Nonprofit OPT Jobs in California
California's nonprofit sector spans global health organizations in San Francisco, environmental advocacy groups in Los Angeles, and major foundations like the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation's West Coast offices. F-1 OPT students in policy, public health, social work, and data analysis find active sponsorship opportunities here, particularly at mission-driven organizations with established international hiring experience.
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Get Access To All JobsProgram Associate, Power Pathway
Location: San Francisco, CA
Department: Community Impact
Type: Regular, Full Time, Exempt
Min. Experience: Intermediate Level
The hourly compensation for this position in FY26 is: $ 45.71/hr.
Organizational Result:
All people living in the San Francisco Bay Area are economically secure, rooted in vibrant communities and engaged in Civic Life.
SFF Values:
Anti-racism, Boldness, Equity, and being Rooted in Community
Position Summary:
The Program Associate position for the Power Pathway advances and supports the goals/milestones, strategy, grantmaking, research, cross-team collaboration, and communications functions of the San Francisco Foundation (SFF)’s Power Pathway. The Program Associate works most often with the Sr. Director of the Power Pathway, Program Officers, Program Associates, Administrative Assistants and other Community Impact (CI) and SFF Staff to support the development and implementation of the Foundation’s equity agenda, funding strategies, and activities. The position is an individual contributor role supporting key functional activities.
Boundaries
The Program Associate is on the Power Pathway team, which sits in the Community Impact Department and is tasked with developing core strategies for advancing SFF’s racial equity and economic inclusion goals. The position leads and supports a range of activities including: grantmaking, engaging with community partners, advancing team strategies, convening stakeholders, supporting strategic communications and research.
Authority
The Program Associate reports to the Program Officer of the Power Pathway. Under the direction of the Program Officer of Power Pathway, the Program Associate will be tasked with both supporting and spearheading team and department-wide activities. The Program Associate often works with CI staff to strengthen, implement, and advance CI’s grantmaking and programmatic strategies and activities. This position also regularly engages with and represents the CI department to other departments, in internal and external funder working groups, and at grantee convenings.
Role
The Power Pathway leads the Foundation’s efforts to ensure that Bay area residents have a strong political voice and can shape the decisions that impact their lives and communities, specifically by supporting community-based organizations to build the power needed to win governing power.
A successful Program Associate will have a basic understanding of the systemic causes of racial and economic inequity, organizing and power building, and has experience working to improve conditions for BIPOC communities.
The role of the Program Associate is to support the Power Team in the development and implementation of strategic goals, support work with donor and grantee stakeholders, including through grantmaking, representing SFF in community, collaborating with colleagues across the Foundation, and otherwise working to advance SFF’s north star of racial equity and economic inclusion.
- Supports their pathway in project management and development, tracking and implementation of pathway strategies
- Nurtures organizational values and collaborative culture
- Provides coordination and project management support to the implementation of Pathway strategy projects, grantmaking, communications, and other activities
- Provides support on projects and represents the perspective of the Power Pathway with external stakeholders and funder groups and with internal Foundation departments
- Acts as a team lead on special assignments, which may include outreach, meeting planning, communication with constituents or donor services, and managing projects
Tasks
- Build and sustain relationships with grantees, donors, nonprofit partners, public sector allies, and other key stakeholders and ensure timely response to issues and requests.
- Support a portfolio of grantees to complete grant applications and conversational check-ins/grant reports
- Assess grantees and prospective applicants for programmatic alignment and fit
- Serve as application lead and point of contact to assigned grantees, providing reliable and professional customer service to all stakeholders
- Assist in issue area research, engagement and advocacy, particularly on regional issues with deep potential impacts in the Bay Area
- Supports project management
- Coordinate/conduct/support site visits, community meetings, and special convenings
- Participate in SFF working groups, committees, and represent SFF at community events
Competencies & Qualifications
- Bachelor’s or advanced degree is preferred; additional work experience, educational degrees and certificates will be considered
- Minimum of three years of relevant experience. Relevant experience can include progressively responsible work experience in the public or non-profit sectors.
- Deep understanding of the Bay Area, its history, politics, and the realities of the region’s residents – through intellectual, professional, and lived experience – particularly with a clear racial equity lens.
- Professional experience working to advance racial equity and economic inclusion with a strategic focus on organizing and power building
- Experience in applying a racial or economic equity frame in work environments
- Proven record of successfully working independently and collaboratively in teams is required
- Able to create positive, long-term working relationships by demonstrating a commitment to interdependence, consistency, and flexibility.
- Ability to communicate internally with the Foundation staff and externally to diverse audiences.
- Well-organized, self-starting, and independent with the ability to multi-task, set priorities, track projects, and meet deadlines
- Project management skills and experience with complex, multi-stakeholder efforts
- Experience collaborating on projects across teams and stakeholders, including experience planning meetings and facilitating meetings and events from start to finish
- Demonstrated ability to solve problems resourcefully
- Strong active listening, oral, and written communication skills, and the ability to work collaboratively in and across teams;
- Demonstrated abilities to build successful relationships with local leaders and organizations; engage people from diverse backgrounds; and synthesize and articulate (orally and in writing) a wide breadth of information to internal and external stakeholders.
- Experience utilizing data-analysis in decision-making
Skills and Competencies:
- Demonstrated commitment to social justice and equity
- Active listening, oral and written communication skills
- Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
- Desire for continued growth and development
- Learns quickly in new environments
- Ability to engage with diverse staff and external stakeholders
- Ability to provide and receive constructive feedback
- Intermediate to advanced computer/software skills, including Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, & Teams), Salesforce, and Zoom.
- Familiarity with AI preferred
- Ability to learn, navigate and manage online platforms, including Fluxx, Qlik sense, and Smartsheet
We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace.
Compensation: The San Francisco Foundation offers a very competitive total compensation package including base compensation in alignment with our organizational budget size and rich medical and fringe benefits offerings. This position pays $45.71 per pay hour. You may read more about our compensation philosophy and benefits on the career page.
Remote Work Policy: The Foundation has adopted a long-term hybrid in-person and remote work policy. Dedicated to its employee health and safety, The Foundation will continue to make decisions in accordance with San Francisco County and California mandates. Employees must reside or plan to relocate to the Bay Area if hired.
Requesting Accommodations: The Foundation is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, The Foundation will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact hr@sff.org.
The San Francisco Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and encourages people of diverse backgrounds to apply.
Program Associate, Power Pathway
Location: San Francisco, CA
Department: Community Impact
Type: Regular, Full Time, Exempt
Min. Experience: Intermediate Level
The hourly compensation for this position in FY26 is: $ 45.71/hr.
Organizational Result:
All people living in the San Francisco Bay Area are economically secure, rooted in vibrant communities and engaged in Civic Life.
SFF Values:
Anti-racism, Boldness, Equity, and being Rooted in Community
Position Summary:
The Program Associate position for the Power Pathway advances and supports the goals/milestones, strategy, grantmaking, research, cross-team collaboration, and communications functions of the San Francisco Foundation (SFF)’s Power Pathway. The Program Associate works most often with the Sr. Director of the Power Pathway, Program Officers, Program Associates, Administrative Assistants and other Community Impact (CI) and SFF Staff to support the development and implementation of the Foundation’s equity agenda, funding strategies, and activities. The position is an individual contributor role supporting key functional activities.
Boundaries
The Program Associate is on the Power Pathway team, which sits in the Community Impact Department and is tasked with developing core strategies for advancing SFF’s racial equity and economic inclusion goals. The position leads and supports a range of activities including: grantmaking, engaging with community partners, advancing team strategies, convening stakeholders, supporting strategic communications and research.
Authority
The Program Associate reports to the Program Officer of the Power Pathway. Under the direction of the Program Officer of Power Pathway, the Program Associate will be tasked with both supporting and spearheading team and department-wide activities. The Program Associate often works with CI staff to strengthen, implement, and advance CI’s grantmaking and programmatic strategies and activities. This position also regularly engages with and represents the CI department to other departments, in internal and external funder working groups, and at grantee convenings.
Role
The Power Pathway leads the Foundation’s efforts to ensure that Bay area residents have a strong political voice and can shape the decisions that impact their lives and communities, specifically by supporting community-based organizations to build the power needed to win governing power.
A successful Program Associate will have a basic understanding of the systemic causes of racial and economic inequity, organizing and power building, and has experience working to improve conditions for BIPOC communities.
The role of the Program Associate is to support the Power Team in the development and implementation of strategic goals, support work with donor and grantee stakeholders, including through grantmaking, representing SFF in community, collaborating with colleagues across the Foundation, and otherwise working to advance SFF’s north star of racial equity and economic inclusion.
- Supports their pathway in project management and development, tracking and implementation of pathway strategies
- Nurtures organizational values and collaborative culture
- Provides coordination and project management support to the implementation of Pathway strategy projects, grantmaking, communications, and other activities
- Provides support on projects and represents the perspective of the Power Pathway with external stakeholders and funder groups and with internal Foundation departments
- Acts as a team lead on special assignments, which may include outreach, meeting planning, communication with constituents or donor services, and managing projects
Tasks
- Build and sustain relationships with grantees, donors, nonprofit partners, public sector allies, and other key stakeholders and ensure timely response to issues and requests.
- Support a portfolio of grantees to complete grant applications and conversational check-ins/grant reports
- Assess grantees and prospective applicants for programmatic alignment and fit
- Serve as application lead and point of contact to assigned grantees, providing reliable and professional customer service to all stakeholders
- Assist in issue area research, engagement and advocacy, particularly on regional issues with deep potential impacts in the Bay Area
- Supports project management
- Coordinate/conduct/support site visits, community meetings, and special convenings
- Participate in SFF working groups, committees, and represent SFF at community events
Competencies & Qualifications
- Bachelor’s or advanced degree is preferred; additional work experience, educational degrees and certificates will be considered
- Minimum of three years of relevant experience. Relevant experience can include progressively responsible work experience in the public or non-profit sectors.
- Deep understanding of the Bay Area, its history, politics, and the realities of the region’s residents – through intellectual, professional, and lived experience – particularly with a clear racial equity lens.
- Professional experience working to advance racial equity and economic inclusion with a strategic focus on organizing and power building
- Experience in applying a racial or economic equity frame in work environments
- Proven record of successfully working independently and collaboratively in teams is required
- Able to create positive, long-term working relationships by demonstrating a commitment to interdependence, consistency, and flexibility.
- Ability to communicate internally with the Foundation staff and externally to diverse audiences.
- Well-organized, self-starting, and independent with the ability to multi-task, set priorities, track projects, and meet deadlines
- Project management skills and experience with complex, multi-stakeholder efforts
- Experience collaborating on projects across teams and stakeholders, including experience planning meetings and facilitating meetings and events from start to finish
- Demonstrated ability to solve problems resourcefully
- Strong active listening, oral, and written communication skills, and the ability to work collaboratively in and across teams;
- Demonstrated abilities to build successful relationships with local leaders and organizations; engage people from diverse backgrounds; and synthesize and articulate (orally and in writing) a wide breadth of information to internal and external stakeholders.
- Experience utilizing data-analysis in decision-making
Skills and Competencies:
- Demonstrated commitment to social justice and equity
- Active listening, oral and written communication skills
- Ability to manage multiple projects simultaneously
- Desire for continued growth and development
- Learns quickly in new environments
- Ability to engage with diverse staff and external stakeholders
- Ability to provide and receive constructive feedback
- Intermediate to advanced computer/software skills, including Microsoft 365 (Outlook, Word, PowerPoint, Excel, & Teams), Salesforce, and Zoom.
- Familiarity with AI preferred
- Ability to learn, navigate and manage online platforms, including Fluxx, Qlik sense, and Smartsheet
We are dedicated to building a diverse, inclusive, and authentic workplace.
Compensation: The San Francisco Foundation offers a very competitive total compensation package including base compensation in alignment with our organizational budget size and rich medical and fringe benefits offerings. This position pays $45.71 per pay hour. You may read more about our compensation philosophy and benefits on the career page.
Remote Work Policy: The Foundation has adopted a long-term hybrid in-person and remote work policy. Dedicated to its employee health and safety, The Foundation will continue to make decisions in accordance with San Francisco County and California mandates. Employees must reside or plan to relocate to the Bay Area if hired.
Requesting Accommodations: The Foundation is committed to the full inclusion of all qualified individuals. As part of this commitment, The Foundation will ensure that persons with disabilities are provided reasonable accommodations. If reasonable accommodation is needed to participate in the job application or interview process, to perform essential job functions, and/or to receive other benefits and privileges of employment, please contact hr@sff.org.
The San Francisco Foundation is an equal opportunity employer and encourages people of diverse backgrounds to apply.
OPT Nonprofit Job Roles in California
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Search Nonprofit Jobs in CaliforniaNonprofit OPT Sponsorship Jobs in California: Frequently Asked Questions
Which nonprofit organizations in California are known to sponsor F-1 OPT workers?
Large nonprofits with international programs and dedicated HR infrastructure tend to sponsor F-1 OPT workers most consistently. In California, organizations like the ACLU of Southern California, Kaiser Permanente's community health divisions, RAND Corporation, the Getty Trust, and various United Way affiliates have hired international candidates. Research-focused nonprofits and university-affiliated foundations are generally better positioned to manage OPT employment authorization than smaller community organizations.
Which cities in California have the most nonprofit F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs?
San Francisco and the broader Bay Area concentrate the highest volume of nonprofit opportunities, driven by the presence of major foundations, global health organizations, and tech-adjacent nonprofits. Los Angeles follows closely with a deep network of advocacy, arts, and social services organizations. Sacramento offers opportunities tied to policy and government-adjacent nonprofits, while San Diego has notable openings in international development and public health research.
What types of nonprofit roles typically qualify for F-1 OPT sponsorship in California?
Roles that align directly with a degree field are the most straightforward for OPT authorization. In California's nonprofit sector, that commonly includes program analysts, public health researchers, data coordinators, communications specialists, policy associates, and grant writers with relevant academic backgrounds. Operations and finance roles tied to a business or economics degree also qualify. General volunteer coordination or administrative support roles without a clear degree connection are less likely to be approved under standard OPT guidelines.
How do I find nonprofit F-1 OPT sponsorship jobs in California?
Migrate Mate is built specifically for international students seeking OPT-eligible roles, including nonprofit positions in California. You can filter by visa type and industry to surface organizations actively open to F-1 OPT candidates. Beyond Migrate Mate, attending California-based nonprofit career fairs, connecting with international student offices at UC or CSU campuses, and reaching out directly to organizations with established international programs can improve your chances significantly.
Are there any California-specific considerations for F-1 OPT sponsorship in the nonprofit sector?
California nonprofits must comply with both federal OPT requirements and California labor law, which includes strict wage and hour protections that benefit OPT workers. Many California-based nonprofits have experience with international candidates due to the state's large immigrant population and internationally focused missions. However, smaller nonprofits may lack the HR capacity to manage OPT paperwork and timelines, so prioritizing organizations with prior international hiring history is worth considering.