Posts Tagged ‘Organization’

Newer Entries »

Boost that Resume, Volunteer!

Tuesday, June 12th, 2012

Are you a recent graduate looking for a new job? Maybe you are someone who is looking a for a new career path to develop some skills? Volunteering is the best outlet possible to do all of these things!

Why? Volunteer work benefits your professional goals because it allows you to acquire new skills that your professional degree may not allow you to develop otherwise. Volunteer work is also a great way to cram the gaps in your work history.

Win-win situation, right? Not only do you help your community, but you also boost your personal life! Check out how volunteering can help boost your professional skills below!

Assertiveness: You can develop your assertive skills by serving as a fundraiser soliciting pledges or support. Recruit others to support an organization or cause.

Budget management: Plan or chair events with a budget. Volunteer for a board position with financial responsibility. Volunteering to be in charge of an organization’s budget will greatly help you in the financial world!

Change management/ strategic awareness: To develop this professional skill participate on an organization’s board or advisory council, participate in a focus group, or help write a group’s vision.

Computer skills: Computer skills are a necessity for most professional jobs. To increase your skill set develop an organization’s database or provide data entry for a group or project.

Conflict resolution: To hone in your conflict resolution skills serve on a board, manage a function or event, or serve as a subcommittee chairman.

Cultural awareness: To become more culturally aware, become a tutor or mentor, or volunteer in an activity that works closely with people unlike yourself. IT is important to expose yourself to all types of people to better develop this skill. Make this a habit and not a one time occurrence.

Creativity: In order to develop your creative skills you will need to step out of the box a little bit. Try volunteering at a children’s arts and crafts project or volunteer to paint a school mural.

Delegating: Want to get better at delegating tasks? Try chairing a committee or assuming a leadership role within an organization such as becoming a volunteer manager.

Event planning: You can become a bigger pro at event planning by coordinating volunteers or sitting on a committee for a big event.

Leadership: Leadership skills are big eye catchers on a resume. To develop your skills serve on a chairman board, be a spokesperson for an event or organization, or volunteer as a mentor to a young community member.

Organizational skills: Need to get more organized in the workplace? Volunteer to sort donations, provide clerical services, or plan an event.

Problem-solving: Problem-solving skills are a must! Better engage your skills by being an on-site manager for a big event or be a project leader.

By adding volunteer experience to your resume you will start building up that skill section in no time! Whether you are unemployed or looking to start down a new career path, it is always great to volunteer in your free time!

How has volunteering boosted your resume? We would love to hear your stories in the comments section below!

Related articles

Tags: , , , ,
Posted in Education, Volunteerism | 2 Comments »

Time to Get on the Fundraising Train

Tuesday, May 15th, 2012

At HandsOn Network, we love to celebrate silly holidays. We are so excited for the May themes including National Bar-B-Que month, Strawberry Month, and Duckling Month! Why are we so excited? These May themes can be used at your next fundraising event, as well.

Fundraising is a great way to build up your nonprofit’s presence in the community. Although fundraising events can be very fun, they can also be a lot of work. The following tips will help you experience more fun than exhaustion when planning your next fundraising event.

1.      Develop your fundraising goals.

You should have well developed goals for your next fundraising event. Establish why you are having the event, where the money should go, and designate supporting roles.

You will most likely have a variety of goals, and therefore will need to develop multiple goals. Get your organization’s board members to help organize the fundraising goals. If possible, get your community’s support of the fundraising goals, as well.

2.      Write down your fundraising plan.

Organize your different fundraising events, to ensure that they will not overlap and happen all at once. Develop a written plan to state how much you need to raise, from where, and how you will do it. The plan can be changed, if need be, it is most important to have a visual idea.

Find the gaps where your organization will benefit the most from donations. Work with your organization’s accounting department when making this preliminary plan.

3.      Estimate how much your fundraising program will cost.

Brainstorm about the various costs that your event will take from staff to advertising. It is important to include these costs in your event budget. Be cost-efficient when making these decisions and cut costs when possible. It is most important to work toward your company’s mission when promoting your event.

4.      Develop a timeline for your fundraising plan.

Mark a blank calendar with certain deadlines for each fundraising event. The calendar will certainly change, but a brief overview of the year will help you feel less stressed about the upcoming events.

5.      Identify funding sources.

Have you considered all fundraising sources? You can tap into resources such as companies in the community, churches, the government, and designated grants. Do you need to tap into new audiences, or do you already have a dedicated following?

6.      Evaluate your fundraising plan throughout the year.

It is important to evaluate your plan frequently to better ensure success. Make a monthly plan for fundraising goals to ensure that your organization sticks to the goals. Assess the pros and cons to see what works and what does not work.

Fundraising is a necessary aspect of nonprofit business. Although it is necessary, save the hassle and make it organized to ensure success. Try one of May’s themes for your next event to make your event even more fun!

How did your organization start its fundraising plan? We would love to hear your suggestions below!

Tags: , ,
Posted in Fundraising & Development | No Comments »

4 Ideas to Help Mobilize Volunteers

Tuesday, April 24th, 2012

Today’s post comes from Gregg Michaelsen, Fundraising Consultant at Simple Fundraising Ideas. Gregg specializes in providing unique fundraising ideas for non-profit organizations.  Check out his site at http://simple-fundraising-ideas.com/ to get ideas on how you can raise funds for your organization.

I love setting up fundraisers.  There’s something fulfilling about them especially if the fundraiser is for a great cause.  If you have the right fundraising ideas, setting up a fundraiser is actually very easy.  After all, you just need to let people know that you need help for your cause.

Do you want to know the hard part?  It’s finding volunteers.  I’ve long faced the fact that people are busy.  They have their own responsibilities.  We can’t blame them if they’d rather perform their responsibilities that spend some time volunteering.

You don’t have to worry because there are still a lot of people who will be more than willing to help.  These are the people that have set aside time and resources just so they can help out your cause.  Needless to say, you have to make it worth their time and effort.

This is a common scenario.  The volunteers can’t perform their tasks because your organization wasn’t able to come up with the funds needed.  It’s really unfortunate to see volunteers that have nothing to eat or drink.  It’s unfortunate when they have to cough up their own money so in addition to donating their time and effort, they’re also donating money.  There’s nothing wrong with this if it’s their choice.  But if they’re forced to pay for their own transportation to and from different venues, that’s something that should be addressed.

This is why I came up with ideas that can help mobilize volunteers.

1. Team up with a local restaurant for the meals of your volunteers.

A lot of restaurants are more than willing to help in their own special way.  What better way to do it than to provide for the meals of the volunteers?  Approach the restaurants in the area and tell them that you’re offering them a unique opportunity to help out.  I personally like approaching pizzerias and a lot of them are more than willing to donate several boxes of pizza.  In return of the free meals, you can place a small banner in the fundraiser’s venue with the restaurant’s information on it.

2. Donate a van.

Look for someone who’s willing to lend his or her own van.  This is to make sure that the volunteers can go anywhere as needed without worrying about their transportation.

3. Use discount cards.

This is another favorite of mine.  Team up with a supermarket and hand out discount cards to your volunteers.  They’ll get discounts when they use the card for their purchases and the supermarket gets additional businesses.  In addition, the cards should accumulate points that you can later on convert to cash for additional funds for your organization.

4. Give volunteers allowance.

Now, this is not in any way payment for their services.  That will defeat the whole purpose of volunteerism.  This is just a small amount of “pocket money” just in case they need to buy something related to the fundraiser.  This way, they don’t need to spend their own money.

With these tips, you can easily mobilize volunteers and they’ll actually enjoy volunteering.  This is very important so they will volunteer again for your next fundraiser.

Check out these fundraising ideas to raise a lot of funds so you’ll have the funds needed to mobilize your volunteers.  Remember, their success is your success.

Related articles

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Equip, Fundraising & Development, Mobilize, Volunteer Recruitment, Volunteerism | No Comments »

Simple Acts Make a World of Difference

Tuesday, April 10th, 2012

April is a day to get involved in raising awareness. Why? Today is TOMS Shoes’ One Day Without Shoes. One Day Without Shoes is a time dedicated to raising awareness about world health issues that arise when one does not have access to a pair of shoes. Many children around the world go without due to economic factors. Children who do not have shoes to wear daily are more prone to diseases such as Hookworm and they are more prone to infection form injuries.

One Day Without Shoes is a great example of “slacktivism.” What is “slacktivisim?” Slacktivism is a way to give back to the community without directly doing acts of service. It is a way to not only make a difference for a beloved cause, but it is also a way to make someone feel good about him or herself due to a simple act of good.

Interested? Below is a list of other forms of slacktivism that you can participate in year round!

  • Use your money for good: Choose brands that support causes or sustainable practices. TOMS is a great example, whether you are buying their shoes or eyewear your purchase will go to a good cause. Other examples of brands that are making a difference are Warby Parker and Patagonia.
  • Tweet, tweet: Use Hashtags to support your favorite causes. Many organizations and brands will designate certain hashtags to be used for their campaigns. You can not only show your support, but also network with people who share your passion.
  • Clicking for good: Show your support by liking your favorite brands and organizations on Facebook or other social media channels. It will help you stay up to date on the latest news and happenings occurring at the organization.
  • Donations: Many organizations or brands will donate proceeds to a cause through clicks. If your organization is doing this make sure you click to help out!
  • Donate your status: Donate your Facebook status or profile picture to a cause. It will help your friends and followers understand your passions and will help get the organization’s mission and message out!
  • Wear a ribbon: Do you support a cause that is represented by a certain color? Wear a ribbon showing your support. When others ask you about it you can tell them to help show support for the cause.
  • Watch a documentary: Interested in a cause, but you do not know much about it? Check out a documentary that informs. Invite your friends or family to watch it with you to get the discussion going!

We hope these ideas get you out there to show your support for your favorite causes and organizations! Whatever you are interested in, find a way to get the word out around your community.

How are you showing support for your favorite cause? Share with us in the comment section below, we would love to hear about it!

Related articles

Tags: , ,
Posted in Service, Social Media, Tools You Can Use | No Comments »

The President Wants to Recognize You for Your Great Work!

Wednesday, February 22nd, 2012

For more than two decades, Points of Light honors and encourages organizations throughout the nation to celebrate National Volunteer Week, providing visibility, thematic focus and resources to enable them to commemorate this signature week of volunteer recognition,. National Volunteer Week is April 15-21, 2012.

During National Volunteer Week, we at Points of Light and HandsOn Network encourage people to recognize the outstanding impact of volunteers with the President’s Volunteer Service Award.

Created by the President’s Council on Service and Civic Participation, the President’s Volunteer Service Award program is a way to thank and honor Americans who, by their demonstrated commitment and example, inspire others to engage in volunteer service. 

Recognizing and honoring volunteers sets a standard for service, encourages a sustained commitment to civic participation, and inspires others to make service a central part of their lives. The President’s Volunteer Service Award recognizes individuals, families, and groups that have achieved a certain standard – measured by the number of hours of service over a 12-month period or cumulative hours earned over the course of a lifetime.

To date, the President’s Council has partnered with more than 80 leadership organizations and more than 28,000 certifying organizations to bestow more than 1.5 million awards to the Nation’s deserving volunteers.

Depending on which award package is ordered, award recipients can receive: An official President’s Volunteer Service Award lapel pin, a personalized certificate of achievement or a congratulatory letter from the President of the United States.

Any individual, family, or group can receive Presidential recognition for volunteer hours earned over a 12-month period or over the course of a lifetime at home or abroad. The following are the eligibility requirements for each age group: Kids, age 5-14, young adults, individuals age 15-25, and adults age 26 and up.

Criterion for the bronze presidential award include the completion of  50-74 service hours for kids, 100 to 174 hours for Young Adults, 100 to 249 hours for adults, and 200 to 499 hours for families and groups.

Criterion for the silver presidential award include the completion of 75 to 99 hours for Kids, 175 to 249 hours for Young Adults, 250 to 499 hours for adults, and 500 to 999 hours for families and groups.

Criterion for the gold presidential award include the completion of 100 hours or more for kids, 250 hours or more for young adults, 500 hours or more for adults, and 1000 hours or more for families and groups.

Additionally, volunteers of all ages with 4,000 or more service hours over a lifetime can receive the President’s Call to service award.

We hope that during National Volunteer Week and throughout the year, you choose to recognize and honor volunteers with the Presidential service award for their amazing service and impact on their communities.

 

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Family Volunteering, Impact, Mobilize, Service, Volunteer Recognition | No Comments »

10 Ways to Celebrate National Mentoring Month

Wednesday, January 11th, 2012

There are so many amazing things happening in January and National Mentoring Month is one of them! From school aged children to young adults, a mentor is valuable to a child’s growth and development and can help leave an impression on someone for the rest of their lives. By simply giving just an hour each week you can develop a meaningful relationship that can encourage and inspire a child or young adult for their entire life.

  1. Become a mentor in your community. Organizations such as Big Brothers/Big Sisters and the United Way offer a plethora of opportunities for anyone interested in mentoring a child. You can also mentor young adults. There are many recent grads and college-aged students who need guidance in looking for jobs or making important life decisions. 
  2.  Learn more about mentoring: Do your research and read inspiring stories about the impact of mentoring. Hopefully, this will inspire you to mentor a youth in your community.
  3. Partner with a mentoring organization. There are organizations solely dedicated to providing mentors for youth. Conduct research to seek these organizations out.
  4. Join “I Am a Mentor” Day.
  5. Think about the mentors in your life and post a tribute to them online. Simply thanking your mentor is very fulfilling for both you and your mentor. Reflecting on the impact of your mentor will also inspire you and teach you about the values of mentors.
  6. Read the latest research and find resources on mentoring. Learn about the statistics and the social impacts of mentoring. One study reported that 52% of youth reported that having a mentor helped significantly with skipping school.
  7. Serve your community on MLK Day of Service by deciding to become a mentor. Martin Luther King, Jr. day is a national service day. Contribute to this day of service by becoming a mentor.
  8. Make a donation to a mentoring organization in your community. If you are unable to devote your time to mentor a youth, monetary donations are appreciated.
  9. Go to YouTube on Thank Your Mentor Day™ (January 26) and make the National Mentoring Month videos the most popular of the day. Help spread the word about this amazing cause!
  10. Explore ways to help children succeed academically through mentoring.   A mentor can always provide a child with the extra “push” to excel academically. 

We hope you enjoyed these useful tips for National Mentoring Month and are ultimately inspired to become a mentor!

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Events, Family Volunteering, Impact, Volunteering, Volunteerism | No Comments »

Improve Your Group Volunteer Experience! Engaging with Fellow Volunteers Brings Special Rewards

Monday, December 19th, 2011

Today’s post first appeared on VolunteerSpot on December 1, 2011. This post was written by Jessica Young, a social media specialist at VolunteerSpot. Jessica also coaches volunteer leaders in getting the most out of social media and her organization’s free online tools.

 We’ve all been touched by the “warm fuzzies,” those satisfying feelings when you know you’ve touched a life because you took the time to give back.  There are times, however, when you aren’t rewarded with a gratifying gold star.  You won’t always capture the smiles of the family whose home you helped build; nor hear the sigh of a child after they fill their tummy with food you helped prepare.

Volunteering is in many ways honest intentions with a seemingly blind result, and the warm fuzzies don’t necessarily creep their way into every volunteer experience.

Aim to get the most out of your volunteer time by recognizing the benefits to volunteering with a group.   Whether with members of your faith group, your child’s classroom, your workplace, team or Scout troop, or a neighborhood or civic organization, chances are you’re probably not volunteering by yourself.

5 tips for getting the most out of your group volunteer experience

  1. Making friends:  Seems like a no-brainer, right?  Maybe not.  Relationships unique to this type of shared experienced are special, they stand out and are based off common desires to give back and do good.  Recognize and celebrate them! Make the extra effort to stay in touch or find additional ways to volunteer with a new friend whom you already have common hopes and goals.
  2. Team-building:  Remember those dreaded group projects from school?   Little did we know as students that it was not just about the end goal, be it a presentation or report; but our teachers aimed for part of the lesson to be acquiring the skills to negotiate, share, and work with one another as a team.  The same goes for volunteering!  Working with a new and diverse group of personalities brings out unseen aspects of your own personality, engaging you in new ways and allowing you to become a vital part of a team operation.
  3. Stepping out of the box:   Especially in a new environment, or when asked to learn and perform brand new skill-sets, make an effort to step out of your comfort zone and encourage others in your group to do the same!  The volunteer experience often drags you out of the “same ‘ol, same ‘ol” and into the “I learned something new,” and “I met the coolest person. . .” when you’re willing to step out of the box and volunteer to do something you wouldn’t normally do.
  4. Praise and Compliments:  Giving back with others allows you the opportunity to support one another in ways which are not necessarily available to you at home or in the workplace.  Celebrate one another’s accomplishments; find fun and spectacular ways to thank others for their effort and positive attitudes.   Individual recognition within a group setting makes the entire giving back experience warm and fuzzy in its own unique way.
  5. Deeper Commitment: If you’ve enjoyed your volunteer experience and are ready for the next level, consider making a deeper commitment to the group you’re serving.  Can your group commit to a regular volunteer shift together? Can you engage others at your work, school, Church, etc. to take on a regular commitment?  Are you interested in a fundraising role or joining the advisory board? What special skills are needed that you can offer this organization, e.g. video production, carpentry, computer networking?  Most nonprofits and schools have many, many opportunities for help and welcome participation at deeper levels.

One more suggestion to get more out of giving back within a group is to simply ASK for the results of your efforts. {Volunteer savvy organizations will preempt the ask and share the impact of your service.} 

Inquire of the nonprofit or school you’re serving to show you how your service is making a difference.  They should be more than happy to connect the dots and quantify how your service adds value to their mission.  When practical, most will share actual statistics of the number of families fed, housed, tutored, etc. and others will be able to share anecdotes and stories of the impact of your good work – possibly directly from the service recipient.

Particularly during the holiday season when schedules are hectic, it’s very important to share your time and talents with others. Enjoy your warm and fuzzy rewards, you deserve them!

 

Related articles

 

 

 

 

Tags: , , , , ,
Posted in Volunteer Management, Volunteerism | No Comments »

Hooray It’s International Volunteer Day!

Monday, December 5th, 2011

It’s December 5th! “So what? It’s just another Monday you may be thinking to yourself.” Think again! December 5th is International Volunteer Day! What is this International Volunteer Day and why does it even matter, every day should be a volunteer day!

December 5th is different from any other day that you volunteer because it allows volunteer organizations and individual volunteers to make their contributions visible through the Millennium Development Goals.

Are you still not convinced that this Monday is different from any other Monday? The aim of this day is to promote the importance of volunteering and to engage as many volunteers as possible to respond to key volunteering issues. Thanks to the United Nations Volunteers this day is made possible! The United Nations Volunteers have made this day possible through discussion-point videos, a photo competition, and social media. They hope to collect pictures of volunteers all across the world to be featured on their website as a way to show the world lighted up with volunteers!

Have you been convinced yet this day is important? Do you want your picture to be featured in the United Nations Volunteer mosaic? Here are some ideas that can really help your community and get your participation started in this wonderful campaign!

  • Make gifts for kids in the hospital to help the holidays feel more like home
  • Set up a buddy system for kids with special needs at your local school
  • Volunteer at a Special Olympics event
  • Get your classroom to put together a library at your local school
  • Prepare sack lunches and deliver to homeless or homebound individuals
  • Recognize veterans in your community
  • Decorate a Christmas tree at a nursing home, hospital, school, or homeless shelter
  • Mow your neighbor’s lawn
  • Offer babysit your siblings so that your parents can go out
  • Read a book to a younger sibling, blind person, or an older neighbor
  • Celebrate a birthday by getting friends to donate food items for your favorite cause instead of giving gifts
  • Make get well cards for people in the hospital
  • Collect old magazines and donate them to day care centers
  • Conduct a clothing repair or sewing workshop for those in need
  • Collect unused makeup, perfume, or other cosmetics for a women’s shelter
  • Donate old eyeglasses to an organization or place that recycles them for those in need
  • Collect old stuffed animals and toys for needy children
  • Organize a babysitting service for foster families
  • Collect old clothes and donate them for a dress-up area at a daycare center
  • Plant a garden or tree in your neighborhood
  • Collect old phone books in your neighborhood for recycling
  • Ride your bike instead of your car
  • Buy products made of recycled materials
  • Adopt an acre of the rainforest
  • Collect aluminum cans and donate the money to your favorite charity
  • Make bird feeders for your local park
  • Clean up trash along a riverbank or park
  • Form a study group to help younger children with their schoolwork
  • Visit a nursing home
  • Rake leaves, shovel snow, clean gutters, or wash windows for an elderly neighbor
  • Pick up medicine for an elderly person
  • Start a compost pile for your home
  • Teach a senior citizen how to use the computer and the internet
  • Make simple reading and math flash cards for a preschool or daycare
  • Become an animal foster parent
  • Donate dog or cat food to your local shelter
  • Make care packages with mittens, coats, socks, and hats for homeless shelters
  • Hand out food at a food bank
  • Clip coupons and give them at your local bank or homeless shelter
  • Volunteer to clean the cages at a local animal shelter
  • Bake cookies and donate them to your local soup kitchen.

Every act of kindness is a way of volunteering your time to bettering your community; from big to small it is important to share your time and talent with others. International Volunteer Day is the perfect day to start your acts of kindness. Be a part of the volunteering mosaic and show others how you make your community better.

You can continue these projects with the 2012 Martin Luther King Day of Service where community members come together to discuss the issues that affect their lives on a daily basis, Volunteering should not only be single even but rather a lifetime of service events. In the words of Martin Luther King, “All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.”

Celebrate this year’s International Volunteer Day and help your community and its citizens through your favorite act of service!

UPDATE: Check out this awesome video from the United Nations about International Volunteer Day.

Related articles

Tags: Day of Service, International Volunt, ,
Posted in Events, Volunteering | 1 Comment »

We Are Thankful for Our Volunteers This Holiday Season

Wednesday, November 23rd, 2011

Everyday hundreds of people volunteer their time and skills to give back to their community. These volunteers are so will to put the “giving” back into Thanksgiving, why not show them how thankful you are for their service?

Thanking volunteers for their time of service can sometimes be overlooked when planning a service project. These volunteers are so willing to do their work without acknowledgement so this step can be easily overlooked. So how can you include this step into your service project planning?

Here are some suggestions that may help you add acknowledgement of gracious commitment to your service project checklist!

  • The most important thing to do to make your volunteers feel appreciated is to say THANK YOU!
  • Invite a celebrity or locally elected official to visit the site and personally thank the group.
  • Arrange for someone from the organization or site that you are helping to come on site and send a personal thank you to the volunteers
  • Finish the day off with an on site luncheon or picnic to bring everyone together to reflect on the experience.
  • Have a pep rally for your volunteers complete with cheerleaders from a local high school, college, sports team, or peppy volunteers
  • Sing a meaningful song together
  • Have someone take pictures of the day with an instant camera and distribute the pictures to the volunteers at the end of the day
  • Present volunteers with pins, certificates, hats, bumper stickers, notepads, cups, or other mementos from the day.
  • Give volunteers goody bags filled with donated merchandise from local organizations or business es.
  • Give away tickets to movies or other local events
  • Hold a raffle for the volunteers
  • Give discount coupons from local restaurants, car washes, or other local services.
  • Send personalized thank you notes to volunteers for their time
  • Hold a special recognition even for all groups, volunteers, partners, etc.
  • Send holiday cards
  • Recognize volunteers at their places of worship, work, school, or civic involvement
  • Provide photos with names to newspapers, newsletters, community bulletin boards, radio stations, or television stations
  • Nominate the group for a civic engagement award
  • Ask the organization you helped to write a letter to the local newspaper editor thanking the volunteers

 

Volunteers are the backbone to any successful organization. Show them your thanks this holiday season.

Are you giving thanks for those who serve? Share your plan of action with us in the comment section below!

Related articles

Tags: , , ,
Posted in Volunteer Recognition | No Comments »

The Serve America Act, Year Two: Looking Ahead

Friday, April 30th, 2010

In the current environment, we witness service:

  • easing the effects of a recession that has one in ten people jobless;
  • strengthening our nonprofits at a time when their services have never been more needed;
  • through partnerships, bridging the gaps left by state and local governments whose budgets have been slashed so that schools are furloughing teachers, state parks are closing, govt offices and libraries have reduced hours, after-school programs have been eliminated; and
  • propelling a civic-minded millennial generation just entering the workforce, who want to make a difference, are tech-savvy, and love a challenge; they are 75 million strong.

As it has been just over a year since the passing of the Serve America Act,  I’m thinking about the power of an extensive push to fully implement the Act and the power of the positive change that could unleash.

The passage of the Act was an all-too-rare example of bipartisanship.

It’s clear that we need to seize the momentum created by a dramatic confluence of events:  urgent economic needs, a President committed to service, a huge civic-minded generation of young people, and our own passion to truly make service part of our schools, our workplaces, and our culture.

We need to look at what and how we teach, how we rate companies, how companies incent their employees, how government and nonprofits partner with each other, how we measure success and how we benchmark best service practices.

Looking ahead, we need to think about the intersection of  service and social innovation – how can innovative, high-impact organizations to further leverage citizen service?

We must define strategies to sustain the momentum from the Serve America Act – how can we seize the moment to fund the Act at the level it needs?  How can we demonstrate to the public and to government the high quality of programs made possible by the first investments in the Act?

We must re-imagine service – how can communities leverage volunteers effectively to drive real social change?

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Posted in Equip, Impact, Inspire, Michelle Nunn, Mobilize, Service, Volunteering, Volunteerism | No Comments »

Newer Entries »