Each year, during the last Saturday of April, Rebuilding Together San Francisco completes 30-50 residential and community improvement projects that help change the lives of thousands of people. One of the most critical elements of this work is the role of our key volunteers. These leaders or Construction Captains, are the project managers for all our Rebuilding Day projects.

Our Construction Captain is the technical expert at the job site. S/he:

• Is responsible for planning a quality renovation project
• Visits assigned project site and determines scope of work to be accomplished
• Coordinates with the volunteer captain to keep within project budget
• Determines number of skilled & unskilled volunteers needed
• Plans and organizes the work so that it can be completed by 4:00 pm on the workday
• Picks up and delivers supplies to the site in advance of the project
• Directs the work of volunteers on the workday
• Conducts a final walk-through with the homeowner/facility representative and volunteers at the end of the day to show what was accomplished

Rebuilding Together San Francisco staff is there to assist captains every step of the way in planning your projects, and will provide you with all the training and support you’ll need to have a successful workday. Serving as a captain offers a great opportunity to meet people and use your professional skills knowledge to make a big, lasting impact on people in need.

Time Commitment: 20-35 total hours from the first week of March through the last week of April (hours will vary based on the site scope of work). Additionally, captains work 8 hours on their Rebuilding Day project workday.

Qualifications:

• Professional or everyday experience with construction and or renovation projects
• Comfort managing volunteers with diverse skill levels
• Strong organizational and communication skills
• Ability to work within a project budget
• Flexibility and problem-solving skills

*We are primarily looking for volunteers fluent in Cantonese or Mandarin*
The responsibilities of a translation volunteer include:

Be an interpreter for our Program Director and Program Coordinator during initial site visits and throughout the Rebuilding Day process.

Translate applications, documents or flyers for outreach, development, and program departments.

Accompany Outreach Manager or Outreach Coordinator to presentation

Time Commitment: Approximately 3 hrs a week depending on based on demand.
Qualifications:

Fluency in a language other than English (Currently in need of Mandarin or Cantonese speaking volunteers)

Strong interpersonal communication

Comfortable working with diverse communities

An interest in helping under-served communities

Next Steps: Please attend a volunteer orientation, which we hold every 4-6 weeks. Our next Orientations are Dec. 7th, Jan. 5th, Jan. 25th, and Feb. 8th from 6-7pm at our offices. Email us at info@rebuildingtogethersf.org for any questions or to RSVP for an orientation.

Job Description:  We’re in need of volunteers that can spend a couple hours a week or a month providing light repairs or installing basic safety modifications for low-income seniors or adults with disabilities.  Repairs and safety equipment generally involves installing grab bars, smoke detectors, removing shower doors, handrails, installing hand held shower heads, etc.  These free safety repairs can make a tremendous difference for someone’s quality of life.

“I want to THANK YOU from the top of any mountain how wonderful (the volunteer) was and the organization for helping me put up the bars on my stairs. It changed my life. Thank you for EVERYTHING!” – client

Time Commitment: Because this position involves training and a long waiting list of eager seniors, we ask for a minimum commitment as follows:

• Volunteer once a week – 3 months
• Volunteer twice a month – 6 months
• Volunteer once a month – 1 year

If this is a hardship or you have only a certain amount of available time, please talk to the staff and we will find something that works for us both.

Qualifications:

• We ask that you be relatively comfortable with basic tools (drill, hammer, etc).
• We also require a background check, as you will be working with a vulnerable population.
• You need to transport yourself to and from our equipment warehouse and job sites located through-out San Francisco.
• We provide tools and materials, unless you’re partial to your own.

We’re looking for patient, open-minded, and conscientious individuals.

Energy Captains support our Energy Efficiency program which is designed to help low-income homeowners reduce energy consumption and costs, while enhancing comfort in the home for residents. The Energy Captain coordinates all weatherization and efficiency repairs for selected homes, acquires or orders all materials (with RTSF support) needed as well as supervise, assist and educate energy team volunteers.

Time Commitment: 15-20 hours

Qualifications: 

• Attend one of our Volunteer Orientations.
• Knowledgeable in basic home repairs.
• Ability to lead a team of volunteers with differing abilities.
• Interest in home energy performance.

Trades volunteers are always needed! We work with and frequently have a need for carpenters, electricians, plumbers, landscapers, flooring, glaziers, roofers, HVAC, painters, metal workers, locksmiths, and more. Whether you are a union worker or have years of experience in one of the above trades, please contact us! We have a broad range of projects for you, from working on-site with volunteers, solo on your own time or on a self-contained job done in your own garage and our need is year round, with an emphasis around Rebuilding Day (April).

Some examples of projects are:

• Build a wooden planter box for a school garden
• Install flooring in a local nonprofit
• Replace a bathroom faucet for a disabled adult
• Install a handrail for a frail senior
• Plan and implement drought tolerant garden for community center
• Install cabinets in kitchen of a senior center
• Trouble shoot an electrical problem for a widow

Time Commitment: depends on preference, experience and project

Qualifications: 

• Attend one of our Volunteer Orientations.
• Please have tools (we have a limited amount) and transportation.

Development Intern will work under the supervision of the Executive Director and support the development tasks of the organization, such as researching potential funding sources, assist with grant preparation, donor acknowledgement, managing sponsor agreements, assist with direct mail campaigns, and maintain donor records.

Time Commitment: unpaid internship requires a commitment of 10-15 hours per week for minimum of 12 weeks.

Qualifications: 

• Attend one of our Volunteer Orientations.
• Commitment to serving low-income communities.
• Strong customer service background and/or mindset.
• Exceptional attention to detail and follow-through
• Basic computer literacy (Word, Excel, Outlook, Access) and experience with database software (Access and Salesforce.com)
• Education: BA degree or equivalent.
• Knowledge of San Francisco, its neighborhoods and public services helpful.

To apply email a cover letter and resume to Karen at rebuildingtogethersf.org, subject line “Development Intern”.

Oral History Volunteers help us interview and collect the stories of our clients – multigenerational families, seniors, adults with disabilities, as well as our nonprofit partners. We use the resulting stories to motivate our volunteer teams, to document and capture typically invisible populations and to better share how our work improves the lives of our clients. This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys story telling, has good writing and communication skills and is comfortable engaging people. We need oral history volunteers in the fall (August-October) and in the spring (January-March).

Time Commitment: 6-8 hour commitment (includes visiting and writing time).

Qualifications:

• Attend one of our Volunteer Orientations.
• Good listening, communication and writing skills.
• Own transportation (car or public transportation)
• General sensitivity, respect and withholding judgment

Photographers are needed year round, from our building projects in April and October, to our annual Fundraiser in September, volunteer parties and events through-out the year and more! Photos are powerful in telling the story of our work, our clients and the impact we have in the community. We use the photos on our website, blog, Facebook, marketing materials, presentations, brochures, newsletter and more!

Time Commitment: Depends on assignment and editing

Qualifications:

• Attend one of our Volunteer Orientations.
• Experience taking effective and engaging photos.
• Your own equipment and transportation.
• Ability to edit and turn around photos in a timely manner.

Interior Designers are needed in the off season to help us determine appropriate color choices for our various clients and their needs – whether we’re painting a facility for troubled teenagers, an afterschool program for toddlers or a hospice wing for seniors, we are always really mindful of the effect that colors can have! Interior designers are also a great help in sourcing donations, helping us stretch our tiny budgets and more.

Time Commitment: determined by project.

Qualifications: 

• Attend one of our Volunteer Orientations.
• Ideal candidate will be fearless in asking for donations towards a great cause – know how to ask for stuff and get it for free!

Professional Organizers are a tremendous help with both our homeowners and our facility partners – tasks and commitment levels range tremendously depending on PO’s interest, experience and clients needs. Often times, the work done by a PO is critical to be able to successful prepare to have a team of volunteers show up on Rebuilding Day, which is why we have the greatest need for organizers from January-March.

Time Commitment: determined by project, experience and interests.

Qualifications: 

• Attend one of our Volunteer Orientations.
• At least 6-12 months working as an organizer or have a mentor that will support your work
• Passionate about helping people or nonprofits become more organized in their environment.

General Volunteers are always needed on our actual build projects throughout the month of April and on various weekends leading up to our October projects. Typically a volunteer day starts at 9am and finishes at 4pm, we provide all tools and materials needed, and our age minimum is 14 years old with adult supervision (technically we are considered a construction site for insurance purposes! Younger children are not permitted on our build sites, for their safety.) Generally, our projects tasks will include: priming, painting, clearing out garages and living spaces, yard work, cleaning, installing shelves and more – so get ready to roll up your sleeves and get dirty! These work days are always very joyous events and you will be making a considerable and direct difference for a low-income senior or facility partner.

Time Commitment: 8 hours

Qualifications:

• Attend one of our Volunteer Orientations.
• Be able to stay the entire work day.
• Be comfortable doing light physical work.

Muralists to help us design and implement a variety of murals on our projects. Our murals range from outdoor public installations to interior murals and everything in between. Rebuilding Together San Francisco will provide the volunteers, a budget for materials but we rely on muralists to design and plan the implementation of. This is a great opportunity for someone who’s passionate about public art, excited to see it come to life and to make a direct impact on the surrounding neighborhood.

Time Commitment: 10-20 hours planning and implementation, must be on site during installation

Qualifications:

• Attend one of our Volunteer Orientations.
• Please be artistically inclined and interested in leading volunteers.
• Ideally familiar with process of designing and implementing murals.
• Commitment to improving our San Francisco neighborhoods.

Event Committee will provide for the planning, set-up, production and clean-up of our fall fundraiser. This committee makes all operational decisions regarding production of the event and oversees all activities. Tasks include: secure food & beverages, execute theme, plan event agenda, plan decorations and installation, recruit DJ and event volunteers and produce interactive elements of event.

Time Commitment: meets monthly leading up to the fundraiser

Qualifications: 

• Attend one of our Volunteer Orientations.
• Merely have a flair for seeking and finding!
• Willing to spend time and energy searching for entertainment.
• A bit of creativity and negotiating skills are helpful.

With the gift of getting something for nothing, the Silent Auction Committee will secure donation items that will be sold via a live and/or silent auction to the highest bidder. It is the responsibility of this team to secure the best and most sought after auction items and prepare the written descriptions for the auction catalog. In addition, it is this committee’s responsibility to secure the auctioneer for the event.

Time Commitment: meets monthly leading up to the fundraiser

Qualifications: 

• Attend one of our Volunteer Orientations.
• Ideal candidate will be fearless in asking for donations towards a great cause – know how to ask for stuff and get it for free!
• Charisma and negotiating skills are helpful – in this job, a little charm goes a long way!

Board Committees: We have a number of committees that meet once a month and help us with our strategic goals, such as Marketing Committee, Fundraising Committee and Event Committee

Event Volunteers: We have our annual fundraiser in the fall, various volunteer appreciation parties and whether it’s decorating, serving beer, coordinating the program or more, we are always in need of more hands on volunteers during our events.

Above is not an exhaustive list by any means! We work with a broad range of volunteers, including: occupational therapists, carpenters, graphic designers, architects, writers, social workers, various language translaters, plumbers, landscape designers, social workers, retired librarians, videographers, project managers, web developers, flooring professionals, and more!