Community and Non-Profit Organizations in San Francisco Area serving Bernal Heights, Cow Hollow, Diamond Heights, Duboce Triangle, Eureka Valley, Fisherman's Wharf, Haight-Ashbury, Hayes Valley, Inner Sunset, Japantown, Laurel Heights, Marina District, Mission District, Nob Hill, Noe Valley, North Beach, Outer Sunset, Pacific Heights, Presidio, Rincon Hill, Russian Hill, San Francisco, Sea Cliff, Sunset District, Telegraph Hill, The Marina, The Presidio, Treasure Island, Twin Peaks and Western Addition

How to Participate in Community and Non-Profit Organizations in San Francisco, CA

In San Francisco, there are number of non-profit and social aid programs. From affordable healthcare to help for individuals suffering from abuse, neglect, or dependency problems, these San Francisco nonprofits and donor-funded groups hold the fabric of your community together. The following articles will highlight local resources and help you become involved as a participant or a recipient of these San Francisco non-profit services. more »

How to Participate in Community and Non-Profit Organizations in San Francisco, CA 

Family Organizations
In San Francisco Area there is a sizable collection of community organizations that run the gamut of family, individual, and social outreach. Under this umbrella you'll find various support groups that assist adult and juvenile cancer patients or survivors, battered women, spinal cord injury sufferers, co-dependents and addicts, polio sufferers, and even neglected animals. Organizations range in their capabilities based on donations, overall scale and the rate of participation from volunteers. Certain independent, publicly funded womens' health centers can offer pregnancy education, abortion alternatives, abortion referrals, free pregnancy tests, prenatal medical care, gynecological care, birth control, and emergency contraception. Other associations offer general living assistance in the form of crisis intervention, family and marriage counseling, CARE sponsored programs, birth and parenting education, domestic violence mediation and child abuse and neglect intervention. In fact, child advocacy is a pervasive cause in San Francisco Area, with a number of organizations geared toward the welfare of local at-risk youth. Certain agencies offer behavioral counseling, subsidized child care programs, child care referrals, child care food programs, rescue missions, child abuse recovery programs, children's hunger relief, and human development education. Children are encouraged to take advantage of youth groups and agencies such as the Boys and Girls Club, which often provide safe haven and life skills education for those whose lives are otherwise lacking such structure. There are several other resources available to disadvantaged children that operate under the auspices of broader social and human services. Demographic and ethnic-based organizations (Japanese-American, Italian-American, African-American, Jewish, Native-American) often support children's welfare endeavors as well as many other charitable causes.

Animal Assistance
Your community has a healthy network of human outreach projects, but some provide some aid to non-human residents as well. Humane societies and animal shelters are generally funded by philanthropist contributions. Donations are devoted to wildlife rescue, lost and found pet reports, stray care and pick-up, adoptions, and basic care in the interim. Shelters have limited healthcare, but do usually offer reduced rates on spaying and neutering, vaccinations, and micro chipping. For a fee, San Francisco Area Humane Society may provide boarding, training, and grooming on site.

Health-Related
In San Francisco Area, several community and non-profit organizations focusing on the ailing and elderly have developed over the years. Women's health organizations attempt to raise money for breast cancer research. Epilepsy foundations do the same, local blood banks are always open to the contributions of healthy donors, and eldercare organizations strive to provide the base care to Alzheimer's patients with assisted living situations and dementia outreach for patients and affected family. Senior assistance is also available from nationwide associations, such as United Way and the Red Cross. However, these larger associations don't limit their aide to seniors alone. Charitable organizations like those listed above provide wider assistance, such as clergy and pastoral counseling, independent living skills and family education, co-dependency outreach programs, homeless assistance, inmate rehabilitation assistance, vehicle donation, workforce development, food banks, and bilingual assistance.

Volunteering
There's another side to the arena of community and non-profit services: volunteerism. There are several groups in San Francisco Area that rally for political or social causes, or simply as a means to share a common interest. If you're looking for a forum, there are local groups that center on several different pressing issues, including women's activism, gay rights, health care reform, environmental activism, education advancement, housing reform, economic development, GE free San Francisco Area, living wage, immigration legislation, arts, ecology, crime and safety, conservation, solar power and the use of other green, or alternative, energy sources, labor reform, anti-war efforts, globalization, and any number of other extra- and intra-community concerns.

A foundation for social reform is present in every American community - it's simply a matter of seeking out involvement or assistance to tap into this network. San Francisco Area is no exception. For a thorough listing of community and non-profit organizations that service individuals and families in the area, see The Prime Buyer's Report article "Key Resources for Community and Non-Profit Organizations in San Francisco Area."

 

 

Research Community Resources and Non-Profit Organizations in San Francisco 

Associations & Volunteer Opportunities

General
Bay Area Council (www.bayareacouncil.org)
California Association of Nonprofits (www.canonprofits.org)
Center for Civic Partnerships (www.civicpartnerships.org)
Community Services Planning Council (www.communitycouncil.org)
NCNA National Council of Nonprofit Organizations (www.ncna.org)
Red Cross (www.redcross.org)

Political
ANSWER Act Now to Stop War & End Racism (www.actionsf.org)
CADEM California Democratic Party (www.cadem.org)
CAGOP California Republican Party (www.cagop.org)
GPCA Green Party of California (www.cagreens.org)
IAP Independent American Party (www.usiap.org)
Human Rights Watch (www.hrw.org)

Crime and Economic Concerns
BAFB Bay Area Food Banks (www.bayareahunger.org)
BOSS Building Opportunities for Self Sufficiency (www.self-sufficiency.org)
CHC California Housing Consortium (www.calhsng.org)
Inn Vision (www.innvision.org)
Fight Crime: Invest in Kids California (www.fightcrime.org/ca)
National Crime Prevention Council (www.ncpc.org)
National Coalition for the Homeless (www.nationalhomeless.org)
Northern California Service League (www.NorCalServiceLeague.org)
Shelter Network (www.shelternetwork.org)

Animal Rescue
Alameda (East Bay) SPCA (www.eastbayspca.org)
Contra Costa County Humane Society (www.cchumane.org)
Marin Humane Society (www.marinhumansociety.org)
Napa Humane Society (www.napahumane.org)
San Francisco SPCA (www.sfspca.org)
San Mateo Humane Society/SPCA (www.phs-spca)
Santa Clara Humane Society (www.scvhumane.org)
Solano County (Benicia-Vallejo) Humane Society (www.bvhumane.org)
Sonoma County Humane Society (www.sonomahumane.org)

Art and Ecology
CAC California Arts Council (www.cac.ca.gov)
CEC California Energy Commission (www.energy.ca.gov)
CBE Communities for a Better Environment-California (www.cbecal.org)
CEHA California Environmental Health Association (www.ceha.org)
Environmental Defense (www.environmentaldefense.org)
KAB Keep America Beautiful (www.kab.org)
NBMA North Bay Multimedia Association (www.nbma.com)
NCRA Northern California Recycling Association (www.ncrarecycles.org)
NorCal Solar Energy Association (www.norcalsolar.org)

Ethnic/Nationality/Worship
AACI Asian American for Community Involvement (www.aaci.org)
ACLUNC American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California (www.aclunc.org)
AMILA American Muslims Intent on Learning and Activism (www.sf.amila.org)
Chinese Culture Center (www.c-c-c.org)
JCCCNC Japanese Cultural & Community Center of Northern California (www.jcccnc.org)
Latin-American Association (www.latinamericanassoc.org)
NAACP National Association for the Advancement of Colored People-California Branch (www.ca-naacp.org/cgi-bin/public_CANAACP/default.asp)
NARF Native American Rights Fund (www.narf.org)
NCAI National Congress of American Indians (www.ncai.org)
NOMAR National Organization for Mexican-American Rights (www.nomarinc.org)

Youth and Family
Big Brothers Big Sisters (www.bbbs.org)
California Coalition for Youth (www.calyouth.org)
California Youth Advocacy Network (www.cyanonline.org)
EMQ Children and Family Services (www.emq.org)
GU Generations United (www.ipath.gu.org)
GSAN Gay/Straight Alliance Network (www.gsanetwork.org)
PTA National Parent Teacher Association (www.pta.org)
SFCD Support for Families of Children with Disabilities (www.supportforfamilies.org)

Health
American Lung Association of California (www.californialung.org)
Americans United for Life (www.aul.org)
America's Blood Centers (www.americasblood.org)
California Blood Bank Society (www.cbbsweb.org)
California Public Health Association-North (www.cphan.org)
CARES Center for AIDS Research, Education & Services (www.caresclinic.org)
Hearing and Speech Center of Northern California (www.hearingspeech.org)
NARAL Pro-Choice America Foundation (www.prochoiceamerica.org)
NCADD National Council on Alcoholism and Other Addictions-Bay Area
(www.ncadaba.com)
NCCC Northern California Cancer Center (www.nccc.org)
ProLife America (www.prolifeamerica.com)

Women's Issues
BARAC Bay Area Regional Action Coalition (www.win-cawa.org/BARAC/barac.htm)
CAWA California Women's Agenda (www.win-cawa.org)
LWV League of Women Voters of California (www.ca.lwv.org)
Planned Parenthood Federation of America (www.plannedparenthood.org)

Social Services by County
Alameda County: (www.alamedacountysocialservices.org)
Contra Costa County:
Department of Employment & Human Services (www.ehsd.org)
Department of Children & Family Services (www.ehsd.org/child000.html)
Marin County: (www.co.marin.ca.us/depts/HH/main/ss/public.cfm)
Napa County: (www.co.napa.ca.us/GOV/Departments/DeptDefault.asp?DID=50100)
San Francisco City and County (www.sfgov.org/site/citizen)
San Mateo County (www.co.sanmateo.ca.us/smc/department/hsa/home)
Santa Clara County: (www.sccgov.org)
Solano County (www.co.solano.ca.us)
Sonoma County: (www.sonoma-county.org/human)

Web Forums

www.aging.org
www.alternet.org
www.communityarts.net
www.dosomething.org
www.elderweb.com
www.feminist.com
www.globesguardian.com
http://inthefray.org
www.nativeculturelinks.com
www.reliefweb.int
www.volunteermatch.org

Publications

ACTivist Magazine
Community Values Magazine
Humanitarian Environmental Magazine
Native Youth Magazine
NEED Magazine
Open Spaces Quarterly
Orion Magazine
Political Affairs Magazine
Speak Up Literary Journal
Synthesis/Regeneration Magazine
Women's Health Activist Magazine
YO! Youth Outlook

 

 

Top 5 Tips for Involvement in Community and Non-Profit Organizations 

Beyond your front door, outside of the limits of San Francisco Area, there is an entire network of community-minded individuals, from assiduous activists to casual volunteers, who work to make your community a better place for you and your neighbors. These associations, which include everything from book clubs to massive labor unions, need your energy to help aide your community as well as you personally. The following tips can teach you about your local social services and help you become an active participant and beneficiary of your community.

Stay Abreast of Local Events
Though syndicated media is widely respected and attracts a larger body of readers, there is something to be said for San Francisco Area paper and news networks. Information that pertains directly to locals like you doesn't make it into larger, nationally or internationally geared publications. Your local newspaper discusses community events and regional issues in depth. You can often find community calendars that detail charitable projects and volunteer opportunities. You must become familiar with your surroundings to be an active participant or recipient.

Research
Any of the resources we've provided can direct you toward an agency that represents the cause of your choice, but you may also want to conduct other research. Your community affairs officer can tell you about local programs, and a local church, school, or youth center can provide additional options.

Donate
Most social and human interest groups stay afloat financially due only to the generosity of members or well-wishers, though some do receive a small sum of federal grant money. If you're low on time and still want to contribute, any amount will do. For donation ideas and instructions, see any of the resources listed in The Prime Buyer's Report article "Key Resources for Community and Non-Profit Organizations in San Francisco Area".

Volunteer
Not everyone has money to burn or items to donate. But nearly everyone has the ability to contribute their time and effort. Most organizations are happy to accept your helping hand. All you need to do is offer it.

Bring a Friend
The welfare of your community rests on the shoulders of every resident. The more proactive members there are, the better the results. So whenever you become active in one of these projects, involve as many cohorts as possible. The more, the merrier.