Become a Volunteer

Board of Supervisors Volunteer/Intern

Please fill out the online application, and in the notes section specify the dates you are available, and how many hours per week you would like to work. Be sure to specify your first, second and third place choices for Supervisor! If you would like to send in your resume in addition to the Online Form, email it as an attachment to: Board.of.Supervisors@sfgov.org.

Are you:

  • Interested in local government and politics?
  • Looking for an opportunity to gain practical work experience?
  • Trying to find a way to contribute to your community?

As a volunteer for a member of the Board, your responsibilities might include:

  • Working closely with the Supervisor and his or her staff
  • Responding to constituent concerns and requests
  • Providing administrative support
  • Researching new policy ideas
  • Working with the press
  • Meeting a team of volunteers who share your interests in public policy

While all volunteer positions are unpaid, your work with the Board may fulfill requirements for community service and workforce development programs.

How does the process work?

  1. Read the information online about the volunteer program, to get a sense of the responsibilities of a volunteer.
  2. Identify some Supervisors that you would like to work for.To find out more information about each Supervisor, check out their webpages at Board of Supervisors website and do a quick web-search to find articles of interest. You may also wish to view meetings of the Board of Supervisors. You can find recordings of these meetings at http://www.sfgovtv.org, by watching Channel 26, or by coming to City Hall. A full schedule of the week's meetings can be found at http://www.sfbos.org/meetings.
  3. Apply to volunteer online: Board of Supervisors Volunteer/Intern Online Application
  4. Final decisions about hiring are up to the staff in the offices of the Supervisors.

What are you looking for in a volunteer?

Each office is different. Some Supervisors prefer volunteers that live in or near their district. To find out what district you live in, visit http://propertymap.sfplanning.org/?name=sffind. Every office is seeking people willing to work hard, who are mature enough to represent the Supervisor to the public. Other skills that are useful are computer skills, language skills, customer service experience, office experience.

Do I need to live in San Francisco to be a volunteer?    No.

What kind of work is involved?

Volunteers are primarily used as front-desk support in order to assist constituents and members of the public who call or come into the Supervisor's office. Volunteers assist constituents with district-related concerns by referring them to staff across the City, or by contacting other departments on their behalf. Volunteers also respond to people who wish to share their ideas, concerns, or opinions on legislation coming before the Board. Volunteers may be asked to help with a variety of tasks around the office such as answering phones, email, mail, updating information in the constituent database and drafting letters or press releases. On occasion, volunteers may provide research assistance to the Supervisor and his/her aides.

How many hours per week will I be required to volunteer?

Volunteers work anywhere from 4 hours/wk to 30 hours/wk, based on their availability, and the needs of the Supervisor. While there is no strict minimum, it is beneficial to be able to commit to regular times each week, and to be available for at least 4 hours on any given day.
I work full time. Can I still volunteer?

There may be opportunities in some offices to work "out of office". In this situation, volunteers may be asked to attend or organize community meetings, to attend hearings, etc.

Where can I find information about other volunteer opportunities in San Francisco?

The Volunteer Center, Volunteer Match, and Craigslist are all good sources of volunteer opportunities.

To find out more about volunteering, please contact us by calling 415-554-5184, or email Board.of.Supervisors@sfgov.org.
 

Minorities, Women and Persons with Disabilities are Encouraged to Apply
 

An Equal Opportunity Employer