Volunteer Action

The Junior League of Austin (JLA) members serve as trained volunteers through the League’s signature programs and through community project partnerships with more than 20 nonprofit agencies and programs throughout the Austin area. JLA volunteers support initiatives to enhance education, health and well-being, safety and crisis intervention, the arts, and the environment.

Signature Impact Programs

Coats for Kids — Coats for Kids (CFK) is an annual community project that collects and distributes more than 30,000 coats to eligible children and teenagers in Central Texas.

Food In Tummies — For 34 weeks of the school year, Food In Tummies (FIT) provides 900 students with backpacks full of healthy food, along with dual-language recipe cards and nutrition tips.

Kids In Cool Shoes — Kids In Cool Shoes (KICS) provides a new pair of athletic sneakers for more than 1,500 children attending high-need Central Texas-area schools.

Community Nonprofit Partners

Each year through a thorough vetting process, JLA members identify 20+ nonprofit organizations to serve as our community partners. The League supports our partners both financially and with trained volunteers.

View a list of our current community partners.

Leadership Development

In addition to volunteering and networking prospects, The Junior League of Austin (JLA) offers its membership various leadership and training opportunities throughout the year.

Training & Education — The League’s Training & Education Committee hosts training sessions throughout the year, and each February is recognized as Training & Ed Month. League members have access to dozens of free or affordable training sessions on a variety of topics, including women’s health and fitness, childcare, real estate and business, entertainment, and technology.

Specialized Placements — League members are encouraged to take on roles where they can learn new skills, such as accounting, volunteer management, public relations, grant writing, or fundraising. It is not uncommon to see a full-time accountant take on a marketing role where she creates social media posts or a public relations professional sit in a finance role, learning QuickBooks.

Leadership Roles — The League has dozens of leadership roles, giving members opportunities to lead teams of both members and community volunteers. Members with more than 5 years of League service can also be matched with community organizations in need of board members or committee leadership through the Community Connections Committee.

Network Building

The Junior League of Austin (JLA) has over 2,000 members from diverse backgrounds and professions who work together to make a positive impact on the community and have opportunities to connect through volunteering and social events. If you are new to Austin or just looking to meet new people with shared interests, JLA is for you!

Provisional Small Groups — During your Provisional year, you will be placed in a small group with about a dozen other new League members who live in or near your neighborhood. This group is led by an experienced JLA Active member who can help you find answers to all your questions about the League. Throughout the year, this group will meet for informal socials. 

Gathering Groups – Current Gathering Groups include Brunch Bunch, Book Club, and Parents. These gatherings are a great way to connect with other members and build relationships while exploring common interests outside of the League’s formal events and meetings.

Social Events – There are multiple opportunities to connect with other members at League events like Austin Entertains and Girls Night Out at A Christmas Affair. In the past, other social events have included movie nights and attending events hosted by League partners.