are the most powerful asset of our Golden State. More than 7 million people serve in their communities, contributing more than 900 million hours of service with an estimated value of $19 billion…that is extraordinary.
were passionate about leveraging this civic energy to meet critical state and community needs.
build on the success of AmeriCorps and increase the number and impact of Californians engaged in service and volunteering. So that’s what we did and are doing with four key strategies:
More Californians needed to know who we were and what we could do to help them make an impact.

So we transformed our brand to reflect our interest in engaging all Californians in service.
Inspired by First Lady Maria Shriver, we then created a vibrant website:
Anchored with a searchable database of local volunteer opportunities–50,000 strong–today you can shop by interest area, zip code and time commitment.
the Governor put CaliforniaVolunteers on the map by creating the nation's first cabinet-level secretary of service and volunteering.
was showcased at the 2009 National Conference on Volunteering and Service, held in San Francisco.
Serving as national honorary co-chairs of the world's largest gathering of volunteer and service leaders, the Governor and First Lady Maria Shriver shared the podium with...
...First Lady Michelle Obama and celebrated the recent landmark passage of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act.
This conference also served as the backdrop for the inaugural Governor and First Lady's Medals for Service, honoring volunteers, businesses and nonprofit leaders whose innovations in the field have had a substantial impact.
CaliforniaVolunteers was able to attract new partnerships, secure investments and represent the nonprofit field and volunteerism at the highest levels of state government.
was expanded to include the coordination of volunteers and donations during disasters. The secretary position is now permanently established in California law.
To increase the number of volunteer opportunities available throughout the state, CaliforniaVolunteers invested more than $5 million to increase access to technology and build the capacity of the 30 volunteer centers operating in the State.
This investment fueled a 540% increase in the number of volunteer referrals.
A second critical technology tool was then developed. This free online tool offers emergency managers a snapshot of volunteer resources that can be increasingly utilized during disasters.
Knowing this, CalifornaVolunteers provided free training to nonprofits and faith-based organizations statewide through the 2009 "Surviving and Thriving during Tough Times" tour and the 2008 Faith-based conference, co-convened with the White House Office of Faith-based and Community Initiatives.

In addition, CaliforniaVolunteers continues to provide on-line resources, including volunteer management training.
Staying true to its mission to engage Californians in service, CaliforniaVolunteers continues to secure federal AmeriCorps dollars to address critical needs in:
Since 2003, California has been granted more than $200 million from the Corporation for National and Community Service.
These members have earned an additional $90 million in Eli Segal education awards to support higher education expenses.
More than 32,000 AmeriCorps members have served in local communities from 2004-2010.
The impact of this intensive service is creating tangible results in communities statewide. In 2009 alone, highlights included:
Since 2007, First Lady Maria Shriver and CaliforniaVolunteers have built 31 playgrounds in high need communities.
More than 8,000 volunteers helped to construct these playgrounds which honored the life and legacy of Cesar E. Chavez.
CaliforniaVolunteers also supported 77 afterschool service clubs in Title 1 middle schools across the state.
Launched in June 2010, the CaliforniaVolunteers Disaster Corps is the first-in-the-nation effort to professionalize, standardize and coordinate highly trained disaster volunteers statewide, harnessing the power and passion of Californians to ensure our communities are safer, stronger and more resilient.
Operation Welcome Home, a partnership with the California Department of Veterans Affairs.
companies and foundations are increasingly committed to service strategies that leverage their human and monetary assets, and meet community needs.
CaliforniaVolunteers has been able to secure an unprecedented level of investment to support the field and our work, including generous contributions from:
in pro bono consulting from Deloitte, LLP to co-create the nation leading Disaster Corps program.
in matching grants from The California Endowment to support an AmeriCorps component for their Building Healthy Communities initiative.
in grants during the last six years from the California Emergency Management Agency to support disaster volunteer coordination and preparedness.
Aiming to leverage the volunteer energy of California workers, the Business Partners Program was launched. This affinity group of major California companies provides tools, resources and connections for businesses to build high-quality volunteer programs.
the CaliforniaVolunteers commission and dedicated staff got to work.
In 2010, the business partners invested in and provided training and assistance to 15 California mayors as part of the Cities of Service effort, a robust initiative to leverage service at the local level.
HOPEWorks, a partnership with the Governor's Office of Gang and Youth Violence Policy.
engaged state agencies to create and build dynamic programs that utilized service as a strategy, including:
Green Jobs Corps, a partnership with the California Labor and Workforce Development Agency.
Governor’s Mentoring Partnership,
a program created to provide continuing support for California's youth through mentoring.
and many others...