• Programs Overview
• Educators
• Volunteers
  • Individuals
    • Tutors/Enrichment Volunteers
    • Career Speakers
    • Mentors
  • Corporate Volunteers
• Students
• Partners
• Policy & Public Engagement

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

• I work full time. How can I fit volunteering into my busy schedule?
  Many of our volunteers work full time jobs and have a multitude of commitments during the week. Volunteers often find one hour a week before work, during a lunch break, or in the afternoon they can spend volunteering. Schools need volunteers both during the school day (8am to 3pm) as well as in afterschool programs (3pm to 6pm). Spending time working with students in a classroom can provide a welcome and rewarding break from the office.
  
  If you’re schedule still doesn’t permit regular weekly volunteering, we encourage you to check out our other volunteer opportunities, including Special Events, Interpretation, and Career Speakers.There are also a few months a year when there are Saturday opportunities to tutor students studying for the high school exit exam.
  
• Can I choose in which school/grade level/subject matter I volunteer?
  Our goal is to match teacher requests with volunteers' requests to best meet the needs of both. Some schools, like our Priority Schools have a greater need for volunteers than others. Through our online application and your orientation interview, we aim to get a sense of your skills and interests in order to place you where your volunteer experience can be most effective and rewarding.
• Are there opportunities to volunteer on the weekends?
  A few weekends a semester, our organization helps put on volunteer service projects in our community. Check our site often for updates about upcoming Special Events. There are also a few months a year when there are Saturday opportunities to tutor students studying for the high school exit exam.
  
• How soon can I start?
  For the safety of students and to comply with SFUSD policy, all volunteers must go through an orientation and clearance process before starting. After filling out an online application and attending a new volunteer orientation, it will take approximately 3-4 weeks to receive clearance from the Department of Justice and get placed in a classroom for your first day of volunteering. To make your clearance process go as quickly as possible, we recommend compiling your application packet materials as soon as you fill out an online application. Read more about orientation and clearance for school volunteers.
• I used to volunteer with SFSV x years ago and would like to volunteer again. Do I need to go through clearance again?
  If you volunteered with San Francisco School Volunteers 4 or more years ago, you will need to go through clearance again. This includes: submitting a new TB test result; attending a new volunteer orientation; and getting fingerprinted. Read more about orientation and clearance for school volunteers.
  
  
• I need to change my orientation date.
  If you already signed up for an orientation but would like to change your orientation date, contact Amy Reese, Program Coordinator, at 415.749.3700 ext. 3001 or areese@sfedfund.org.

• I have been fingerprinted already. Do I need to get fingerprinted again?
  For your privacy fingerprints are not shared between organizations so you must re-fingerprint.
  
  
• Are there any costs involved?
  TB test: If you are not seeing a private physician for your TB screening, see our TB Test Form for a list of clinics and their fees (some are free).
  
  Fingerprinting: We will scan your fingerprints at orientation to do a criminal background check.
  Fingerprinting costs us $66 per person. We are asking each volunteer for a one-time suggested contribution of $66 to cover that cost. No one will be turned away due to lack of funds. We will collect the fee at orientation. We will accept payment via cash, check, credit card or money order. Payments are tax deductible.
  
  
• Does the volunteer program provide a letter of recommendation or verification of hours?
  We encourage volunteers to track volunteer hours with and obtain a letter of recommendation from the teacher with whom they work. Our School Resources Coordinators can write a letter verifying that you were cleared and placed to volunteer with our organization.