About Junior League of San Jose

The Junior League of San Jose, Inc. is a nonprofit organization of more than 600 women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Our purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.

The Junior League of San Jose reaches out to women of all races, religions and national origins who demonstrate an interest in and commitment to voluntarism. The Junior League of San Jose is one of 291 Junior Leagues in the Association of Junior Leagues International (AJLI).

Community Services and Projects

The Junior League of San Jose develops projects after careful consideration and research of an unmet community need that falls within the emphasis area of training youth and families in life, career and service skills.

Each project provides initial and ongoing training to the Members as well as high-quality service to its clients.

Projects, usually in collaboration with another nonprofit community group, receive three kinds of League support:

• A core of volunteers
• Financial assistance
• Administrative guidance given by a League liaison who serves on the collaborating agency’s Board of Directors or local governing board in a position created for the duration of the project. She shares her acquired volunteer skills, expertise and League philosophy. This facilitates a shared responsibility for the successful administration of the project.

After working collaboratively with local nonprofit organizations to achieve specific goals and objectives, a League project is then turned over to the community agency or group best suited to maintain it. The Junior League of San Jose is currently involved with one community project: assisting foster youth to successfully transition out of foster care.

Since 1967, the Junior League of San Jose has played an integral part in the development, improvement and support of Santa Clara County.  Below is a partial list of some of the past projects.

ARTPATH Bill Wilson Center – SPCO Child Assault Prevention Program Children’s Discovery Museum Children’s Shelter of Santa Clara County Children’s Theatre Court Designated Child Advocates Family Education Center Girl Scouts of Santa Clara – Lead the Way

Hospice of the Valley Independent Aging Program Legal Advocacy Program – Next Door Legal Advocates for Children and Youth – LACY Non-Profit Development Center Partners in Reading Smartwoman – ACS The Tech Volunteer Vanished Children’s Alliance Youth Science Institute

Junior League of San Jose’s Community Involvement 

The Junior League of San Jose responds to short-term requests for assistance from the community that meet our mission and are within our interest areas, but outside the formal project development process. The following services are available:

Volunteer Recognition Luncheon

The Junior League of San Jose sponsors the annual Volunteer Recognition Luncheon (VRL) to promote voluntarism in the community and to celebrate the spirit demonstrated by those individuals who have given their time and skills to help others. The luncheon is held annually during National Volunteer Week.

Financial Aid to Nonprofit Organizations

Financial aid is made available to nonprofit organizations for the co-sponsoring of a one-time event or product or collaborating in research into identified problems or needs (Co-Sponsorship/Collaboration Fund), or an immediate community emergency crisis such as a natural disaster (Emergency Response Fund). Through the Together Reaching Out fund, the Junior League of San Jose provides financial assistance to past projects.