History

1946
The Volunteer Bureau of San Francisco is founded by the Junior League of San Francisco as the city’s central agency for volunteer placement.

1974
The Transitional Volunteer Program is established to place people with mental, physical and environmental disabilities in structured volunteer positions supporting nonprofits throughout the City.

1989
The Volunteer Center convenes leading businesses that understand the value of employee volunteering as the Bay Area Corporate Volunteer Council.

1992
The Volunteer Center launches an awards program with the Corporate Community Involvement Award, awarded to a Bay Area business that operates an outstanding employee involvement program, followed by awards for community volunteers, corporate leaders in volunteerism, nonprofit volunteer management, and board leaders.

1997
Board Match Plus program is created to provide customized board matching and recruitment services, and helps potential board candidates learn about board service.

2002
Bay Area Volunteer Centers across five counties identify opportunities to collaborate and create a region-wide database of volunteer opportunities.

2004
The Volunteer Center of San Francisco expands regionally as The Volunteer Center Serving San Francisco and San Mateo Counties, launching online access to volunteer center resources in San Mateo County for the first time.

2004
Hats Off! A Celebration of Community Volunteers highlights The Volunteer Center’s award winners.

2006
The Volunteer Center restructures to provide: 1) Volunteer Services and 2) Consulting and Training to nonprofits and businesses.

2007
The Bay Area Corporate Volunteer Council is named CVC of the Year.

2007
iVolunteer.net is launched. An inspirational blog written by volunteers about how their involvement began, what they do to give back and how they are affected by volunteer service.

2008
The Nonprofit Volunteer Leaders Council is launched, a sister council to the BACVC. Nonprofit leaders are provided with opportunities to network and learn best practices from one another and their business sector counterparts.

2009
The Volunteer Center hosts the National Conference on Volunteering and Service in San Francisco, bringing 5000 volunteer leaders from throughout the world to lay plans for advancing volunteerism. They are joined by First Lady Michelle Obama, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and First Lady of California Maria Shriver.