Your organization is trying to solve real problems – in your community, in the country, and in the world. Like many organizations, however, chances are you don’t feel the support you need to really change things.

Texas Hunger Initiative (THI) has found a way to address this problem: Focus locally for global impact. Through its unique model of encouraging “informed engagement,” THI has amplified the impact of volunteering in its community, making real strides in the fight against hunger.

How to Solve Global Problems with Local Engagement

Register for this free event.
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
11am – 12pm PT (2-3pm ET)

Follow along with the conversation on Twitter: @VolunteerMatch and #vmlearn.

For this month’s Nonprofit Insights webinar, join THI founder Jeremy Everett and Carol Rigby-Hiebert, a community volunteer in San Angelo, Texas, to learn about THI’s model for tackling hunger by mobilizing communities and volunteers at a micro level – for macro results.

About Our Speakers:

Jeremy Everett is the founding Director of the Texas Hunger Initiative (THI), a capacity-building project within the Baylor University School of Social Work. THI is a partner of the United States Department of Agriculture, Texas state agencies, and a number of other national and state based anti-hunger and poverty organizations that seek to develop and implement strategies to alleviate hunger through research, policy, education, community organizing and community development.

Jeremy was recently (2012) recognized for his work in social engagement by the University of Texas LBJ School’s Strauss Center for International Security and Law as a Next Generation Project Fellow. He is the co-author of “Advancing Childhood Food Security through Organizing Strategies.” Jeremy is married to Amy Miley Everett and they have two sons: Lucas and Sam.

A 34-year resident of San Angelo, Texas, Carol Rigby-Hiebert is an avid volunteer and advocate for the vulnerable in her community. She, with the help of fellow San Angelo resident Mary Herbert and others in their community, helped establish one of Texas Hunger Initiative’s very first pilot projects in 2009. Together, Carol and Mary have planned, developed and implemented efforts to alleviate hunger in Tom Green County, including providing summer meals when school is not in session and identifying local resources for food.

Carol has served in the public sector for 20 years, including more than 10 years of service as a San Angelo City Clerk. She has also worked in the private sector for 15 years, including eight years as an insurance office manager.

Along with her efforts in the Tom Green County Hunger Initiative, Carol volunteers with Southland Baptist Church as a HOPE Market Coordinator, the Junior League of San Angelo and as a Court Appointed Special Advocate – Guardian Ad Litem.

Register for this Nonprofit Insights webinar now.

This was a chance to see, in numbers, how Americans are volunteering, where they are and who is most involved. We learned some fascinating statistics, and our audience had the opportunity to ask some very applicable questions and discuss how to apply this new info to their own volunteer engagement strategies.

Looking at the Numbers

The Corporation for National and Community Service makes volunteering statistics engaging and relevant for organizations. (infographic provided by VCLA 2012 website)

The VCLA 2012 study presented some fascinating numbers relating to different demographics, regions and service categories in America:

• According to the research, 35 to 44 year-olds volunteer the most.
• Older people tend to volunteer more with religious organizations than any others.
• College graduates and employed individuals volunteer more than unemployed people
• Young people volunteer mostly in youth and educational organizations.

While we often think of numbers as boring and not very personal, Dr. Spera and Mr. Nerino taught us just how important looking at the statistics can be. Because we usually think about how we can engage volunteers, it was helpful to look at the numbers for more directed insights. Greg Baldwin did a great job as mediator, asking questions about the VCLA 2012 facts and engaging the two Corporation speakers on how such data could be relevant to organizations.

Applying Stats to Volunteer Engagement: What Do They Mean for Your Organization?

• Did you know that one of the most active volunteering demographics is parents with younger children? Mothers especially have the highest rates of volunteer engagement, and this group tends to focus on education and religious opportunities. Perhaps you could consider offering child care at your next charity or school volunteer day.

• Another interesting fact is that rural residents volunteer the most, with suburban residents a close second. Why do you think that people living in cities volunteer the least? One hypothesis is that urban residents have to worry more about transportation to and from volunteer opportunities. Perhaps providing a shuttle service to volunteering events or bus vouchers could entice more people to volunteer.

Ideas like these kept coming up as our presenters reviewed the VCLA 2012 data. Our audience was also curious to know the “why” behind some of these fascinating numbers and seemed to take away some applicable theories of their own. All of us found a new appreciation for numbers after this webinar, as well as a better understanding of what they mean for volunteer engagement.

Want to learn more about the Volunteering and Civic Life in America 2012 study and the Corporation for National and Community Service? Visit the VCLA 2012 website, watch our webinar on Youtube, or view and download the webinar slides from Slideshare.

Don’t miss our next Nonprofit Insights Webinar, How to Solve Global Problems with Local Engagement, coming up May 29th. We will be speaking with Texas Hunger Initiative (THI) about how local organizations can fight global issues like hunger with volunteer engagement. Register today!

Stephanie Rosenburg is a Communications & Social Media Intern at VolunteerMatch. You can reach her at srosenburg@volunteermatch.org and follow her at @smrosenburg.

Raymond, a dedicated volunteer at Total Family Support Clinic.

I am proud to say that today, I work for a nonprofit organization called the Total Family Support Clinic in Downtown Los Angeles.

Since moving to Los Angeles 5 years ago from Brooklyn NY, I have spent the majority of that time working in the glitzy entertainment industry that many often associate with this city. Like many who are thrust into this world, I eventually became disillusioned with the lack of meaning my entertainment positions provided.

After much debate, I decided to make a change and leave the lavish entertainment world in search of something more, something that was more beneficial to humanity, and ultimately something that would allow me to be more fulfilled.

I am proud to say that today I have found that something. Since I started at the Total Family Support Clinic, I have opened myself up to so many new and wonderful opportunities.

The first being the opportunity to witness a completely new side of the city I live in. Beyond the celebrities and below the manicured lawns that lie to the north is a completely different Los Angeles. Even though this side of Los Angeles is one filled more with despair than achievement, I have found that it radiates with a current of hope. I have seen this hope in both the talented counselors I work with and the population our clinic serves.

This past week, I was fortunate enough to participate in our free weekly food distribution. This is a far cry from the weekly PR updates I used to distribute, but so much more rewarding.

The Total Family Support Clinic provides everything from produce to canned goods to fresh meat to the hundreds of families that depend on us. Watching hungry children leave the clinic with a smile would have been enough to brighten my day, but I think witnessing families offer to volunteer with TFSC because they felt indebted to us, was even more touching. It really showed just how meaningful a helping hand can be and how the spirit of giving back is so contagious.

One of the hats I wear at TFSC is volunteer coordinator – people from all walks of life are coming in: lawyers, teachers, people in recovery, to give their time and efforts. Though they all may be from different backgrounds, everyone has the purpose of giving back. The amazing juxtaposition of a business professional giving out free food to a man that doesn’t even own shoes is incredible. It makes me feel invigorated and motivated to do more.

I asked one of our volunteers, Raymond, why he comes every single week, and he simply said because he hopes someone would help him out if he needed it . Seeing that beautiful glimpse of humanity working together is enough to make everyone work harder.

Days like this solidify the hard decision I made months ago. I have truly found that “something” I was looking for and I know as long as I work for an organization so dedicated to serving their population, that “something” will come often. I am so blessed in my new life here and I hope you join me on this journey as I continue to explore and participate in this new world.

Please know, the free food distribution is just one of the many amazing services the Total Family Support Clinic provides. If you want to learn more please visit our website at www.totalfamilysupport.org.

Jessica Vaysman is a 27-year-old New York transplant documenting her journey into the world of nonprofits.

It’s easy to get bogged down in the day-to-day tasks of volunteer coordination and management, but how often do we think about all the things our volunteers are teaching us?

“My volunteers have taught me…”

At the revived and upcoming Nonprofit Boot Camp, Silicon Valley nonprofits will have the chance to learn from experts and each other. What we want to know is: What do we all learn from our volunteers?

VolunteerMatch has decided to have some fun with this, so we’ve created a contest! Now’s your chance to honor your volunteers and share tips, inspiration and other lessons you’ve learned from your volunteers. Answer our question and you could win one of five scholarships to the upcoming Nonprofit Boot Camp, Silicon Valley!

Enter now for your chance to win!

To enter, click this link and add your volunteer lessons in the comment section. Creative and inspirational entries encouraged!

Winners will be chosen by popularity vote, based on the number of “likes” each comment gets. So make sure to “like” your favorites and get your friends to help you out too.

Each of the top five entries will receive a pass to the Nonprofit Boot Camp, Silicon Valley. This includes the full-day conference, networking sessions and workshops, as well as breakfast and lunch.

Please note: We can only award scholarships to those able to attend the Nonprofit Boot Camp, in Mountain View, CA on June 12. Each scholarship is good for one event pass, which covers the full-day conference, workshops and networking, as well as breakfast and lunch; transportation and hotel are not provided.

As an added bonus, all entries have the chance to be included in a special Volunteer Inspiration booklet, which we’ll have available to download at the Boot Camp.

The contest ends May 30, so don’t waste time – share what you’ve learned from your volunteers now!

Don’t drop the ball. Follow up.

You use VolutneerMatch to connect with the volunteers you need, but what happens next? Following up is an important part of the recruitment process. It’s the first opportunity for your organization to engage new volunteers. For this month’s tip I’ll teach you how to use the tools in your VolunteerMatch account to follow up with everyone who expresses interest in your opportunities.

Following up does not have to be a long, involved process. Most of the time a simple ‘Thank You’ note will work. You can also use follow up messaging to inform volunteers of next steps in your on-boarding process. If your organization has a Community Leader subscription you can even create customized questions that are sent out automatically.

When you post an opportunity on our site it will be visible to thousands of individuals within our network. Each time an interested volunteer clicks the ‘I Want to Help!’ button we will automatically save their contact information into your VolunteerMatch account. You can use this information in your follow up process by accessing your Referral Report.

To learn how to access the Referral Report watch this short Tools Training Video.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AC0GdxC97ek

Use the information stored in your Referral Report to send out follow up messaging to prospective volunteers. Let them know you received their inquiry and inform them about next steps. Schedule a phone interview, send them additional paperwork or invite them to register on your website. Taking the time to follow up promotes engagement and retention, so make sure your organization doesn’t drop the ball.

Do you have any tips for following up with volunteers? Share them in the comments below! 

There are inspiring stories everywhere – as nonprofits who work with dedicated volunteers, you know that better than anyone. But when you turn on the tube or surf the net, it’s often hard to find them.

This is the story of how I’m trying to make the stories of people who go above and beyond to help others – people like you and your volunteers – more visible.

After reporting the news on TV for about eight years, I realized didn’t want to bring you stories of death and destruction anymore. Many people have told me that instead, they want to see stories of volunteerism, inspiration and community.

So I did something about it! I quit my TV gig and ventured into my new GIG – Go Inspire Go, a multi-platform website dedicated to telling authentic stories of everyday community heroes, leveraging social media to build community and spark action.

I’m sure each and every one of you has witnessed the incredible dedication and impact of volunteers. We want to get their story, and yours, out to the world. Know of someone who fits this description? Please tell us about them.

I truly believe that a story well told will further inspire you and your community to become civically engaged.

Here are some examples of great stories:

1. Nico Castro, a 6-year-old “Halloween hero,” who is battling brain cancer but wanted to bring the Halloween spirit to his sick friends at the hospital.
2. Jorge Munoz, a school bus driver in Queens, NY, by day and “Angel in Queens” by night. For the past decade, Jorge has spent half of his modest salary buying groceries so he and his family could cook and deliver their home made meals to more than 150 hungry and often homeless people at the subway stop every night.
3. Ron Holt, a psychiatrist who cut back on his work hours and spends his own money and time speaking to students and professionals about the biology of sexuality, impact of bullying and living your authentic self.

GoInspireGo (GIG) shed light on these everyday heroes and helped multiply their movements by sharing their stories.

For the past four years, my all-volunteer team and I have been bootstrappin’ it to find inspiring content that sparks civic engagement. Content that awakens something inside you to action. And people tell us they want more!

It takes a village to create more stories, however.

We need your help.

We can do this together.

We’re launching a campaign called 50I50 to highlight 50 heroes in 50 states, and we’re inviting you to support a superhero and join our movement to inspire:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9Z_QA69X3E

Through my new GIG, I know that there are everyday heroes out there that are living examples of generosity, goodness and selfless service. GIG can connect and inspire these communities.

Your small acts, and those of your volunteers = BIG, meaningful changes. Help us multiply our movement and uncover more everyday heroes that make it their GIG to give back.

Tell us about ordinary people doing extraordinary good in your community.

Now we’re excited to announce some great upgrades to Community Leader to make the service even more valuable, and make it even easier for you to connect with the volunteers you need:

Show Prospective Volunteers Your Impact with More Photos

We’ve found that the most successful volunteer opportunities in the VolunteerMatch network contain photos. So we decided to make it even easier for you to include photos with each of your listings.

Now nonprofits with Community Leader accounts can add a unique photo for up to 20 volunteer listings. So you can use the power of your own photos to show prospective volunteers how they can make a difference working with you.

Get the Info You Need with More Custom Questions

Now when a volunteer clicks “I want to help,” on your listing, you can ask them up to five custom questions, increased from three questions.

This feature enables you to get valuable information about prospective volunteers right at the moment they express interest in your opportunity. Essentially, you can pre-screen your volunteers, saving time that you’d otherwise spend calling them or emailing them.

If you’re running a big volunteer event such as a race or a phone-a-thon, you can use these questions to ask about T-shirt sizes, food choices, shift sign-ups, etc. For example, need to know a prospective volunteer’s T-shirt size? You can now require them to choose from a drop-down menu when they express interest in your opportunity.

These upgrades to Community Leader make this premium service even more valuable for nonprofits to engage volunteers. And we want all our nonprofit members to be able to try it out and make sure it’s a good fit. Right now, use promo code CLPROMO2013 to get three free months of Community Leader – this works for both new and existing Community Leader subscribers.

Head to your VolunteerMatch account now and try the newly upgraded Community Leader package!

Creating a Virtuous Cycle of Engagement for Millennials | Frogloop

There seems to be a growing disconnect between Millennials who believe they are supporting activism versus what organizations see as truly engaged participation. In this post Kari Dunn Saratovsky shares some ideas from her recently released book “Cause for Change,” co-authored with Derrick Feldmann, for how to build your organization’s Millennial engagement strategy.

My least favorite fundraising framing: Shame | Katya’s Non-Profit Marketing Blog

UNICEF Sweden has created quite a buzz in the nonprofit marketing world with their campaign telling people that liking their Facebook page doesn’t actually help. In this post Katya Andresen from Network for Good shares her opinion – what’s yours?

Volunteer Retention is Worth Your Time and Effort | Event 360

Written before the Boston Marathon bombings, this post by Michele Campbell of King Fish Media about how nonprofit organizations can treat their volunteers to instill deep loyalty. After the tragic events of that day, this post rings even truer to inspire volunteer appreciation.

2013 NTC Round-Up: Your Takeaways | NTEN

Whether you were at this year’s Nonprofit Technology Conference (NTC) in person or not, don’t miss out on the mountains of great resources that have come out of the event. Here’s a great round-up from NTEN itself of collaborative session notes, reflective NTC blog posts, fun videos and more.

Fortunately, the Social Media for Nonprofits conference series makes this dream a reality. These conferences are designed to help you leverage social media for your volunteering program, fundraising and general outreach.

VolunteerMatch is a global partner of the Social Media for Nonprofits series – because we truly think this is the premier conference series dedicated to social media for social good. Each event features an impressive lineup of local and national experts and practitioners that present best practices for you to use social media in your work. Not to mention all the great networking!

Special Discount for VolunteerMatch Members

As part of our partnership, we’re offering special discounts to VolunteerMatch members for Social Media for Nonprofits conferences. Just use the code “VMatch” when registering. (Note: this discount is for the middle and high-level registration – it unfortunately does not apply to the lowest price level.)

Attention Bay Area: The Return of Boot Camp

But wait, there’s an extra-special opportunity for those of you in the San Francisco Bay Area! The folks at Social Media for Nonprofits are bringing back Nonprofit Boot Camp, what was once the most popular nonprofit gathering in Bay Area history.

Boot Camp is a highly practical conference designed to connect nonprofit leaders to the resources, best practices and contacts needed to create a better world. In other words, get ready to meet a lot of inspiring people and learn a lot of practical things.

VolunteerMatch is taking part in Boot Camp this year by organizing the “Ask the Experts” mentoring sessions – an opportunity for attendees to have one-on-one coaching time with experts in areas like marketing, fundraising, strategic planning, board development… More on this after you register.

More Special Opportunities for VolunteerMatch Members

Additionally, we’re giving away scholarships to nonprofits in the Bay Area so more of you can attend Boot Camp. Stay tuned for more information on how to win one of these scholarships.

Upcoming Dates

Boston
Monday, May 20
Cambridge, MA

Nonprofit Boot Camp
Wednesday, June 12
Mountain View, CA

Silicon Valley
Thursday, June 13
Mountain View, CA

Vancouver
Tuesday, June 25
Vancouver, BC

Washington, D.C.
Monday, July 15
Washington, D.C.

Austin
Tuesday, August 13
Austin, TX

Register now for a Social Media for Nonprofits event near you!

Have you registered for one of our free webinars yet?

This May we have exciting news to share: We’re adding two new sessions to our webinar schedule, both focused on volunteer engagement. We’ve also rolled out the remainder of our 2013 webinar calendar. New dates are now available in our Learning Center.

Read more about our two all-new webinars below. Each one focuses on an important aspect of volunteer engagement.

Build Staff Buy-In for Volunteer Engagement

Is your organization open to engaging volunteers in new ways? Often one of the biggest challenges to a new model of volunteer engagement is the resistance of paid staff. Often attitudes and fears of our co-workers prevent us from expanding the work that volunteers do. In this webinar we’ll discuss strategies for working with paid staff to engage volunteers. We’ll cover how you can train and support your coworkers as they become responsible for managing volunteers.

Developing a Strategic Plan for Volunteer Engagement

In this webinar you’ll learn how to create a strategic plan for volunteer engagement for your organization. We’ll tell you which components need to be included in your plan. And we’ll share ideas for working with organization leaders to include strategic goals for volunteer engagement in your organization’s overall strategic plan.

If you missed one of our webinars earlier this year, not to worry. We host each title multiple times throughout the year, including the following:

Fighting Hunger Together: Create Compelling Opportunities on VolunteerMatch

Using common volunteer opportunities from hunger relief organizations we’ll discuss best practices for creating listings on VolunteerMatch that will appeal to the volunteers you’re looking for to run your programs. We’ll look at before and after listings, and we’ll discuss how to use our Premium Account tools to pre-screen and get to know prospective volunteers before you talk to them. Sample descriptions, custom questions, and useful examples will be provided.

Measuring Success: How to Strategically Assess Your Program

Your volunteer engagement program can be measured by more than just the hours a volunteer gives your organization. What other kinds of information should you keep track of, and how do you know if you’re doing a good job with your volunteer engagement program? This webinar will help you think through both the quantitative and qualitative information you can use to evaluate your program.

To view our full webinar calendar, visit our Learning Center.