 Volunteer Tips |
| 6 steps to getting started as a volunteer |
| Getting involved in volunteering can be a little overwhelming at first. Here are six key steps to make sure you have a great volunteer experience: |
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| 1. Time To Give? -- First, determine how much time you have available. You don't want to over commit and leave the organization in a lurch, and you don't want to get yourself into situation where you're not enjoying the work you're doing. |
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| 2. Setting the Stage -- Next, determine what kind of environment you want to work in as a volunteer. Outdoors? Indoors? At a desk? In front of an audience? Not every organization can offer all these environments. |
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| 3. Does Cause Matter? -- Cause refers to the specific mission of an organization: the goals they are working for. Do you find yourself energized and inspired to change the world in one specific fashion? |
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| 4. Now You Can Start -- Once you’ve thought about availability, environment and cause, you're ready to search. But where do you start? We recommend VolunteerMatch.org, of course! Don’t forget our virtual opportunities, which you can do from anywhere. That means even though you're based in Ohio, you can help a Florida organization save manatees. |
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| 5. Getting Social -- Use our advanced search page to search for opportunities that are good for groups and kids and anyone else you want to bring with you to volunteer. |
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| 6. Give Back and Get Ahead -- Finally, don't be afraid to look for opportunities that can help you professionally or academically. Lots of projects will look great on your resume or your college application. The more you can find something that aligns your needs with the needs of a nonprofit organization, the more likely you are to have a great experience. |
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| Happy Volunteering! |
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 Help Build VolunteerMatch |
| Your idea could become our newest feature |
| Do you have an idea for how to make VolunteerMatch a better place to find volunteer opportunities and connect with nonprofit organizations? |
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| You might remember hearing about our Community Powered Support Page we launched a while back. Well it turns out that this is also a place to share ideas with VolunteerMatch staff and with other community members. You'll be able to hear back from the VolunteerMatch team about your idea, and even track it if and when it goes into production. |
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| Here are some of the great ideas submitted by members that are already under consideration: |
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| Ralei wants the ability to filter search results by expected time commitment. Jeanne thinks it would be great if nonprofits could see what volunteers are looking for in an opportunity, so nonprofits can actively find dedicated volunteers like her. |
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| It's easy to submit an idea -- just go to the Community Powered Support Page (make sure you're signed in at VolunteerMatch) check out what's there. Vote for what you like and add your own idea by clicking the button "Create new topic" and choosing the type "idea." |
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| You can help us build an even better VolunteerMatch by sharing your ideas with us. So post your ideas on the Community-Powered Support Page now. |
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| The Wide World of Volunteering |
| You won't be bored on a board |
| No matter what your interests, there are volunteer activities that are right for you. Join us as we explore different kinds of volunteering -- and if you're intrigued, we'll tell you how to get involved. |
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| Maybe you're an over-achiever. Maybe you've caught the do-good bug. Maybe you're determined to win a bet about how much impact you can have. Whatever you're reasoning, you've decided to start climbing the ladder of engagement. As a dedicated volunteer, what's next for you? |
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| Joining a nonprofit board is a great next step. Board service can be seen as one of the most involved forms of volunteering. You are essentially leading an organization, responsible for its survival and making decisions that affect its direction. But being on a board often requires a big time commitment and possibly even the anticipation of financial support. So be sure to set clear expectations with the nonprofit. |
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| Pretty much every nonprofit has a board -- which means there's a huge variety of opportunities out there. You can help lead animal rescue initiatives with Dreampower Animal Rescue in Colorado Springs, Colo., or make a difference in the lives of sick children by joining the board of the Kids Who Care Foundation in Tustin, Calif. You could guide the rousing sounds of the Orange County Women's Chorus in Irvine, Calif., or help set up vintage base ball games in Hartford, Conn. with Friends of Vintage Base Ball, Inc. |
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| Then again, you may also want to choose an organization that you already know. As a board member, you want to represent a nonprofit that you truly believe in, and also one that can make best use of your particular expertise and/or network. |
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| The point is, if you're looking for a way to reach that next level of impact, joining a nonprofit board is a great option. |
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| Search for board opportunities now on VolunteerMatch. |
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| Volunteer Spotlight |
| Julie Krenzer, JHHC |
| According to Julie Krenzer, she's always been a "helper" -- she simply enjoys doing things for other people. Her volunteering career evolved slowly. She remembers doing community events during her childhood as a Girl Scout, and contributing time to causes that were close to her heart, such as pets and cancer prevention. |
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| It wasn't until she joined Johns Hopkins Healthcare (JHHC) in 2001 as a project manager, however, that she was able to truly satisfy that part of her that loves to help. |
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| Click to read the rest of Julie's story... |
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