Community Organizing Fellow

Application Process

Please apply via the application link below, no later than Sunday, January 4, 2025, for consideration. You will be asked to upload your resume to the application and indicate the location you are applying for (Los Angeles, Bay Area, or Riverside).

https://forms.gle/7EhHdx9WBYqKtAfD7

Job Title: Community Organizing Fellow

Reports to: Regional Organizer, with additional supervision by Senior Organizing Manager

Location: Los Angeles, Bay Area (East Bay), or Riverside

Status: Part-Time, Hybrid role, 15-20 hours/week

Start/End Date: February 2nd, 2026 - June 30th, 2026

Company Overview

Golden State Opportunity (GSO) is a nonprofit dedicated to ending poverty by providing all Californians with the tools to build financial wellbeing and thrive. GSO is led by doers who educate, engage, and empower working families. Our groundbreaking, culturally relevant work in thirteen languages reaches millions of low-income Californians and connects them with the financial resources they need to survive and then thrive.

We get things done through grassroots advocacy and partnerships with community-based organizations, and what we learn from this on-the-ground work informs our policy advocacy. GSO began with a legislative victory led by and for low-income workers and families. Since then, we have fought to expand access to the CalEITC, federal EITC, higher wage jobs, and other anti-poverty solutions.

Job Summary

Golden State Opportunity’s Fellowship Program is an opportunity for aspiring leaders in nonprofit, anti-poverty, or advocacy work to gain critical organizing and leadership skills. Fellows will support community-based outreach efforts, strengthen GSO’s networks, share GSO’s work, and build relationships to support robust organizing engagement.

Fellows extend GSO’s presence in the community by staffing outreach events, supporting major campaigns such as Tacos & Taxes and It’s Not Too Late to File, collecting community stories, and helping recruit volunteers. This learning-focused role supports Regional Organizers and provides hands-on experience in fieldwork, event support, and community engagement.

Geographic Scope and Travel

• Serves one of the following regions: Los Angeles, Bay Area, Riverside
• Requires regular local travel to community partners and events.
• Must have a valid CA Driver’s License and reliable transportation (mileage reimbursed per GSO policy).

Evening and weekend availability required during peak outreach seasons.

Schedule & Seasonal Workflow

The Fellowship follows a seasonal schedule aligned with GSO’s outreach calendar:

• February 2- Feb 6 2026 (1st Week): Onboarding and Early Outreach (approximately 2.5 days per week; two 8-hour days and one 4-hour day). Focus areas include:
  • Training on CalEITC, ITIN, storytelling, and outreach tools
  • Learning GSO’s outreach model & workplan
  • Beginning light community outreach and volunteer identification
  • Note: Los Angeles and Bay Area fellows will participate in their first Tacos & Taxes event this week
• February – April 15 (“Tacos & Taxes” Season): Schedule shifts to include most Saturdays dedicated to Tacos & Taxes events, outreach, education, etc. Some weeks may not have events, and schedules will be adjusted accordingly. Calendar of events provided.
• April – June 30 (“It’s Not Too Late to File” Campaign”): Fellows transition, with overlap in Tacos & Taxes, to supporting the Campaign, focusing on identifying outreach locations, coordinating logistics, and engaging community partners.

This role requires flexibility, including evenings and weekends, to meet program and community outreach needs.

Key Responsibilities

Community-Based Outreach

• Work closely with Regional Organizers to support outreach goals, event execution, and post-event follow-up.
• Share information about California Earned Income Tax Credit and other public benefits with community members to increase awareness and utilization.
• Identify, propose, and implement tabling community events/activities/locations to benefit low-income communities.
• Assist in planning, coordinating, and executing logistics for GSO’s Tacos & Taxes including set-up and take-down of materials on the day of
• Promote CalEITC4me and GSO’s programs, tools and resources including, GSO’s CalEITC calculator
• Grow GSO’s outreach list by encouraging mailing lists and other sign ups.
• Provide support to major organizational and organizing events such as CalEITC launch, Tacos & Taxes, CalEITC Bus Campaign and other events as necessary.
• All other community-based outreach duties as assigned.

Volunteer Recruitment & Development

• Make connections with individuals, nonprofit organizations, clubs, and community groups to recruit GSO volunteers, including VITA (Volunteer Income Tax Assistance) volunteers, in partnership with Regional Organizers to support free tax preparation efforts.
• All other volunteer program duties as assigned. Contribute to volunteer program goals and special projects as assigned.

Storytelling & Communications Support

• Collect client testimonials, photos, and short videos during events. Upload and organize all content in designated GSO folders to support.

Professional Development

~ 1-2 hours a month

• Participate in bi-weekly discussions to learn about careers, anti-poverty work, and organizing skills.
• Develop professional tools such as resumes and/or portfolios with guidance and support from the GSO team.
• Contribute to a supportive and collaborative fellowship through 1:1 and small group meetings with other fellows.
• All other professional development duties as assigned.

Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities

• Strong interest in anti-poverty work, tax credits, public benefits, and community outreach.
• Ability to build rapport with diverse community members, partners, and volunteers.
• Clear, warm, and professional communication skills—comfortable engaging with the public.
• Reliable follow-through with strong time management and the ability to work in fast-paced environments.
• Initiative and willingness to learn core organizing skills and try new responsibilities.
• Attention to detail for event support, data entry, and digital content organization.
• Proficiency with Google Suite and comfort using digital tools for outreach and coordination.
• Understanding of—or commitment to learning—equity, inclusion, diversity, and belonging principles.
• Ability to maintain confidentiality and act with professionalism in community settings.
• Flexibility to work evenings/weekends and travel locally for outreach events (valid CA driver’s license required).
• Bilingual or multilingual skills (e.g., Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Hmong, or other community languages) are a plus.

Compensation: $25/hr

Application Process

Please apply via the application link below, no later than Sunday, January 4, 2025, for consideration. You will be asked to upload your resume to the application and indicate the location you are applying for (Los Angeles, Bay Area, or Riverside).

https://forms.gle/7EhHdx9WBYqKtAfD7

Golden State Opportunity advances equity and inclusion in the workplace by providing equal employment opportunity to all as part of a work environment free from discrimination. We encourage and welcome applicants who will work to further this commitment and add to the diversity of our organization on multiple dimensions including race, religion, religious creed, color, national origin, ancestry, physical disability, mental disability, medical condition, exercising the right to family care and medical leave, genetic information, marital status, sex (includes pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding and related medical conditions), gender, gender identity, gender expression, age, sexual orientation, military/veteran status, political affiliation, arrest/conviction record, reproductive health decision-making, status as a victim of domestic violence/sexual assault/stalking, or any other characteristic protected by applicable federal, state, or local law.

Bilingual or multilingual skills (e.g., Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Hmong, or other community languages) are a plus.