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Be a Volunteer

Join our movement of 23,000+ dedicated individuals

Single-Day Opportunities
Coaching & Ongoing Opportunities
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Volunteer for Special Olympics Northern California

Athletes are why we exist. Our volunteers are how we exist.

Special Olympics relies on the expertise and dedication of more than 23,000 volunteers throughout Northern California. Volunteers do it all. Whether on the field coaching our athletes in 11 different sports, helping events run smoothly, raising funds or gathering support within our communities, volunteers are our backbone.

It takes thousands of volunteers to support Special Olympics NorCal and keep our programs free for athletes and their families year-round. We offer many volunteer opportunities and have made it easy to find the right fit for you. Choose your path below!

Ways to Get Involved

At Special Olympics NorCal, there are many ways to make a difference. From working directly with athletes to supporting events behind the scenes, we have a volunteer path that’s right for you.

Be A Volunteer - San Mateo County - Single Day

Single-Day Event Volunteers

One-day or short-term opportunities supporting competitions and events. Ideal for newcomers, individuals, groups, and corporate volunteers. Requires event waiver and registration.

Find Single-Day Events
Be A Volunteer - San Mateo County - Ongoing

Ongoing Volunteers

Long-term roles including coaching, unified partners, Health & Wellness, and other positions that regularly support athletes. Requires an application and background check.

Explore Ongoing Volunteer Roles

Which Volunteer Path Is Right for You?

Requirements

Single-Day Volunteers

Ongoing Volunteers

Volunteer Application

Not Required

Required

Time Commitment

4+ Hours

8+ Weeks

Minimum Age

10+

14+

Work With Athletes

Varies Per Role

Yes

Group & Corporate Volunteer Opportunities Available

Yes

Yes
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FAQ’s

Yes. Special Olympics provides nonprofit volunteer opportunities in areas such as event support, coaching, fundraising, and athlete engagement through local programs.

Anyone ages 10+ can volunteer. Roles that involve direct work with athletes or access to confidential information require volunteers to be at least 14 and complete an application and background check (18+).

No. Event volunteers receive a brief orientation at the event. Ongoing volunteers complete an orientation module during their application process. Additional optional or required training is available for Coaches and other specialized roles. 

Ongoing volunteer roles working directly with athletes or their information must complete the volunteer application. This includes Coaches, Unified Partners, GMT Members, Medical Volunteers, Health & Wellness Volunteers and Office Volunteers.

Single-Day Event volunteers do not need to submit a volunteer application. They only need to register for individual events through our Volunteer Event Calendar and complete a simple waiver. 

Ongoing volunteer roles working directly with athletes or their information must complete the volunteer application. This includes Coaches, Unified Partners, GMT Members, Medical Volunteers, Health & Wellness Volunteers and Office Volunteers.

Returning applicants should use the “Forgot Password” option on the Volunteer Portal login page to reset their password. After submitting the request, please check your inbox and your spam or junk folder for the reset email. 

Please do not create a new volunteer profile if you are unable to access your existing account. You may have previously registered using a different email address. If you are unsure which email was used, staff can help locate and retrieve your account information. 

The password reset email will be titled “Your new SONC password.” The link included in the email will allow you to set a new password and access the Volunteer Community portal. The reset link expires after 24 hours, so please use it as soon as possible, even if you plan to submit an application at a later time. 

If you continue to experience issues, please contact , and staff can assist by triggering a password reset or helping recover your existing account.

Find Single-Day Events
Explore Ongoing Volunteer Roles

Questions? Contact us at