For a decade, every fall, Guardians of Nature Benefit has united more than 200 guests in celebration of our Loma Prieta community and exceptional individuals who have committed themselves to protecting our local environment. This crucial event raises funds necessary to fuel our ongoing work and is made possible with extraordinary help from volunteers.
If you are a party enthusiast and love organizing, consider joining our fantastic team of staff and volunteers for the 2024 Guardians of Nature Benefit. You will gain hands-on experience in event planning, connect with fellow chapter members, and make a meaningful positive impact - all while having plenty of fun. Plus, all volunteers will participate in the event for free.
Please read about the many volunteer opportunities below. Contact our Development Coordinator, Justyna Guterman, at justyna.guterman@sierraclub.org for more information or to volunteer.
Silent Auction Team Volunteers
Responsibilities include:
- Creating an item donation form (online or print) to record committed and donated items.
- Generating leads for item procurement.
- Entering donations and item donors into the database.
- Bundling donated items into packages.
- Photographing items.
- Creating an online auction catalog.
- Uploading auction packages to an online bidding platform.
- Managing online bidding and sending message alerts.
- Arranging items at item pickup by bidder number for a quick and easy checkout.
- Printing and mailing thank-you letters to in-kind donors.
Time engagement: February - September, approximately 2 hours per week
Sponsorship Team Volunteer
Responsibilities include:
- Generating sponsor leads from businesses in our area.
- Creating sponsor levels with giving thresholds (or associated in-kind donations).
- Soliciting sponsors over the phone or in person.
- Tracking sponsorships throughout the solicitation process, from lead to completion.
- Following up with sponsors to receive guest names and contact information and entering them in the database.
- Following up with sponsors to receive their promotional materials.
- Creating table and seating arrangements for sponsors and their guests if necessary.
- Designing VIP experiences for sponsors and their guests.
- Handling sponsors at registration and managing relationships throughout the event.
Time engagement: February - September, approximately 3 hours per week
Media and Public Relations Team Volunteers
Responsibilities include:
- Decide how to promote the event (radio, local news, email, social media, etc.)
- Create media packages— including a promotional video, pictures, press release, and more.
- Work with Chapter leaders, event sponsors, and/ or other local news outlets to reach as many potential attendees as possible.
- Keep all information about the event on the website updated, including details about speakers, ticketing options, sponsorships and sponsorship recognitions, and photos to help the public and Chapter members and supporters learn more about the event.
- Promote the Benefit on social media platforms.
- Support Chapter ExCom in promoting the event.
- Work with the Online Auction team to promote auction items on social media.
- Work with photographers to document the event.
Time engagement: from mid-April to the 1st week of October, approximately 3 hours per week.
Guest Experience Team
Responsibilities include:
- Collect all guest names and contact information - much of that will be captured automatically by our payment system.
- Create and update guest list.
- Create new records in the database for guests who are not Sierra Club members.
- Assign guests to tables if necessary.
- Update the registration procedure if needed.
- Produce nametags.
- Train volunteers to work check-in and/ or registration or man the registration table.
- Create a list of guests who attended the event and who did not show up.
Time requirements: May until the second week of October. approximately 2 hours per week from July until 2nd week of September
approximately 15 hours in September, including the day of the event
approximately 1.5hrs in October
Food and Venue Decor Team
Responsibilities include:
- Book and coordinate with the caterer menu and catering service.
- Procure discounted beverages from local vendors.
- Train food service volunteers.
- Ensuring that all food and beverage stations work seamlessly.
- Oversee and manage food service operations on the day of the event.
- Plan and execute venue decor.
- Support venue setup and decoration on the day of the event.
Time requirements:
- April - September 1-2 hours per week
- Approximately 15 hours on the week of the event.
Videographer
Responsibilities include:
- Strategize, plan, and create video promotional materials to be used by media.
- Strategize, plan, and create video content for the Chapter's social media.
- Support the creation of the 2024 Guardians of Nature honoree tribute video.
- Ensure that all the multimedia equipment works seamlessly during the event.
- Provide technical support during the night of the event.
Time requirements:
- April - September up to 3 hours per week
- Approximately 10 hours on the week of the event.