navigates feeding tube dependency alone. From participating in events, serving on one of our care committees, contributing to our blog, or advocating for the cause, there are numerous avenues for you to become an integral member of our community.

Awareness & Support

Peer support and awareness form the foundation of our worldwide community. Throughout the year, there are numerous chances to engage in various capacities, from structured roles to participating in global awareness initiatives.

Feeding Tube Awareness Month Ambassadors

Ambassadors for Feeding Tube Awareness Month are chosen to highlight the variety of families, geographical diversity, experiences, and results within the feeding tube community. Their role throughout February is to participate in and enhance the Feeding Tube Foundation's worldwide awareness initiative.​

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Global ambassadors advocate for individuals living with feeding tubes, their extended family members, siblings, and others affected.​

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Responsibilities:

  • Be highlighted in FTF’s campaign: blog posts, day-in-the-life social media takeovers, video Q&As, and more!

  • Showcase the diversity of experiences and locations that represent our global community

  • Participate in any kick-off calls or collaborative group messaging to best connect and plan

  • Engage and elevate FTF’s global awareness campaign

  • Send templated outreach materials to local/national affinity groups (NICUs, other enteral nutrition support organizations, etc.) to encourage their participation in recognizing Feeding Tube Awareness Month

  • Boost posts by commenting on FTF’s social media

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PROGRAM STATUS: Applications will open in October 2024

Peer Mentors

Within FTF, Peer Support Mentors are seasoned, empathetic, and considerate parent leaders dedicated to offering emotional support to families newly facing a feeding tube placement.

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Leveraging their own experiences and specialized training in trauma-informed peer support provided by FTF, the Peer Support Mentor acts as an essential resource for families in search of guidance and support.

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Peer Support Mentor Responsibilities:

  • Personal experience with FTF’s support network is required. 

  • Build interpersonal connections with anywhere from five to seven assigned peer mentees at a time.

  • Interaction and leadership in the New to Feeding Tubes support forum on Facebook.

  • Use FTF-assigned email to communicate with mentees and FTF leadership.

  • Complete and abide by FTF peer support, trauma-informed care training modules 

  • Monthly check-ins with the social worker to monitor the progress of the program and problem-solve any issues

  • Regular check-ins with program leaders and other mentors to connect.

  • Ability to work both independently and in teams.

  • Ability to think proactively, address problems creatively, and appropriately take initiative.

  • Ability to maintain confidentiality and professionalism as an ambassador for the organization.

  • Promptly elevate safety concerns to FTF’s social worker.​

 

Peer Support Mentor On-Call Responsibilities:

  • Providing situational support and guidance during designated “office hours” once a month for upwards of a year.

  • Working with FTF’s social worker to match with a mentee for a one-off call as they arise. 

  • Interaction and leadership in the relevant FTF support forums on Facebook are appreciated but not required.

  • Use of FTF-assigned email to communicate with mentees and FTF leadership.

  • Completion of FTF peer support training modules and willingness to abide by them.

  • Quarterly check-ins with the social worker to monitor the progress of the program and problem-solve any issues

  • Ability to work both independently and in teams.

  • Ability to think proactively, address problems creatively, and take initiative appropriately.

  • Ability to maintain confidentiality and professionalism as an ambassador for the organization.

  • Elevation of safety concerns within a timely manner to FTF’s social worker.

  • Demonstrated excellence in organizational, written, and verbal communication skills.

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PROGRAM STATUS: We are accepting applications for mentors who represent the diverse people and needs of our community.

Committees

Our committees organize a range of peer-led initiatives to assist families reliant on feeding tubes, encompassing diverse ages, results, and situations. We aim to guarantee that no family faces feeding tube dependency alone and continually seek innovative methods to engage volunteers.

Event Planning Committee

There are multiple avenues for involvement in promoting awareness and advocacy for the feeding tube community, including participation in the event planning committee.

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Event planning committee volunteers play a crucial role in enhancing awareness, advocacy, and action regarding feeding tubes. They are vital in disseminating key messages and forging significant connections that bolster FTF's mission and objectives. The FTF Event Planning Committee is a volunteer body comprised of individuals with varied backgrounds who contribute their event planning expertise and creativity to publicize the organization and garner community support.

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Responsibilities:​

  • Ability to be creative and be a thought leader.

  • Consistently and effectively contribute ideas for FTF’s virtual and in-person events.

  • Be able to wear multiple hats in planning and executing the event.

  • Ability to be resourceful and responsible for the overall success of the event.

  • Ability to work independently and collaboratively on developing and hosting events. 

  • Interact with internal and external stakeholders and leaders surrounding the events.

  • Be organized and prepare accordingly for multiple events.

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PROGRAM STATUS: Accepting volunteers

Fundraising Committee

Encourage various community groups, funders, and greater community to support FTF, helping the organization to raise critical funds to build programmatic stability and sustainability.

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Fundraising Ambassador Responsibilities:​

  • Professionally represent FTF by sharing the organization's narrative along with your personal journey to inspire the allocation of funds to the organization.

  • Seek out funding opportunities and collaborate with FTF staff and the Board of Directors.

  • Adhere to all branding and style guidelines associated with the FTF brand and communication strategy.

  • Uphold FTF's values and consistently strive to achieve our broader vision and mission.​

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PROGRAM STATUS: Open & Ongoing

Education & Development

FTF is committed to creating accessible, thoroughly vetted educational resources for the worldwide feeding tube community. Our aim is to enhance the sustainability of our organizational programming and resources through strategic funding efforts. We offer multiple opportunities to impact positively and ensure that our families have access to the necessary educational and support resources.

Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors is always looking for interested and involved professionals to join our board in the following areas:

  • Professional Networking

  • Fundraising

  • Strategic Development

  • Corporate Communication

  • Family & Professional Outreach

  • Volunteer Management

  • Corporate Training

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Responsibilities:

  • Steer the organization towards a sustainable future by adopting sound, ethical, and legal governance and financial management policies.

  • Ensure the organization has adequate resources to advance its mission.

  • Be an involved advocate for the organization, elevating opportunities that will help advance forward.

  • Bring the lived patient-family perspective to ensure the heart of the organization’s culture is represented in organizational priorities.

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PROGRAM STATUS: Accepting applications for August of 2025

Medical Advisory Board

FTF’s Medical Advisory Board is a multidisciplinary group that provides insight, scientific direction, and expertise to the Foundation from leading academic and medical institutions around the world. The members of the Medical Advisory Board are recognized experts in treating patients, leading research on enteral nutrition, and developing best practices in treating and supporting families in their respective disciplines.

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Responsibilities:

  • Provide insight, scientific direction, and expertise to the Foundation 

  • Ensure accurate information is published by regularly reviewing website content

  • Lead research on enteral nutrition 

  • Develop best practices in supporting families in respective disciplines

  • Identify collaborations for the Foundation

  • Participate in quarterly virtual Q&A educational sessions to move FTF’s mission forward

  • Attend FTF summit when possible/applicable

  • Give a meaningful annual contribution to the Foundation

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PROGRAM STATUS: Accepting applications 

Events

FTF hosts many different opportunities for our global community to connect. These events are only made possible by the dedicated volunteers in our community who work to bring in-person experiences like family meet ups, playground events, retreats, fundraising and community support events. Volunteers work with FTF staff, who manages event logistics, to ensure events are positive, accessible and meaningful to those attending.

Conference Booth Volunteers

FTF staff attends, participates and speaks at several conferences a year in an effort to move forward the advocacy and research side of the foundation initiatives.

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It is our hope to have local families volunteer during these conferences to engage with conference attendees, share FTF key messages, and evangelize the FTF mission.

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Responsibilities:

  • Professionally represent FTF at assigned time and location.

  • Attend virtual training for booth volunteers.

  • Be comfortable speaking about FTF’s mission, programming, services and advocacy messaging.

  • Engage with conference attendees, take down any contact information, and make notes to share back to FTF staff.

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PROGRAM STATUS: Check back later

FTF Annual Conference

The Feeding Tube Foundation is proud to unite and connect the members of our community through the FTF Annual Conference. Our vision is to bring hope to our community no matter where they are. We achieve a portion of this goal through our online presence, and the other portion through in person events, including our annual conference. The FTF Annual Conference is hosted each year in a new city and state as we make strides toward achieving our vision of bringing hope to each of the 50 United States. 

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Responsibilities:​​

  • Professionally represent FTF at assigned time and location.

  • Attend virtual training for booth volunteers.

  • Be comfortable speaking about FTF’s mission, programming, services and advocacy messaging.

  • Engage with conference attendees, take down any contact information, and make notes to share back to FTF staff.

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PROGRAM STATUS: Check back later

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