Volunteerism
Defined as the willingness of people to work on behalf of others without being motivated by financial or material gain. Voluntary employment is unpaid employment – it may be done for altruistic reasons, for example. Also it can be charity, as a hobby, community service or vocation, or for the purpose of gaining experience.
The benefits of volunteerism are numerous:
• Self satisfaction
• Altruism
• Potential learning or acquisition of new skills
• Specific benefits for the receivers of volunteer efforts
• Relaxation
• Socialization
• Status or reward
• Career opportunities
• Community improvement
Volunteer experience is becoming the key factor that tells hiring managers that you are willing to go the extra mile.
Volunteering and working for free are great ways to expand your skill set.
Volunteering involves passion, commitment and selflessness…all qualities employers look for.
Start with this site: http://www.smartvolunteer.com/UI/NonMembers/default.aspx
Smart Volunteer is a community of talented professionals committed to using their skills in socially beneficial ways… Their Motto: You got skills? We have opportunities!
*** Volunteering will differentiate you from all the thousands of other job seekers ***
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Taprootfoundation.org
Join a team of highly skilled professionals who are doing pro bono work to help a local nonprofit increase its impact.
Volunteer Your Skills – do it pro bono.
Hundreds of nonprofit organizations in your community need your help! Join thousands of top professionals who are maximizing their impact by volunteering their skills and expertise in the community.
Why Do Pro Bono?
- Create positive change – Make a tangible contribution to a nonprofit in your area.
- Use your time effectively – Volunteer on structured projects; we provide all the resources and support you need.
- Grow your skills – Tackle challenges in a new environment.
- Meet other people in your industry ? Work with other professionals from companies like Time Warner, Kraft, Deloitte, Gap, Leo Burnett, Microsoft, and many more.
How It Works
- Donate 3-5 hours per week on a 6-month pro bono project; most work is done virtually
- Participate in a 30-minute weekly conference call with your team
- Attend one in-person meeting per month with your nonprofit client
Stage 1: Select Nonprofit Client
We carefully screen hundreds of requests each year to select nonprofit clients who we think can make the biggest impact. We look for:
1. Working in our strategic areas:
- Arts
- Education
- Social Services
- Environment
- Health
2. Effective programs
3. Strong management and governance
4. Healthy and stable finances
5. Clear and compelling need for assistance
Stage 2: Prepare for the Project
We assign a volunteer team leader (Account Director) to the project, who meets with the nonprofit client to:
- Confirm the scope of the project
- Define the decision-making process
- Determine if they?re ready to start
Then, the Account Director:
- Assembles a team of qualified volunteers based on the scope of the project.
Stage 3: Project Kick-off & Discovery
The volunteer team meets with the nonprofit client to:
- Confirm the project plan
- Define desired outcomes
- Begin understanding the needs and stakeholders for the project
Then, works virtually to:
- Interview stakeholders
- Analyze existing materials and practices
- Compile findings into a brief
Stage 4: Development & Delivery
Working virtually, the volunteer team:
- Develops a draft direction
- Gets feedback from the client
- Makes 1-2 sets of revisions on each deliverable
Then:
- Presents the final deliverables to the nonprofit client for approval
- Trains the nonprofit client, if necessary
- Celebrates completion of the project
Stage 5: Evaluation
We evaluate all projects to measure impact and identify areas for improvement. This includes:
- Collecting post-project surveys from the volunteer team and nonprofit
- Following up with the nonprofit to collect quantitative measurements on the project?s long-term impact
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Laid-Off Folks Can Do Well …. Doing Good!!
Volunteer jobs are catching on among laid-off workers, giving them valuable career experience and aiding nonprofits. Check this site: http://alturl.com/wes
The article offers these pointers:
- Volunteering is the best way break into a nonprofit
- Volunteers can catch the eye of board members — who are often corporate executives or senior managers — looking for employees
- Volunteering has offered a sense of purpose and connection, while brightening the jobseeker’s outlook
- Volunteering means you are supporting causes you care about, plus you can bolster skills that will help you find a new position