Call for Applications: Media and Influencer List Research Volunteer (Toronto)

About Rainbow Railroad

Rainbow Railroad is an international human rights organization that creates pathways to safety for at-risk LGBTQI+ people and strengthens policies and systems that support their protection and integration. Since our founding in 2006, we have supported over 53,000 individuals and families, and have become a global leader in advancing LGBTQI+ rights. We are one of the few organizations that work as direct service providers, advocates, thought leaders, and movement strategists to address global queer forced displacement. Our mission is guided by a commitment to becoming a refugee-led organization that centres the experiences, leadership, and authority of LGBTQI+ refugees.

Rainbow Railroad is a registered charity in Canada and a U.S. 501(c)(3) organization with offices in Toronto and New York.

THE VOLUNTEER TEAM

Communications and Media volunteers provide research and administrative support that helps Rainbow Railroad strengthen its public engagement and connect with audiences interested in LGBTQI+ rights, refugee protection, forced displacement, and queer liberation.

Volunteers in this area may support media research, contact-list development, information verification, content tracking, and other clearly defined communications projects.

This opportunity is well suited to someone who enjoys research, follows media and digital culture, and understands the importance of accurate and well-organized information.

THE VOLUNTEER ROLE

Rainbow Railroad is seeking a thoughtful and detail-oriented Media and Influencer List Research Volunteer to help develop and update an organized list of relevant media contacts, journalists, publications, podcasts, content creators, and influencers.

The purpose of this project is to strengthen the information available to Rainbow Railroad’s Communications and Media team when planning approved outreach, campaigns, announcements, and public-engagement activities.

The volunteer will research publicly available information using criteria provided by staff, organize findings in an approved database or spreadsheet, verify contact details, and clearly identify information requiring further review.

The Communications team will establish the geographic priorities, research categories, required database fields, and review process. They will provide day-to-day direction, feedback, and approval. Volunteer Coordination will manage recruitment, onboarding, volunteer agreements, organizational training, records, and the overall placement experience.

This is a research and list-development role. The volunteer will not contact journalists or influencers, pitch stories, distribute media materials, speak on behalf of Rainbow Railroad, or make commitments without specific staff approval.

VOLUNTEER DUTIES

The Media and Influencer List Research Volunteer may assist with:

• Researching journalists, editors, producers, publications, broadcasters, podcasts, newsletters, content creators, and influencers based on staff-approved criteria
• Identifying contacts whose work relates to LGBTQI+ rights, refugees and migration, human rights, international affairs, social justice, culture, philanthropy, or other approved topics
• Identifying queer and trans media outlets, creators, and community-based platforms that may be relevant to Rainbow Railroad’s work
• Recording publicly available information such as names, roles, organizations, locations, areas of focus, websites, professional social-media profiles, and contact details
• Reviewing recent work to help confirm whether a contact is relevant to the approved research categories
• Recording the source and date used to verify each entry
• Organizing contacts by location, platform, topic, audience, reach, or other categories confirmed by staff
• Reviewing existing records for duplicates, outdated information, missing fields, and inconsistent formatting
• Clearly distinguishing verified information from information that requires staff review
• Maintaining a tracker showing completed research, outstanding questions, and any dependencies affecting progress
• Providing regular progress updates and incorporating feedback from the staff supervisor

DEFINITION OF DONE

An assigned research batch will be considered complete when:

• The agreed geographic area, contact category, or research topic has been addressed
• Required fields have been completed wherever reliable public information is available
• Each entry includes a source and verification date
• Duplicate, outdated, incomplete, or uncertain records have been removed or clearly flagged
• Contacts have been categorized according to the staff-approved structure
• The completed batch has been reviewed and accepted by the staff supervisor

VOLUNTEER RESPONSIBILITIES

• Complete assigned research accurately and within agreed timelines
• Use publicly available information and approved internal sources
• Follow the database structure, research criteria, and naming conventions provided by staff
• Keep internal media strategies, contact lists, campaign information, and organizational materials confidential
• Avoid collecting unnecessary personal information or information from private accounts
• Participate in volunteer onboarding, role-specific training, check-ins, and feedback
• Communicate early about unclear criteria, missing information, workload concerns, or barriers affecting the agreed timeline
• Use approved Rainbow Railroad accounts, systems, and processes when completing volunteer duties

YOUR QUALIFICATIONS

Personal Skills

We are looking for someone who has:

• Strong online research and information-management skills
• Excellent attention to detail
• The ability to assess the relevance and credibility of online sources
• Experience organizing information in spreadsheets, databases, contact-management tools, or similar systems
• An interest in media, journalism, digital communications, public relations, content creation, or influencer engagement
• Familiarity with LGBTQI+ media, refugee and migration issues, human rights, or social-justice communications
• The ability to distinguish verified information from assumptions or incomplete findings
• Clear written communication and consistent record-keeping practices
• Comfort working independently while remaining connected to a staff supervisor
• Sensitivity to the realities facing forcibly displaced LGBTQI+ people and alignment with Rainbow Railroad’s mission and values

Relevant professional, academic, volunteer, community-based, or lived experience is welcome.

Requirements

• High-functioning critical thinking, problem-solving and system evaluation skills
• Superb attention to detail and a sound, logical approach to managing tasks and projects.
• Ability to troubleshoot systems issues and independently identify and test new processes
• Ability to work effectively and exercise good judgment
• Ability to work with an agreed database structure and naming conventions
• Access to a computer and reliable internet connection
• Willingness to complete confidentiality, cybersecurity, and organizational training
• Strong team player who is customer-service oriented and also able to work independently in a fast-paced environment
• Able to handle and prioritize multiple requests concurrently, develop individual timelines and meet deadlines
• Sensitivity to LGBTQI+ issues and enthusiasm for Rainbow Railroad’s mission and vision
• Minimum Commitment of 3-9 months
  • 1 afternoon a week in our Toronto office for a total of 4-6 hours a week commitment

VOLUNTEER BENEFITS

In return for your input as a Volunteer, you will benefit from the chance to join an international team of staff and volunteers delivering a key piece of Rainbow Railroad's Strategy:

• By volunteering, you will develop new skills and expand your network, gaining experience that benefits your personal and professional growth.
• We will set checkpoints and measures to support your success, and we will provide tools, resources, training, and opportunities for personal development.
• Upon request, we can offer you professional recognition such as a reference/quote on your CV/LinkedIn profile, and last but not least, by volunteering with us you won’t fail to boost your Feel Good Factor by providing crucial support in our effort to bring more LGBTQ+ displaced folks to safety.

Application Deadline – Nov 9, 2026

Length of role – Minimum Commitment is 3-9 Months

Please note that we will be accepting resumes on a rolling basis, so we encourage interested candidates to apply as soon as possible.

Rainbow Railroad is dedicated to building an organization that reflects the diversity of the communities we serve. This includes diversity in languages spoken, culture, race, sexual orientation, gender identity and lived experience, particularly those of forcibly displaced queer and Trans refugees and asylum seekers.

You may request accommodations due to disability at any stage of the recruitment process.

For inquiries related to these volunteer opportunities, please contact ndavis@rainbowrailroad.org