THANK YOU for your interest in being a part of SCBWI Austin!
The generosity of our membership makes our chapter so special and as we all know, time is our most valuable resource. Fabulous volunteers giving their time allows SCBWI Austin to offer critique groups, co-working, book clubs, workshops, events and ongoing opportunities so you can improve your craft and build your careers.
Want to get involved, fill out this form!
Why Volunteer with SCBWI Austin:
Volunteering is one of the best ways to get involved with your chapter, meet other members, and connect with fellow children’s book authors and illustrators. Your core regional team leads are all volunteers as well! We have fun, learn together, and have the satisfaction of giving back. But that’s not all! There are also perks!
SCBWI Austin Volunteer Perks:
• Volunteers are eligible for the Meredith Davis Volunteer of the Year Award, including one year’s free SCBWI membership (a $100 value)!
• Volunteers get coupons for discounts for SCBWI Austin events + 1 free bootcamp + discounted annual SCBWI Austin conference
• Volunteers are invited to volunteer for the annual SCBWI Austin conference, and attend the annual faculty/staff dinner for a chance to network with industry professionals
• Volunteers get the first choice on free-attendance volunteer spots for the annual SCBWI Austin conference and other SCBWI Austin events
• Volunteers have an impact on what events and faculty are brought on for the 2026 calendar
• Volunteers attend the annual volunteer kickoff dinner and volunteer of the month recognition
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q: How much time do I need to commit?
A: On average, volunteers contribute about 3–4 hours a month, with some months being lighter or busier than others. Whatever role you choose, we hope you’ll feel empowered to take ownership and bring your ideas and initiative to it.
Q: What are the requirements, membership status, skills needed, or experience?
A: Volunteering is only available to current officially registered SCBWI members. Required skills will vary by role, and we encourage volunteers to select positions that align with their strengths. To support this, we offer a trial period so volunteers can explore the role, assess their fit, and determine whether the opportunity feels meaningful and aligned with their personal goals.
Q: Can I volunteer for single events only?
A: Of course! If there is a particular event you're interested in helping out on, reach out to the RT team and let us know. We also frequently reach out to our Discord community for volunteers when extra helping hands are needed so be sure to keep your eyes open for opportunities on our Discord server.
Austin SCBWI 2026 Open Volunteer Roles:
[Marketing]
- Chapter News Reporter – posts news from Austin SCBWI members on the chapter’s website.
- Chapter Event Reporter – attends Austin SCBWI’s monthly meetings and selected events, then posts a brief report on the chapter website.
- Discord Admin – update events on Discord, manage information distribution, manage channels and moderation duties.
- Graphics Designer – creates graphics for chapter use, including conference materials, social media posts, sliders that appear on the chapter website and other designs as needed.
- Newsletter Editor – builds the monthly e-newsletter based on a template, providing news about upcoming events and learning opportunities, for distribution the week before each monthly meeting.
[Critique/CoWorking Groups]
- Critique Group Moderators – schedules and attends meetings for their critique group, facilitates time keeping, organization, etc., while offering support and encouragement to critique group attendees.
- Volunteer Coordinator – maintains volunteer roster, assists with recruitment for ongoing volunteer vacancies, schedules volunteers for events and communicates with volunteers about event discounts.
- Sketch Night Support Host – provides support to Illustrator Coordinator (IC) on Sketch Night by hosting it when IC is unable to attend or arriving late.
[PAL Support]
- PAL Coordinators – helps to coordinate opportunities for PAL members, including events like the Texas Book Festival and TLA convention, as well as connecting with librarians, booksellers, and other PAL members. SCBWI HQ has a listserv where PAL Coordinators around the world can connect and share ideas.
- Library Outreach – creates newsletter for librarians to share news and information from PAL members.
[Ongoing Support]
- Equity and Inclusion Committee – fosters and builds a warm, welcoming chapter where all children's book creators can feel safe, included, and equal. We are dedicated to increasing access and support for writers and illustrators from groups that have been historically marginalized and underrepresented in children's literature, promoting education for members around issues of diversity and inclusion as it relates to publishing, and planning events and gatherings that nurture a diverse community.
- Social Coordinator – organizes opportunities for members to network and socialize on a quarterly basis.
- Scholarship Coordinator – collects applications for scholarships awarded by Austin SCBWI, checks formatting and eligibility before forwarding to appropriate selection committee.
[Conference/Programming Support]
- Programming Advisor – help identify speakers, topics, and more for our events throughout the year, including our annual conference, monthly meetings, and additional workshops and retreats that we might create.
- Conference Critique Coordinator – collects conference critiques, checks for formatting, forwards files to critiquers, creates schedule for face-to-face meetings at the conference.
- Conference Silent Auction Coordinator – works with a committee to gather auction donations from members and businesses and coordinates the auction at the annual conference.
- CLS Writing Mentor Award mentor – mentors winner of CLS writing mentor award for one year
- Illustrator Emerging Voice Award mentor – mentors winner of Illustrator Emerging Voice award for one year.