About United Way Bay Area

United Way Bay Area (UWBA) mobilizes the Bay Area to dismantle the root causes of poverty and build equitable pathways to prosperity. UWBA brings together partners from the nonprofit, business, and government sectors to address Bay Area poverty. We partner across sectors, develop solutions, capture the data we need, and use those insights to support public policy and create research-backed community initiatives. These initiatives include: 

• Housing Justice: Improve access to stable, affordable housing and homelessness prevention. 
• Employment & Career Opportunities: Build systems and pathways to career and employment opportunities. 
• Financial Stability: Help families increase income and savings on their way to financial stability. 
• Basic Needs: Ensure access to basic needs like food, housing, and legal services. 

United Way Bay Area (UWBA) is leading a network of corporations, government agencies, nonprofits, and individuals to create lasting change for Bay Area residents and families. With a history that spans over 100 years and programs that tackle the issue of local poverty from every angle, UWBA is uniquely positioned to mobilize and motivate all sectors of the community toward the vision of ending the cycle of poverty. 

About the role

We are seeking a motivated and passionate individual to join our Community Impact Team as an Ideas Inspire Fellow. This role is an exciting opportunity to engage with the Bay Area community by supporting UWBA’s advocacy and education efforts for the 2026 election.  The Ideas Inspire Fellow will provide assistance to UWBA Public Policy Team. Projects are assigned based on the project needs as well as the fellow’s skills, experiences, and professional development interests. 

In general election years, UWBA produces a voter education guide to inform Bay Area voters about the statewide and local ballot measures that will impact low-income communities in the Bay Area. For 2026, we will produce a voter guide again. To maximize the impact of the voter guide, we aim to have a comprehensive communication plan that includes social media, events, and engagement opportunities with a wide variety of audiences.  

Duration: 3 months (starting in mid-June), Full‑Time (37.5 hours per week)

Requirements

• Candidates must be current college students or recent college graduates. This opportunity is designed for individuals early in their academic or career journey. Preference will be given to community college students or graduates, with additional preference for Foothill College students. 
• Candidates must be 18 years or older.
• Candidates must be based in the Bay Area, California and be able to attend in-person events as part of this hybrid role.

What you'll do

Below are examples of the type of projects and tasks this opportunity would involve: 

• Assist in developing and implementing outreach strategies to connect with community members, partner organizations, and advocates.  
• Collaborate with team members to develop outreach materials  
• Support the planning, coordination, and execution of community events, workshops, and outreach activities. 
• Assist in securing event venues, vendors, and partnerships, and coordinate logistics such as catering, equipment, and signage.  
• Work closely with volunteers and staff to ensure successful event implementation. 
• Administrative Tasks 
• • Provide administrative support to the team, including scheduling meetings, preparing documents, and organizing files and documents. 
  • Assist in developing, editing, and proofreading written materials, such as presentation slides, one-pagers, or surveys.  
  • Assist with correspondence and email communications with community partners, donors, and volunteers. 
  • Maintain accurate records of project-related data, Salesforce contacts, sign-in sheets, and other relevant data. 
• Communication and Reporting 
• • Communicate regularly with team members to provide updates on activities. 
  • Participate in staff meetings and events. 

Qualifications

• Strong communication and interpersonal skills. 
• Comfortable speaking to group audiences. 
• Excellent organizational skills, attention to detail, and time management. 
• Detail-oriented with a high level of accuracy in data entry and documentation. 
• Ability to work independently and collaboratively. 
• Proficiency in Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook). 
• Previous experience or coursework related to community outreach, event planning, or volunteer management is a plus. 
• Knowledge of Bay Area region 

This position is covered under a collective bargaining agreement and is represented by OPEIU, Local 29. 

UWBA is committed to equitable and transparent compensation practices. We use a structured internal model to determine starting pay within the posted range. The model considers role scope, responsibilities, and documented compensable factors, and includes equity checks across the organization. As part of this approach, we do not engage in salary negotiations.