Bay Area Volunteer Opportunities

Bay Area Volunteer Opportunities

This database was envisioned and created by Fall 2023 ENVS Senior Seminar Students to support student engagement in off-campus activities.

Name of Organization Website Location About the Org.
Justice Outside https://justiceoutside.org Oakland, CA

Justice Outside is an Oakland based organization focused on advancing racial justice and equity in the outdoor and environmental movement by shifting resources to, building power with, and centering the voices and leadership of Communities of Color. They host a professional development program for young adults pursuing a career in outdoor education, facilitation, and leadership, as well as a range of virtual courses on building advocacy skills in the workplace and the greater environmental space.
San Francisco Baykeeper https://baykeeper.org/content/volunteer Bay Area

San Francisco Baykeeper is focused on the protection of the San Francisco Bay and its waterways through legal action, pollution patrols, and advocacy. Volunteers can participate in shoreline cleanups, assist the legal team, or help on their patrol boats.
Richmond Progressive Alliance https://www.richmondprogressivealliance.net Richmond, CA The RPA mobilizes people in support of progressive policies and candidates, often in alliance with other local groups. Become a member today to help take political decision-making back from corporations and put power in the hands of the people.

Communities for a Better Environment

 https://www.cbecal.org CA CBE’s mission is to build people’s power in California’s communities of color and low income communities to achieve environmental health and justice by preventing/reducing pollution and building green, healthy and sustainable communities and environments.They do so by providing residents in heavily polluted urban communities in California with organizing skills, leadership training and legal, scientific, and technical assistance, so that they can successfully confront threats to their health and well-being
Asian Pacific Environmental Network https://www.apenaction.org CA APEN Action is fighting for healthy, livable neighborhoods and an economy that works for all of us. For over a decade they have been organizing Asian American immigrant and refugee communities across California to fight for clean air and a better future.
West County Toxics Coalition https://dhventures.com/West_home.htm Contra Costa The WCTC is a nonprofit, multiracial membership organization dedicated to addressing the critical health needs of underrepresented and disenfranchised people by empowering low and moderate-income residents of Contra Costa County to become actively involved in the development/implementation of environmental justice policies that affect their communities.
Urban Tilth https://urbantilth.org Richmond Urban Tilth inspires, hires, and trains local residents to cultivate agriculture, feed our community, and restore relationships to land to build a more sustainable food system, within a just and healthier community.
Greenbelt Alliance https://www.greenbelt.org Bay Area Greenbelt Alliance's mission is to use education, advocacy, and collaboration to realize a climate-resilient Bay Area. They support development that creates thriving neighborhoods with ready access to transit and housing choices while prioritizing the conservation of our natural and working lands.
Veggielution https://veggielution.org/volunteer San Jose Veggielution is an urban community farm based in East San Jose. Volunteers are welcome to help with farmwork and the organization's youth education program. It also has a free educational program for food entrepreneurs and hosts a cooking class called Veggielution Cocina.
Sogorea Te' Land Trust https://sogoreate-landtrust.org Bay Area Sogorea Te’ Land Trust is an urban Indigenous women-led land trust based in the San Francisco Bay Area that facilitates the return of Indigenous land to Indigenous people through the practices of rematriation, cultural revitalization, and land restoration.
Sunrise Movement Bay Area https://sunrisebayarea.org Bay Area Sunrise is a movement of young people fighting to stop the climate crisis and win a Green New Deal. They are focused on ending the era of fossil fuels, investing in communities, and creating millions of new union jobs.
Rain Guardians Program https://www.rainguardians.org/learn-more San Francisco, CA Rain Guardians is a San Francisco Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC) volunteer program that enables residents to “adopt” a rain garden in their neighborhood and guard it from trash and debris. These rain gardens help to manage stormwater in each of San Francisco’s eight urban watersheds.
Democratic Socialists of America - San Francisco https://dsasf.org San Francisco, CA The Democratic Socialists of America - San Francisco Chapter is a coalition of people seeking to create a system based on justice and equality for all people. They work to equalize political and economic power, and fight to stop the many crises facing the most powerless members of our society.
East Bay Democratic Socialists of America https://www.eastbaydsa.org East Bay Democratic Socialists of America (DSA) is the country's largest socialist organization, and East Bay DSA is the fifth-largest chapter in the US. They are working for an economy and society in Oakland, Berkeley, and throughout the East Bay that's run democratically to meet human needs, not to make profits for a few.
Silicon Valley Democratic Socialists of America https://siliconvalleydsa.org South Bay/Peninsula DSA - Silicon Valley Chapter is a community organization fighting for an economy and society that’s democratically run to meet human needs by building working class power and fighting for radical change.
East Bay Stonewall Democratic Club https://www.eastbaystonewalldemocrats.org East Bay The East Bay Stonewall Democratic Club was founded to give a political voice to the East Bay LGBTQIA+ community. They’re focused on lobbying for legislation that advances and upholds the communities rights, and furthering equality through community activism. You can support their efforts by becoming a member, making a donation, or volunteering your time/talents.
Surfrider Foundation https://sf.surfrider.org/programs/beach-cleanups San Francisco, CA Surfrider is dedicated to the protection and enjoyment of the world’s ocean, waves and beaches for all people, through a powerful activist network. They typically host local beach cleanup events on the first, third, and last weekends of the month.
Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy https://www.parksconservancy.org/volunteer San Francisco, CA The Golden Gate National Parks Volunteer Program is a cooperative parkwide effort of the Golden Gate National Parks Conservancy, the National Park Service, and the Presidio Trust. They offer a variety of volunteer opportunities such as beach cleanups, historic site and habitat restoration, plant nurseries, landscaping, and trail work- no experience or commitment necessary.
Pacific Beach Coalition https://www.pacificbeachcoalition.org/ Bay Area The Pacific Beach Coalition is dedicated to protecting and preserving our ocean, beaches, creeks, wildlife and native habitat through advocacy, education, community building, and citizen action across all ages in the Bay Area. They host field and education programs connecting thousands who care for our environment, as well as volunteer opportunities including beach cleanups, habitat restoration, environmental advocacy, and event organizing. Become a member, volunteer, donate, join a committee, become a student liaison… all while learning more about protecting our coastal environment.
Sierra Club: San Francisco Bay Chapter https://www.sierraclub.org/sfbay Bay Area The Sierra Club is a grassroots, volunteer-driven environmental advocacy organization dedicated to promoting the responsible use of Earth's ecosystems and resources, as well as educating and enlisting humanity to protect and restore the quality of the natural and human environment through all lawful means. Volunteers are critical to getting the work of the Bay Chapter done, and are needed for work such as tabling at events or canvassing for environmentally friendly candidates.
Refuse Refuse https://refuserefusesf.org San Francisco, CA Refuse refuse is a grassroots volunteer organization aiming to motivate fellow San Franciscans to take the actions needed to clean our streets, beautify our neighborhoods, and encourage others to join the cause. They organize our own events and cleanup opportunities, as well as partner with other local organizations with the ultimate goal of keeping San Francisco free of refuse.
Friends of the Urban Forest https://www.friendsoftheurbanforest.org/volunteer-opportunities San Francisco, CA Friends of the Urban Forest is a non-profit organization committed to revitalizing San Francisco’s urban forest, building community, and taking a local leadership role in mitigating global environmental problems through the simple act of planting and caring for trees and sidewalk gardens. Join them in activities like tree planting, pruning, and sidewalk gardening.
Our City Forest https://www.ourcityforest.org/volunteers San Jose, CA Our City Forest is the leading nonprofit in Silicon Valley for urban forestry and environmental education. They believe in the power of trees to transform homes, communities, and cities, and the power of people to help achieve this necessary transformation. Join them in their mission to cultivate an urban forest in Silicon Valley to transform the community.
Healthy Martinez https://www.healthymartinez.org Martinez, CA Healthy Martinez is a grassroots community group created to hold Martinez Refining Company (MRC) and their parent company (PBF Energy) accountable for the spent catalyst release in November 2022, the coke dust releases in July and October, 2023 and 300 tons of PM 2.5 emitted every year. They are looking for volunteers to help share information with the community and advocate for change at the local, county, regional, and state levels.
San Francisco Rising https://www.sfrising.org San Francisco, CA San Francisco Rising is an alliance of base-building organizations rooted in San Francisco’s working-class communities and communities of color. Their multiracial electoral field campaigns amplify existing organizing in our communities and bring that power to the ballot box. They organize to shift political power to communities and empower those who are most marginalized in San Francisco to lead the way for a government that centers racial, economic and environmental justice.
PODER https://www.podersf.org San Francisco, CA PODER’s mission is to organize with Latinx immigrant families and youth to put into practice people-powered solutions that are locally based, community led and environmentally just. They nurture everyday people’s leadership, regenerate culture, and build community power to fight for a just transition towards community stewardship of community land and resources, a solidarity economy, and self-governance rooted in Latinx ancestral land-based cultures and wisdom.
Oakland Urban Farming Project https://www.oufp.org Oakland, CA The Oakland Urban Farming Project aims to build community through farming, beautification, and education. They host volunteer days where you can learn practical farming and gardening skills like mulching, composting, planting techniques, and assist with garden maintenance such as harvesting fruits and vegetables at the appropriate time.
350 Bay Area https://350bayarea.org Bay Area 350 Bay Area is a grassroots movement to eliminate carbon pollution and achieve a clean energy future with racial, economic, and environmental justice. They mobilize people as climate activists, building the civic engagement & advocacy that are essential to solve the climate crisis. Join their Monthly Climate Action Meeting, held on the last Tuesday of every month from 5PM – 6PM, to learn more about the movement's climate actions and plan future climate events.
Green Action https://greenaction.org USA Greenaction is a multiracial grassroots organization founded by, led by, and working with low-income and working-class urban, rural, and indigenous communities. They mobilize community power to win victories that change government and industry policies and practices to protect health and
promote environmental, social, economic, racial, and climate justice. Volunteer opportunities include translating, graphic design, community outreach, photography, videography, and event planning.
 
Indigenous Permaculture https://www.indigenouspermaculture.net Bay Area Indigenous Permaculture empowers, shares, and learns alongside native and local communities facing food insecurity. Their goal is to reimagine and build sustainable local food systems through Indigenous science, land stewardship, traditional agriculture, community food security, sustainable development, art, and integral health.
Grassroots Ecology https://www.grassrootsecology.org San Mateo, Santa Clara Grassroots Ecology is a nonprofit organization dedicated to restoring local ecosystems on public lands and waters across Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties by engaging people in hands-on education and service that improves the local environment. Their core programs are Habitat Restoration, Community Science, Urban Ecology, Environmental Education, and a Native Plant Nursery. Volunteer to improve local ecosystems, or join a naturalist or community science event to explore nature in open spaces and urban places.
Peninsula Open Space Trust https://openspacetrust.org/ South Bay, Peninsula POST is dedicated to creating a network of protected lands throughout the Peninsula and South Bay so that both people and nature can connect and thrive. These lands are preserved forever so present and future generations may benefit from the careful balance of rural and urban landscapes that makes our region extraordinary. Get involved during one of their monthly public volunteer events, or join a volunteer team caring for some of their protected properties.
San Bruno Mountain Watch https://www.mountainwatch.org San Bruno San Bruno Mountain Watch is a nonprofit organization that helps the public explore San Bruno Mountain’s history/environment, works with local communities to restore the mountain’s native habitats, cultivates its flora at the Mission Blue Nursery, and protects its open space. Volunteer opportunities are available at their nursery, as well as on the mountain.
Fossil Free California https://fossilfreeca.org California Fossil Free California is working to end financial support for climate-damaging fossil fuels, and promotes the transition to a socially just and environmentally sustainable society.They are focused on mobilizing grassroots pressure on CalPERS and CalSTRS to divest their fossil fuel holdings, and take legislative/executive action to foster climate stabilization and develop a just, zero-carbon economy.
Save the Bay https://savesfbay.org Bay Area Save The Bay is a regional organization that integrates political advocacy, mobilization of people, wetland restoration, and education to shape a resilient region.They engage community members, schools, and businesses throughout the year to protect and restore the shoreline, with volunteer work ranging from transplanting native seedlings to removing harmful invasive species.
Point Blue https://www.pointblue.org USA Point Blue’s mission is to advance the conservation of birds, other wildlife, and ecosystems through science, partnerships, and outreach. Their 160 scientists work to reduce the impacts of climate change, habitat loss, and other environmental threats while developing nature-based solutions to benefit both wildlife and people. With their research they partner with land and water managers, fishermen, ranchers, farmers, cities, counties, and others to improve the health of our planet. Join an event, become a conservation volunteer, or give a gift to support their work. Point Blue also utilizes skilled volunteers to gather wildlife and habitat data, grow plants for restorations, and put on events that support their conservation work.
Extinction Rebellion https://extinctionrebellionsfbay.org Bay Area Extinction Rebellion, or XR for short, is a decentralized, international and politically non-partisan movement using non-violent direct action and civil disobedience to persuade governments to act justly on the Climate and Ecological Emergency. The XR SF Bay Area chapter (XRSFBay) brings action to San Francisco, California and surrounding areas. Volunteer teams include allyship, art, direct action, media and messaging, street theater, outreach, financing, and event organizing.