Seattle Chapter
Serving Seattle families and volunteers since 1972.
About the Seattle Chapter
The AMIGOS Seattle Chapter is one of nine local chapters that recruits, trains, and supports AMIGOS volunteers and families in their local community. Volunteers from the Puget Sound area train together as a group before leaving for their summer experience in Latin America. Our board supports volunteers and families with group fundraising, service learning, community building, and overall preparation.
Since its incorporation in 1972, over 900 youth from the greater Seattle area have volunteered through the chapter path, fundraising and training locally before the summer. The Seattle Chapter welcomed 26 volunteers for Summer 2025, ranging from freshmen to seniors, who traveled across Costa Rica, Paraguay, Panama, and the Dominican Republic.
The Seattle Chapter Board of Directors has 13 active members who volunteer their time to make AMIGOS possible for more young people from the area, comprised of alumni, parents of alumni, community members, and professionals.
Current Seattle Chapter Volunteers Attend
Ballard High School
Bainbridge High School
Edmonds-Woodway High School
Garfield High School
Hazen High School
Lake Washington High School
Lincoln High School
Seattle Preparatory School
Shorecrest High School
Woodinville High School
SAAS
Inglemoor High School
Bishop Blanchet
Support the Seattle Chapter’s volunteers and families.
Donate NowChapter Contact Information
Charity EIN: 23-7209800
PO Box 30129
Seattle, WA 98113
PO Box 30129
Seattle, WA 98113
How to Join
AMIGOS gives you an exciting chance to have an adventure and explore the world outside of a classroom.
Attend an Information Session
Attend an online information session or schedule a 1:1 call with a member of the AMIGOS recruitment team.
Apply Online
Applying is easy and takes 30 minutes or less. Start your application now!
Questions or tech issues? Reach out to our Admissions team at admissions@amigosinternational.org.
Interviews
The Seattle Chapter will be hosting in-person interviews, attended by the applicant and at least one parent/guardian. Once your application is received, the Seattle Chapter will reach out directly via email to schedule your interview.
Application Deadlines
January 20, 2027 is the Application Deadline to join the Seattle Chapter. Late applications may be considered on a case-by-case basis until training starts. Please contact outreach@amigosinternational.org for more information.
Missed the local chapter deadline?
You can still join us for summer 2027 through the National Chapter and complete training virtually!
Local Chapter Requirements
The transformative AMIGOS experience starts before leaving home.
Pre-Departure Training
With over 60 years of experience preparing young people for travel and service abroad, AMIGOS training offers unparalleled global youth leadership development. Pre-departure training equips volunteers with the critical thinking, communication skills, and technical knowledge they need to make a meaningful impact across cultures while staying healthy and safe. Seattle Chapter training activities utilize the AMIGOS Core Curriculum and are youth-led, experiential learning opportunities that prepare volunteers for their in-country experience, build a community of youth and families with shared values, and develop life skills to help students succeed beyond AMIGOS.
Training Program Highlights
Creating a community of young people with shared values
Unparalleled leadership development
Cross-cultural awareness and understanding
Health and safety training
Opportunities to practice Spanish
Service Learning
The Seattle Chapter incorporates service learning to add depth and first-hand experience to the curriculum. Service learning is a teaching and learning strategy that integrates meaningful community service with instruction and reflection to enrich the learning experience, teach civic responsibility, and strengthen communities. Our local service learning opportunities include Greenlake Litter Patrol, Beacon Food Forest, and El Centro de La Raza.
Training Calendar
We will host 8 events from January to June. These events include: The Family Welcome Meeting, Fundraising Kickoff, Training Sessions for volunteers (including an overnight retreat), a service activity, and a Despedida (send-off party). Please contact coordinator@amigos-seattle.org to receive the detailed event calendar.
Group Fundraising
AMIGOS Seattle provides chapter discounts and airline subsidies, offers financial assistance, and covers local program costs through fundraising activities. We chose these activities to maximize our ability to provide the AMIGOS experience to all volunteers without regard to family financial circumstances.
The Seattle Chapter’s operations and financial assistance pool are funded nearly entirely by its annual group fundraising effort involving a volunteer-driven letter-writing campaign. Fundraising skills are an important component of the AMIGOS training program and help raise awareness of AMIGOS programs in the community. Volunteers receive considerable help with regard to fundraising strategies, and the experience gained in this effort will build important life skills!
Letter Writing Campaign
Every year, Seattle Chapter volunteers participate in a letter-writing campaign to their family and friends. The Seattle Chapter provides fundraising tools and training for brainstorming contacts and personalizing letters, and each volunteer is paired with a fundraising mentor who offers individualized guidance and helps ensure they are prepared for the chapter-wide “Letter Party.” At this in-person event, families sign letters and stuff, stamp, and address envelopes, before turning them in to be mailed.
While the group has a collective fundraising goal, the primary requirement of volunteers is that they demonstrate a good faith effort by completing tasks on time and working with their mentors to achieve their individual goals.
Fundraising Resources
Our 2026 volunteers crushed their fundraising goal! Check the Seattle Chapter’s Fundraising Page!
Financial Assistance
AMIGOS actively recruits and supports inclusion of volunteers from diverse backgrounds. Last year, 40% of volunteers received financial assistance. AMIGOS provides needs-based financial assistance with distribution determined by family income, number of dependents, and special financial circumstances. We provide financial assistance amounts of 10-90% of the program fee to qualified applicants. Program fees range from $600 to $6,975 based on family income. Financial assistance may cover a portion of the program fee and, depending on need, cost of flight, as well.
Financial assistance (FA) applications should be completed on the student’s dashboard. On the application, students should select “Yes” that they intend to apply for financial assistance. Students must select “Yes” on this question for the Financial Assistance Form to appear on their dashboard. Students who choose to apply for FA will not be able to submit their application or pay their application fee until the FA form and supporting documentation (i.e., most recent copy of family’s 1040) have been uploaded.
The Seattle Chapter subsidizes flight costs for all volunteers, regardless of whether they apply for Financial Assistance. We believe strongly in reducing or removing financial barriers for all participants.
Additional Funding Opportunities
All alumni interested in volunteering again with AMIGOS are encouraged to apply for the Alumni Award.
Alumni and parents of alumni can earn discounts or cash payments for referring the next cohort of AMIGOS volunteers! Learn more about our Alumni Referral Program and sign up to receive your unique referral code.
Contact
Please contact the Chapter President at president@amigos-seattle.org for more information, or the AMIGOS Seattle Treasurer with questions regarding financial assistance via email at treasurer@amigos-seattle.org.
Board of Directors
Joni Brand
Vice President
Lauren Wong
Secretary + Head of Alumni Relations
Tess Stroh
Assistant Seattle Chapter Coordinator
Luke Cutler
Youth Representative
Zachary Binz
At Large Member
Rani Jacobs
At Large Member
Violet Cepress-Chung
At Large Member
Edward La Cava
At Large Member
Katy Art
At Large Member
Lucy Severns
At Large Member
Get Started with AMIGOS Seattle
Explore new cultures, serve communities, and form lasting friendships along the way.
Start Your Application Today
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How To Join