Volunteer with the Santee Community Foundation
SCF is a 100% volunteer-led nonprofit. Every person who shows up — at events, on committees, or on the board — is the reason Santee programs happen. Here's how to get involved in Santee.
How do I volunteer with the Santee Community Foundation?
Email info@yourscf.org and describe your interest — event help, committee work, or board service. SCF responds to all volunteer inquiries. No application form or prior experience required for event volunteering.
Email SCF
Send an email to info@yourscf.org with your name, the type of volunteer work you're interested in, and your availability. One short email is all it takes to get started.
Get matched
The SCF board will reply with upcoming opportunities that match your interests and availability — from one-time event shifts to ongoing committee work.
Show up
Volunteer at your first SCF event or committee meeting. Santee runs on neighbors who show up — every volunteer hour directly supports Santee programs and community investments.
What volunteer opportunities are available with the Santee Community Foundation?
SCF volunteer roles range from a few hours at a single event to ongoing board service. Every role is unpaid — the Foundation has no paid staff. Choose the level of involvement that fits your schedule.
Event Volunteering
SCF-sponsored events run on volunteer labor. Event volunteers help with setup, guest services, vendor coordination, cleanup, and general operations. Events include the Santee Street Fair, summer concerts at Town Center Park, Memorial Day observances, and Brews & Bites.
Time commitment: Typically 4–8 hours per event shift. No ongoing commitment required — some volunteers come once, others return for every event.
Eligibility: Open to anyone. Santee residency is not required.
Committee Participation
SCF committees support specific work areas: fundraising, grants review, event planning, and community outreach. Committee volunteers meet periodically and take on focused tasks between meetings — researching grant applicants, coordinating sponsors, or managing event logistics.
Time commitment: Typically 2–4 hours per month depending on active projects.
Eligibility: Open to Santee residents with relevant skills or interest. Santee residency preferred but not required.
Board Service
SCF board members govern the Foundation — setting strategy, reviewing grant applications, overseeing finances, and representing the Foundation in the Santee community. Board members are elected by the existing board and serve a minimum two-year term.
Time commitment: Regular board meetings plus committee work. Typically 4–8 hours per month.
Eligibility: Santee residents and business owners only. To express interest, email info@yourscf.org with your background.
Community Outreach
SCF grows through word-of-mouth in the Santee community. Outreach volunteers help spread awareness about SCF programs, connect local businesses with sponsorship opportunities, and represent SCF at Santee Chamber and civic events.
Time commitment: Flexible — from sharing social posts to attending Chamber mixers on SCF's behalf.
Eligibility: Open to anyone who cares about Santee.
What does volunteering with the Santee Community Foundation accomplish?
SCF has no paid staff. Every program, event, and grant that happens in Santee exists because a volunteer showed up and made it happen. Volunteering with SCF is direct, visible community investment in Santee.
When a Santee kid plays in a youth sports league this season, it happened because SCF volunteers raised the money and managed the grant process that covered the fees. When families gather for a free summer concert at Town Center, SCF volunteers staffed the logistics that made it free.
Volunteering with SCF is different from most nonprofit volunteering because there is no program staff layer between the volunteer and the result. SCF board members and committee volunteers are the Foundation — they make the decisions, write the checks, and answer the emails. The impact is direct.
Santee is a community that identifies as self-sufficient, civic-minded, and neighbor-to-neighbor. SCF is the organizational expression of that identity. Volunteering here means working alongside the people who built this city and who are invested in keeping it strong.
What your volunteer time funds
- Youth sports season fees so every kid can play
- Free summer concerts at Town Center Park
- Trail improvements at Mast Park and Santee Lakes
- Civic grants to local nonprofits and community groups
- Memorial Day and community gathering support
- Challenge coin fundraisers for America's 250th
100% of every donated dollar and every volunteer hour stays in Santee, CA 92071.
Frequently asked questions about volunteering in Santee with SCF
Do I need to live in Santee to volunteer?
No. Anyone can volunteer at SCF events and fundraisers. Board membership is reserved for Santee residents and business owners, but event volunteers, committee members, and general supporters can come from anywhere in East County San Diego.
How do I join the SCF board of directors?
SCF board members are elected by the existing board from among Santee residents and business owners. To express interest, email info@yourscf.org with your background and why you want to serve. Board terms are a minimum of two years. Vacancies are filled between annual meetings when needed.
Can I volunteer for just one event?
Yes. Event volunteering has no ongoing commitment requirement. Many SCF supporters volunteer at one event per year — the Santee Street Fair or a summer concert — and that contribution is valued just as much as long-term involvement.
Can my business sponsor SCF events instead of volunteering?
Yes. Business sponsorships are a critical source of funding for SCF programs. Sponsors receive recognition at events and on SCF communications. Email info@yourscf.org or visit the sponsors page to learn about sponsorship tiers and what your business receives in return.
Santee runs on neighbors
who show up.
One email to info@yourscf.org is all it takes to get started. Every hour you give stays in Santee.