How old do you have to be to volunteer for Anime Expo?

• You must be 18 years or older by May 1^st of the year that you want to volunteer for Anime Expo. (i.e. To volunteer for Anime Expo 2030, you must be at least 18 years old by May 1, 2030.)

I don’t live in the United States, am I still eligible to volunteer?

• Effective 2023, we are no longer accepting international volunteer applications for our events. This applies to returning volunteers as well.

I volunteered/applied to be a volunteer last year, do I need to redo my Shiftboard application?

• No, if you previously volunteered or applied, your Shiftboard account should already exist and thus you should be able to log in to access it on shiftboard.com/spja. If you are unable to log in, please feel free to reach out to Volunteer Resources at vr@spja.org.

I accidentally hit “Submit” too soon on my application and need to edit it. What do I do?

• If you received a Welcome Letter via Shiftboard, then you should be able to log into your Shiftboard account by going to Profile > Registration or Profile > Skills tab to update your application details.

It says my Shiftboard account is on hold! Oh no! Why?

• This can happen for an assortment of reasons. Please reach out to Volunteer Resources at vr@spja.org for assistance.

My friends and I want to volunteer, but we want to stay in the same department. What do we do?

• While we cannot guarantee that you will all be accepted into the same department, you can apply to be in the same department. You can choose your department preference on your Shiftboard Application.

How will I know if I’m accepted as an AX Volunteer?

• Volunteer Department Leads and Volunteer Assistant Leads will reach out to the applicants they would like to interview for their respective departments. Once you have been interviewed and confirmed, you will need to complete your Volunteer Onboarding Requirements (Forms, Background Check, Youth Protection Portal Quizzes, Shiftboard Required Fields Information).

I’m available to volunteer right now! I’d like to get started on my hours right away! What can I do?

• We’re glad to see the enthusiasm! You will still need to apply and go through the onboarding process for the AX Volunteer Program to join a department. Please note not all AX Volunteer Departments have pre-con hours, as a majority of hours are completed on-site during the convention.

Can I volunteer for multiple departments?

• You can only volunteer for one department at a time every Anime Expo show year in the AX Volunteer Program.

Are meals provided for AX Volunteers?

• Yes. Meals will be provided for AX Volunteers. Hours of Operation and location will be provided at a later date.

Will outside food be permitted into the Los Angeles Convention Center?

• Food and beverages are permitted for personal consumption only. This means only food and beverages that you would be able to consume individually are allowed. Food and beverages brought in bulk will not be permitted into the convention center. We highly recommend bringing a refillable water bottle. There are several water stations all around the convention center. We want to make sure you stay hydrated during the day. All consumables are subject to inspection by LACC/AX Security.

Where and when can I pick up my AX Volunteer Badge?

• Info TBA.

I volunteered previously for the Attendee Volunteer Program! Is it available this year?

• Effective as of 2022, the Attendee Volunteer Program has been discontinued.