Start a Chartered Democratic Club

Get chartered

Start a chartered club

Chartered clubs are official branches of the SF Democratic Party. Starting one gives you and your community a recognized voice in local politics. To discuss the process, email info@sfdems.org.

What you'll need

Chartering requirements

  • Completed chartering application

  • Membership roster of at least 20 persons who are members in good standing

  • Current list of officers

  • Copy of club bylaws or other governing documents

  • $20 chartering fee

In order to establish a chartered Democratic Club, the first step is to fill out a chartering application online here. This application will ask you to upload a variety of documents, including

  • A membership roster of at least 20 registered Democrats who reside in San Francisco. This list will be cross checked with voter registration records, so it is important to include people's legal names and legal residences (not P.O. boxes).

  • Bylaws of governing documents. These bylaws must include several specific sections in order to You can see a template of Bylaws with this language here.

Once this application is submitted, it will be reviewed by the Clubs and Chartering Committee, Chaired by Emma Hare, for completeness. From there, the chartering will be scheduled at the Democratic County Central Committee for approval.

In order to establish a chartered Democratic Club, the first step is to fill out a chartering application online here. This application will ask you to upload a variety of documents, including

  • A membership roster of at least 20 registered Democrats who reside in San Francisco. This list will be cross checked with voter registration records, so it is important to include people's legal names and legal residences (not P.O. boxes).

  • Bylaws of governing documents. These bylaws must include several specific sections in order to You can see a template of Bylaws with this language here.

Once this application is submitted, it will be reviewed by the Clubs and Chartering Committee, Chaired by Emma Hare, for completeness. From there, the chartering will be scheduled at the Democratic County Central Committee for approval.

How it works

Step-by-step process

1

Recruit your founding members

Gather at least 20 SF residents who meet the membership in good standing criteria. Consider hosting an interest meeting to build excitement and establish your mission.

2

Draft bylaws and elect officers

Adopt bylaws consistent with SFDCCC guidelines and elect your founding officers. Use this bylaws template as a starting point.

3

Submit your application

Make sure you have everything in the checklist on the application. Complete and submit the official SFDCCC chartering application along with all required documents and the $20 chartering fee.

4

DCCC Clubs Committee review

The SFDCCC Clubs Committee reviews your application and recommends approval to the full DCCC. Upon a vote of approval, your club is officially chartered.

Frequently Asked Questions

  • We offer a range of solutions designed to meet your needs—whether you're just getting started or scaling something bigger. Everything is tailored to help you move forward with clarity and confidence.

  • Getting started is simple. Reach out through our contact form or schedule a call—we’ll walk you through the next steps and answer any questions along the way.

  • We combine a thoughtful, human-centered approach with clear communication and reliable results. It’s not just what we do—it’s how we do it that sets us apart.

  • You can reach us anytime via our contact page or email. We aim to respond quickly—usually within one business day.

  • We offer flexible pricing based on project type and complexity. After an initial conversation, we’ll provide a transparent quote with no hidden costs.

Ready to begin?

Fill out the application
Questions? Email us — we'd love to help you get started: info@sfdems.org

Ready to begin?

Fill out the application
Questions? Email us — we'd love to help you get started: info@sfdems.org