Overview
Mission
CaliforniaVolunteers is the state office charged with managing programs and initiatives to increase the number and impact of Californians involved with service and volunteering, including the state AmeriCorps program, California Citizen Corps, Disaster Corps, California Green Job Corps, Business Partners Program and the Cesar Chavez Day of Service and Learning. Through the innovative Web site, CaliforniaVolunteers.org, individuals and families can find more than 45,000 volunteer opportunities throughout the state involving the arts, education, animals, disaster preparedness, the environment and other areas of interest. Karen Baker, the nation’s first state cabinet secretary of service and volunteering leads the organization and First Lady Maria Shriver serves as the honorary chairperson.
History
On September 21, 1993 President Clinton signed the National and Community Service Trust Act of 1993 (PL 103-82). This law merged two federal agencies, ACTION and the Commission on National and Community Service, creating the new Corporation for National Service. The Act also established AmeriCorps, a service program for Americans ages seventeen years and older.
The Act required the governor of each state to create and appoint a commission to administer the AmeriCorps program. In 1994, Governor Pete Wilson created the California State Commission originally known as the Commission on Improving Life Through Service through Executive Order W-77-94. Since the commission's inception, the first lady of California has served as the honorary chair of the commission.
The organization was renamed by Governor Gray Davis as the Governor's Office On Service and Volunteerism (GO SERV) in 2001. In August 2004, the organization was renamed the California Service Corps.
In December 2006, Governor Schwarzenegger signed Executive Order S-24-06, renaming the organization CaliforniaVolunteers. In this Executive Order, Governor Schwarzenegger charged CaliforniaVolunteers with ensuring the coordination of volunteer activities related to disaster response and recovery, including necessary training, equipment, and transportation provisions.
On February 26, 2008 Governor Schwarzenegger today took first-in-the-nation action to encourage volunteerism in California and to improve coordination of volunteer efforts between the state's departments and agencies by signing Executive Order S-02-08 to establish a new position of secretary of service and volunteering. The Secretary leads the efforts of CaliforniaVolunteers and serves as a member of the Governor’s Cabinet. This order also charged CaliforniaVolunteers with managing donations in times of disaster.
Frequently Asked Questions
If you still have questions or need further clarification, submit a question to us using the form here. A CaliforniaVolunteers staff member will contact you with an answer via email.
What does the CaliforniaVolunteers office do?
CaliforniaVolunteers is the office agency that manages programs and initiatives to increase the number of Californians involved with service and volunteering. CaliforniaVolunteers administers AmeriCorps, Citizen Corps, the Cesar Chavez Day of Service and Learning, Disaster Corps, California Green Job Corps, Business Partners Program and the Governor and First Lady Service Awards. Through our innovative Web site, CaliforniaVolunteers.org, individuals and families can search for volunteer opportunities that match their interests. Today, there are over 45,000 volunteer opportunities available throughout California involving the arts, education, animals, disaster preparedness, the environment and other areas of interest.
How does CaliforniaVolunteers select programs for AmeriCorps funding?
CaliforniaVolunteers runs an annual competitive grant process to award AmeriCorps funding. Interested partnerships of nonprofit and public agencies can apply for grant funds that support a team of AmeriCorps members (a minimum of 20 full-time members).
AmeriCorps grants generally provide funding for a three-year grant period, assuming demonstrated success toward achieving program performance measures and the completion of an annual continuation request.
The next anticipated AmeriCorps grant competition will begin in the summer of 2008 to support AmeriCorps programming beginning the fall of 2009. If you are interested in receiving information about future AmeriCorps grant opportunities, please register for our agency newsletter in the blue box at the left.
How much money does CaliforniaVolunteers grant to AmeriCorps programs?
For the 2009/10 program year, CaliforniaVolunteers awarded nearly $32 million in grants to support 61 AmeriCorps programs across the state. Recent grants have ranged from $110,000 to $1.6 million, with an average grant size of $500,000.
Who runs the CaliforniaVolunteers office?
Karen Baker, the nation’s first Secretary of Service and Volunteering. In addition, a non-partisan 25-member Commission, appointed by the Governor, provides leadership and direction for CaliforniaVolunteers. Karen and the Commission are supported by 36 staff members.
I know a volunteer and would like them to receive recognition for the work they do. Can your office help?
CaliforniaVolunteers administers the Governor and First Lady Service Awards and supports other various volunteer recognition programs. To learn more, click here.
I am interested in volunteering. How can I get involved?
Then you've come to the right place! Visit our search page, select your interest area and where you would like to volunteer and you can view available volunteer opportunities in your area.
