Volunteer Centers

Provides central point of contact for corporations, businesses, organizations, and educational systems
Develops funding opportunities for the Volunteer Center network
Develops statewide initiatives with the Volunteer Center network and partners
Coordinates training and technical assistance for the Volunteer Center network
Offers information on key legislation affecting Volunteer Centers
Publishes and distributes the Volunteer Center statewide directory
Conducts quarterly meetings for the Volunteer Centers
Coordinates the Volunteer Centers annual meeting
Publishes Newsletter
Maintains Volunteer Centers of California Web Site
Supports the National Network of Volunteer Center standards

The Volunteer Centers of California was established and incorporated as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit in 1973. The Board of Directors (click here to "meet" them) is comprised of Volunteer Center representatives and individuals from the business sector whose companies actively support employee volunteerism throughout the State of California.

The Volunteer Centers of California is an Association that works with a statewide network of 28 Volunteer Centers and their numerous branch sites to help coordinate statewide services in strengthening volunteerism throughout California. As a central point of contact, the Volunteer Centers of California provides a site through which nonprofit organizations, governmental departments, businesses and Volunteer Centers can collaborate on state, regional and local community service initiatives. The centers refer over 650,000 volunteers each year to approximately 40,000 community-based organizations.

Through statewide initiatives developed by the Volunteer Centers of California, Volunteer Centers are participating in a number of statewide projects and programs. The California Disability Collaboration Project, a pilot program with five participating centers, will place people with disabilities into volunteer positions as a means of gaining meaningful employment.

The Volunteer Centers of California and its network of Volunteer Centers participate in Citizens Corps and Homeland Security in collaboration with emergency first responders and statewide disaster organizations. Volunteer Centers specialize in placing spontaneous volunteers in recovery and clean-up volunteer positions during a disaster.

Volunteer Centers offer many workshops and trainings to support and strengthen volunteerism such as Volunteer Management, Grant Writing, Board Development, Strategic Planning and more.

Since 1954 Volunteer Centers have had a long history in California as leaders and advocates of volunteerism as a means of solving serious social problems. Volunteer Centers use their in-depth knowledge of community-based organizations, city and county agencies, business and other key resources in their region to successfully build service and volunteer capacity and strengthening volunteer programs. In addition to volunteer referral services, the centers house many of their own programs supporting volunteerism. These programs in each center vary in structure and format. Activities of the individual centers depend on the local needs. The programs and services provided by the various Volunteer Centers encompass youth and senior services, corporate services, disaster response, help lines, food distribution, social services, volunteer development and management training, technical services, board development, literacy, Alternative Sentencing Program, holiday projects and more.

The Volunteer Centers of California and it’s members are 501 (c) (3) organizations, all funded by private and corporate donations, foundation and government grants, and fundraising events.

Volunteer Centers of California

1110 K Street, Suite 210, Sacramento, CA 95814
(916) 324-4521