Community Service and Mission Engagement Time Off

USF demonstrates its commitment to service by providing one day per calendar year.  You can use these hours at one time or over multiple days. Hours renew each January 1. Hours that are not used do not carry over to the following calendar year. Access the policy here.

All full-time (.8 FTE or greater) non-collectively bargained employees, full-time employees in the Public Safety Officers Association (PSOA), full-time employees in the United Service Workers West (USWW), and full-time employees in the Office and Professional Employees International Union (OPEIU), and full-time Librarians in the USFFA are eligible to participate.

Please submit your time off request at least 2 weeks in advance. Complete the agreement and attach to your time off request in USFWorks. The time off plan can be found under "Other Absence Types."

No. Your community service can be anywhere regardless of where you live. In fact, you can volunteer virtually if that best fits your schedule.

GoUSF invites you to “be the change you wish to see in the world” by helping others! Check out our resources and tips.

Yes and volunteering as a team has many benefits. Volunteering fosters a connection between employees and their work. This connection and feeling of doing good for others raises morale and increases employee retention rates. People enjoy working in places that empower them and give them a sense of purpose.

Yes, you can use community service hours to volunteer in your child's classroom and school events.

Volunteer Match

Hands on Bay Area

Bay Area Progressive Directory

No. USF is exempt from federal income taxation as an organization described under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code; and as such, is prohibited from engaging in certain political activities. Due to this restriction, employees may not use their hours when volunteering for the benefit of any candidate, political party or piece of legislation.

1. Research the causes or issues that are important to you. Look for a group that deals with issues about which you feel strongly.
2. Consider what you have to offer. If you enjoy outdoor work or have a knack for teaching, you may want to look for a volunteer opportunity in which your special skills can be utilized.  Similarly, you may want to think about your specific personality and how your organization skills or communication style might fit with different organizations or activities.
3. Think outside the box! Many community groups that are looking for volunteers, like neighborhood watch programs, prisons, disaster relief organizations, youth organizations, intergenerational programs and park services, may not have occurred to you but may be a perfect fit.
4. There's no need to wait to be asked. There are many ways to find organizations that are looking for volunteers. Ask your friends or colleagues about their own volunteering activities. The internet has great online volunteer referral services, including volunteer.gov.
5. Would you like to learn something new? Consider whether the organization offers training or professional development opportunities for their volunteers. Volunteering can provide you with the chance to learn about something you're interested in and can help you develop skills in a new area.
6. Volunteer with friends or as a family. Volunteering with others can be a great way to get to know people better and can help keep you excited about volunteering.