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 Call to Action |
| The Biggest King Day of Service Ever? |
| For the last several years, VolunteerMatch has reminded organizations about the King Day of Service. This year is no different -- the Day of Service, which takes place on January 19, 2008, is coming up. Make plans today to get your listings updated, and consider new opportunities that can inspire and engage new volunteers in your organization's work. |
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| So what is different this year? In a word: everything. |
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| Changing Times, New Energy |
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| Where to start? The economy, for one. This year, nonprofits have an added incentive to collaborate with volunteers who are interested in stepping in to work on the mountainous social and environmental issues in our communities. |
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| Then there's the recent election. A zeitgeist of hope, energy, and collaboration has opened up for millions of Americans who have discovered their voice and strength as members of the community. Sure, many of these folks are young -- but plenty are boomers, working moms, thirty-somethings, and so on. |
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| But perhaps the biggest difference is history. The day after the King Day of Service, Americans will join with the world in inaugurating America's first black President. As a product of mixed racial and national heritage, as a member of the middle class, and as a person of tremendous ability who has often put it to the service of others, the President-elect is a living, breathing embodiment of King's dream of a Beloved Community. So emotions and the desire for action will be higher than ever. |
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| All the factors for a great Day of Service are coming together. Now it's time to make sure your organization is doing its part. |
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| How to Get Ready for the Day of Service |
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| Once again this year, VolunteerMatch has partnered with our friends at MLKDay.gov to give nonprofits the resources you need to succeed, and volunteers a single point of entry in their search. Through the partnership, all your VolunteerMatch listings will be available at MLKDay.gov. |
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| In addition, check out the MLKDay.gov Resources for Organizations page. Here you'll find tips on creating projects, reaching out to supporters, and organizing volunteers to make the most of the day. |
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| At VolunteerMatch, the Key is Keywords |
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| Once you've planned out your MLK Day engagement strategy, it's time to update your account at VolunteerMatch. To get your listings picked up in our feed at MLK Day, be sure to use keywords like "MLK," "King Day," "Day of Service," "Martin Luther King," or "I have a dream" in your opportunity's title or description. Otherwise, we may miss you. |
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| For example, you may want to add a sentence like "Join us on MLK Day of Service for an open house event." |
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| One Day Is Just the Start |
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| Here's something to think about. One day of volunteering, no matter how big, will not solve all of our problems. But with help from you, a Day of Service that successfully introduces new volunteers to your cause, your programs and your team can go a long way toward increasingly your capacity to make a difference. And that's saying a lot. |
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| Get ready for the King Day of Service today at MLKDay.gov. Then update your account at VolunteerMatch.org. |
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| New Partnership |
| VolunteerMatch & Kenneth Cole |
| In a partnership that brings together the fashion world's most visible proponent of social change with the Internet's most popular volunteering network, Kenneth Cole and VolunteerMatch have teamed up to inspire Americans to make a difference in local communities. |
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| Long known for advertising and marketing to raise awareness on issues such as AIDS and homelessness, to commemorate the company's 25th anniversary, Kenneth Cole launched the Awearness Fund, a not-for-profit initiative that celebrates, encourages, and empowers acts of service, volunteerism and social change. |
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| As part of the initiative, an Awearness/Volunteer Web site, powered by VolunteerMatch, is now accessible from www.awearness.com (and at kiosks within select Kenneth Cole retail locations). |
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| In addition to the VolunteerMatch partnership, Cole announced several other volunteer-related projects, including: |
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A new book, Awearness: Inspiring Stories About How to Make a Difference. Conceived and edited by Cole, the book is comprised of ninety essays from contributors including some known names like Lance Armstrong, Rosario Dawson, Jon Bon Jovi, and Mayor Gavin Newsom, and some names you may not know but whose stories you won't likely forget. As a resource guide, the book also includes tips from VolunteerMatch on subjects including employee volunteering, service-learning, group volunteering, and corporate social responsibility, along with other useful information. |
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The Awearness Blog, with the mission to encourage a relevant and inspiring dialogue for social change. The blog also includes a volunteer opportunity search widget, powered by VolunteerMatch. |
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The Awearness Alliance, a community of dedicated volunteers who strive to make a difference through service and volunteerism. |
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Sponsorship on VolunteerMatch.org of opportunity searches within the 240 ZIP codes of Kenneth Cole's headquarters of New York City. |
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| "No fashion designer has been more synonymous with social change and community involvement than Kenneth Cole, and this partnership demonstrates that his commitment is just as vital and innovative as ever," said Greg Baldwin, president of VolunteerMatch. "We're proud to support the Awearness initiative." |
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| Learn more at www.awearness.com. |
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| Cultivating Capacity |
| Holiday Volunteers After the Holidays |
| By Jennifer Bennett, Manager of Volunteer Programs |
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| Many of us work with one-time event volunteers -- especially during the holiday season. If your program is like mine, you also have ongoing programs that run year round. How can we, as volunteer program managers, turn the abundance of energy and enthusiasm we see at this time of year into year-round volunteer engagement?
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| The key is creating a relationship -- that is, to do what we do every day: |
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| Gather Additional Information from Every Volunteer |
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| Sure, you collect their name, email addresses, and emergency contact information, but make sure you're also including questions about volunteers' professional skills, employers, and most importantly why they chose to volunteer with you. Keep this information in an easy-to-access, searchable format -- you never know when you might need someone with this skill set. |
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| Speak with Every Volunteer |
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| You may not need to have an in-depth interview with a one-time event volunteer, but you, or someone you've designated, should have a brief information gathering conversation with each person who volunteers at your event. It will allow you to reinforce how important the work each volunteer does is to the organization, and gauge the interest level and skills set of the volunteer. You'll also start to build that personal relationship. (Not sure how to get started interviewing volunteers? Attend our Webinar.) |
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| Stay in Touch |
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| You don't need to send individual emails to each event volunteer, but consider creating and sending a quarterly e-newsletter. You can spotlight the different programs you run, include interviews with stand-out volunteers, and recruit for upcoming events and programs with calls to action. Be sure to include opportunities for friends and families to volunteer together, virtual opportunities and skilled opportunities. |
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| Include All Your Volunteers in Recognition Events |
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| It doesn't need to be fancy, but make sure all volunteers, even event volunteers, are included in any recognition celebrations or events. Everyone's contributions are valuable, even if they aren't the same. |
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| With a little additional effort on your part you might be amazed at the results you can achieve. It's possible you'll find yourself with a more experienced cadre of volunteers at next year's special event -- more of this year's volunteers coming back to help next year, or maybe you'll find someone with grant writing or Web design skills who is passionate about your organization and looking to make a larger contribution. |
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| Nonprofit Spotlight |
| Michael Terlaak, Nanotechnology Research Foundation |
| By Shannon Boren, Communications Intern |
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| It may seem impossible to make significant changes on a microscopic level, but sometimes, that's exactly where you need to start! |
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| Early detection of cancer, safer alternatives to chemotherapy, and many other very big changes are resulting from research and expansion in a field that works with materials on a very small scale -- Nanotechnology. |
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| In an industry typically dominated by corporations and capitalistic ventures, the Nanotechnology Research Foundation has emerged as the first volunteer-based nonprofit focused on supporting the acceleration of nanotechnology awareness, education, recognition, funding and research -- an accomplishment that Executive Director and Founding Member Michael Terlaak is proud to be a part of. |
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| "We're creating a national synergy of scientific minds and projects to collaborate and develop a more effective means of achieving real solutions that will have significant impact," he said. |
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| After working his whole life in the financial service market, Terlaak decided to take time off from the private sector and give back to society, not knowing he'd rekindle an idea that would benefit America and mankind as a whole. |
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| In 2007, he started working with The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society to recruit volunteers and raise funds, and it was then that he began to revisit some of the basic potential applications of nanotechnologies concerning advanced cancer detection and safer alternatives to chemotherapies. |
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| Seeing the possibilities that more research and awareness could bring, he began recruiting others with knowledge and interest in the field and established the foundation in July of this year. Most impressive however, is the amount of volunteer recruitment the organization has accomplished in just a few short months, giving it legs and the momentum it needs to move forward. |
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| "We've recruited over 100 volunteers in three months including our primary Webmaster, coordinators, internet researchers, graphic artists, public speakers, grant writers, and business development and marketing specialists," said Terlaak. "We couldn't have grown so fast without VolunteerMatch.org!" |
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| Making impact across several fields including medicine, communications, heavy industry and consumer goods, nanotechnology helps discover new behaviors and properties of materials at the "nanoscale" -- i.e., one to 100 nanometers. Just a few applications of the new technology could include new filtration systems for wastewater, reduced energy consumption, and new drug delivery systems. |
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| The organization accomplishes its mission through a series of programs including education and outreach, scholarships, policy advocacy, leadership opportunities and by creating a national synergy of scientific minds and projects to achieve impactful solutions |
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| "It's amazing what can be accomplished by working with so many volunteers and a common cause," Terlaak said. "Certain events would almost be impossible to have without the participation of so many helpful volunteers." |
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| Having become so consumed with the launching of the foundation, Terlaak now finds himself with very little free time, but offers some advice to others wanting to make a difference. |
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| "You have to be passionate about what you do and the organization you are with, because volunteering can be very time consuming, but also very rewarding." |
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| Looking for volunteers to share in the passion you have for your organization? You can find them at VolunteerMatch. |
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