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Transform Your Volunteer Appreciation: Become a Service Enterprise Organization

Often organizations that I have worked with and supported pre-COVID had a big volunteer appreciation event, but during the pandemic those events had to be put on pause, so organizations began to ask volunteers how they really wanted to be appreciated. Many said a simple and genuine thank you, to use their time well and to include them in the organization. What better way to show volunteer appreciation than to invest in improving how your organization engages and supports them? During

Global Volunteer Month

, I encourage you to take a moment, pause and reflect on how your organization is engaging the skills, talents and time that volunteers are giving.

  • Do you have opportunities for volunteers to serve throughout your departments or service lines your organization offers?
  • Do you have volunteers and pro-bono services sprinkled throughout the organization chart?
  • Does your organization’s culture embrace volunteers as a key resource for realizing your mission?

If your organization’s culture doesn’t yet have answers to these questions, start by exploring how your organization can participate in Points of Light’s

Service Enterprise Program

, run by

AL!VE

(Association of Leaders in Volunteer Engagement). In addition to giving your volunteers a token gift and/or celebratory event, you can showcase all of the work your organization was able to accomplish due to their contributions, assure them that you are investing their time and talents in the most impactful ways, and that the organization recognizes and appreciates all that volunteers bring to the organization. This transformation doesn’t happen overnight, but with the help of our Service Enterprise Program, you can begin to evolve the organization’s culture through this change management process that helps nonprofit organizations effectively and efficiently leverage the time and talent of volunteers to help deliver their social mission. We realize that you may have a great

volunteer engagement

program, but to take it to the next level, to truly integrate volunteer engagement into the organization culture, you are going to need more. Service Enterprise helps your organization through this change management process. First, we facilitate a self-assessment research-based diagnostic and offer a debrief that will help your organization recognize the strengths and areas of opportunity that currently exist. Together, we select a team that will carry the organization through the change management process and bring together leadership, volunteer engagement professionals and more. The team attends training and has dedicated time and activities to focus on better engaging and supporting volunteers (and often all human capital) at the organization. You will also join a network of peers working toward operating as a Service Enterprise. This network often shares resources and helps each other along the journey. Your Service Enterprise Trainer will provide you with additional coaching and support to meet unique needs and address challenges within your organization. Imagine, at your next volunteer appreciation event or in your April 2024 newsletter, you’ll be able to tell your volunteers that you not only appreciate the way that they continue to lean in and fight for your cause by sharing their time and talents, but your organization has achieved the national volunteer engagement accreditation of Service Enterprise. As a Service Enterprise certified organization, they’ll know that their time is well invested when they spend it advocating for your mission. To learn more about Service Enterprise or how to connect with volunteer engagement professionals across the country contact Kayla Paulson at

[email protected]

or (319) 310-0901.

6 Influencers Using Social Media for a Good Cause This Global Volunteer Month

Social media provides an opportunity for those advocating for causes to make their

voices

heard, spread awareness and garner widespread support. By reaching audiences across the nation and the globe, social media influencers can harness their social impact by educating and informing the masses on current-day issues, solutions and organizations working to create change. Here we’re featuring six changemakers who partnered with Points of Light during

Global Volunteer Month

throughout April to amplify this movement through their social media platforms. Their messaging lent support to promote volunteerism in communities around the world.

6 posts using social media for a good cause

Taylor Moxey

The

Taylor Moxey Foundation

was created to empower literacy for children and families worldwide through local sustainable libraries, education and arts programs. The organization’s founder, Taylor Moxey, is passionate about the power of reading to promote creativity and innovation in both children and adults. This young philanthropist is already a published author, award-winner and creator of a daily mantra card deck. The three Florida-based Taylor Moxey libraries are constructed of pod-style buildings created from repurposed shipping containers, providing a sustainable approach to creating more spaces for youth and families to cultivate their love of reading and education. You can

meet Taylor here

and see her Global Volunteer Month post on

Instagram

.

View this post on Instagram

A post shared by TAYLOR MOXEY ®️ (@taylor_moxey)

Dani Aravich

Dani Aravich

is a Paralympian, adaptive model and disability advocate. Born without her left hand and forearm, Dani has represented the United States at the summer and winter Paralympic Games. She fiercely advocates for inclusion in the outdoors for people with disabilities. From playing sports from a young age and excelling against non-disabled peers, Dani went on to a decorated career in professional sports, including track and field, Nordic skiing, trail running, backcountry skiing and more. She advocates for disability inclusion in sports and is currently working toward establishing an avalanche course for people with disabilities. Meet

Dani

and see her Global Volunteer Month post on

Instagram

.

 
View this post on Instagram
 

A post shared by Dani Aravich (@theonearmdan)

Sir Darius Brown

Sir Darius Brown is a powerhouse teen social entrepreneur, speaker, shelter pet advocate, philanthropist, recipient of the Global Child Prodigy Award and founder & CEO of

Beaux & Paws

, where he designs and creates handmade stylish bow ties for dogs in animal shelters. At the age of 2, Sir Darius was diagnosed with speech comprehension and fine motor skills delay. But by the age of 8, his fine motor skills started to improve after he began assisting his older sister with cutting fabric and learning how to use a sewing machine. During this time, he discovered his passion for making bow ties. Beaux & Paws was founded during the devastation of Hurricane Harvey and Hurricane Irma, in an effort to help displaced pups become more adoptable with adorable bow ties that help them look their best. Meet

Sir Darius

and see his Global Volunteer Month post on

Instagram

.

 
View this post on Instagram
 

A post shared by Sir Darius Brown (@sirdariusbrown)

Trevon Jenifer

Paralympic Gold medalist and advocate

Trevon Jenifer

was born with congenital amputation, but that didn’t stop him from becoming a successful track athlete and top wrestler in high school. In 1992, Trey started playing wheelchair basketball with team Air Capital in Washington D.C., eventually becoming a three-year captain and two-time All-American for the Edinboro men’s wheelchair basketball team. He then played professional basketball for two years overseas in France. A published author, husband and father, Trey is an advocate for equality and equity, shining his light on issues that individuals with disabilities face within our society. Since embarking on the Paralympic stage in 2009, Trey has continued to empower all athletes on all levels in their respective sports. He uses his athletic platform to spark difficult conversations with high-ranking personnel within government, corporations and private agencies Meet

Trevon

and see his Global Volunteer Month post on

Instagram

.

 
View this post on Instagram
 

A post shared by Trey Jenifer (@treyjenifer)

Hollis Belger

Eighteen-year-old Hollis Belger founded

Juggling for Jude

when she realized she had a knack for juggling — a skill she recognized after joining a competitive soccer team at age 8. Through a combination of soccer juggling, appearances at special events and public speaking, Hollis has raised more than $660,000 for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, with the help of thousands of individual donors, juggler volunteers and partners supporting her cause. Hollis has since become an advocate for youth in philanthropy, speaking and writing about how young people can take a passion and turn it into a way to get involved with the causes they care about. Having completed a Certificate in Philanthropy and Nonprofit Organizations through Northwestern University’s School of Professional Studies, she’s currently working with Howard Moskowitz, PhD, a pioneer in the field of consumer analytics and market segmentation. Together they are applying his research methodology and technology to help St. Jude and other nonprofits and philanthropists communicate with their audiences for maximum return. Meet

Hollis

and see her Global Volunteer Month post on

Instagram

.

 
View this post on Instagram
 

A post shared by Juggling for Jude (@juggling_for_jude)

Shreya and Sahana Mantha

Shreya and Sahana Mantha created the

Foundation for Girls

in 2012 to economically empower marginalized women and support their children. Since economic empowerment is the way to financial independence for women, these sisters spotted an opportunity to utilize their knowledge and passion to pave the way for future generations of women to be more equipped for economic success. The organization’s four-pillared approach invests in women to become financially savvy, digitally capable, career confident and socially connected. The programs are based on the organization’s theory of change model and are crucial enablers for women to accomplish their financial, career and personal goals. Through FFG programs, women summon the courage to commit to action which builds competence and, in turn, gives them confidence. Meet

Shreya and Sahana

and see their Global Volunteer Month post on

Instagram

.

 
View this post on Instagram
 

A post shared by Foundation For Girls (@foundationforgirls)

L.A. Works Uses Social Media During Global Volunteer Month for Volunteer Recruitment and Recognition

We’re in the final stretch of

Global Volunteer Month

2023, and continuing to celebrate individuals and organizations around the world affecting change and advocating for social good. We’ve been featuring a handful of

Points of Light Global Network

affiliates who are positively impacting their communities through volunteer recruitment, recognition and special events throughout April. The Points of Light Global Network operates with a network of innovative volunteer-mobilizing organizations that serve more than 145 affiliates across 39 countries around the world. Together, we are inspiring, equipping and mobilizing more people to use their time, talent and resources to create positive change in their communities.

L.A. Works

is a member of the Points of Light Global Network and is Los Angeles’ largest volunteer action center. The organization aims to unite Angelenos and inspire action for a more equitable Los Angeles. We spoke with Samantha Wheeler, director of communications at L.A. Works, to talk about why volunteering matters and how the organization utilizes its resources to uplift volunteers and the overall mission.

How is your organization recognizing Global Volunteer Month this year?

L.A. Works has volunteers across many different categories and programs, and we intend to highlight them across social media this month. We have reels and posts planned to highlight corporate volunteers, volunteers who are over 55, FAVE volunteer families, climate action/disaster preparedness teams, VISTA members and general volunteers.

What resources or tools are you providing to volunteers to help them get involved in their community?

We utilize our website, social media, tabling events and canvassing to get people involved.

How are you recognizing and thanking volunteers for their contributions during Global Volunteer Month?

We are using a social media campaign to thank all of our volunteers – from corporate volunteers to family volunteers and all in between – for their service.

What role does volunteerism play in your organization’s overall mission and objectives?

Volunteering is the heart of what we do. Our purpose is to make sure that Angelenos work on local needs through hands-on service and feel empowered to address the most critical needs in Los Angeles.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give someone who’s looking to get more involved in their community through volunteerism?

Volunteering is a great way to follow your passion. We have so many volunteers come to us because there’s a specific area that they care about but maybe they don’t get to explore because of work obligations. Volunteering is an excellent way to engage in something you care about. It’s also a great way to discover a new interest. We’ve also had volunteers who discovered they had an interest in something new nurtured by a few hours of service in a specific area, not to mention the benefits of volunteering: meeting new people, learning new things, lowering blood pressure to name a few.

Hands On Atlanta Focuses on Volunteer Appreciation and Fundraising for Global Volunteer Month

As

Global Volunteer Month

moves along, making ripples of impact in communities around the world through volunteer efforts, we’re highlighting a few

Points of Light Global Network

affiliates who are positively impacting their communities through volunteer appreciation and other pathways to doing social good. The Points of Light Global Network operates with a network of innovative volunteer-mobilizing organizations that serve more than 145 affiliates across 39 countries around the world. Together, we are inspiring, equipping and mobilizing more people to use their time, talent and resources to create positive change in their communities.

Hands On Atlanta

is a member of the Points of Light Global Network, with a vision for Atlanta to be the most civically engaged and equitable community in the world. Hands On Atlanta mobilizes the Atlanta community to tackle the city’s most pressing needs. We spoke with Tim Adkins, director of marketing and communications at Hands On Atlanta, to talk about the organization’s take on Global Volunteer Month and how they are celebrating it this year.

How is your organization recognizing Global Volunteer Month this year?

This year, we’re celebrating Global Volunteer Month with our

Spring for Service

campaign. On our blog and social channels, we’ll recognize 20 volunteers throughout the month with our Volunteer Spotlights and in addition, we’ll recognize five nonprofit partners. We are also going to use the flurry of global and national days of service to mobilize the community to serve. We are promoting projects on Good Deeds Day, Earth Day, Global Youth Service Day, National Volunteer Week and other local events like 48in48. The third and final piece is a fundraiser, led by a peer-to-peer giving campaign with a goal of raising $130,000.

How are you engaging with volunteers to inspire them to participate in community service activities?

The idea is to recognize individuals and add a call to action to join them. We want to inspire others to volunteer for a big day of service.

What resources or tools are you providing to volunteers to help them get involved in their community?

We regularly share between 25-50 volunteer opportunities a day on our platform. With our software, marketing tools and website, we’ve made finding a project as quick and easy as possible.

What impact has Global Volunteer Month had on your organization and the communities you serve?

Global Volunteer Month is a tool our organization leverages to recognize and mobilize volunteers, while also supporting our spring fundraising efforts. Because we’re a part of a bigger initiative, our bet is that volunteers are more inclined to get involved and act now instead of waiting for another time. For fundraising, we draw a very clear and direct narrative to our work – we use the spotlights to tell the story and the marquee events to share the need.

What role does volunteerism play in your organization’s overall mission and objectives?

Volunteering and service is 100% of our organization’s mission. We don’t exist without our volunteers or

AmeriCorps

members.

Share one success story of a volunteer (or a group of volunteers) in your community who have made a significant impact.

Our Civic Leadership Program is the best example of “service success” at Hands On Atlanta. It’s a pretty competitive process. To qualify, members must have served at least three times in the past year. Then, once accepted, fellows are paired with a nonprofit or school for 10 months, where they host at least one project per month. They recruit volunteers, manage onsite and do all the follow-up and post-project work. They also attend quarterly leadership training workshops led by various community leaders and subject matter experts. The last piece of the program is the fundraising commitment. The program is free for fellows, but we ask they raise $500 for Hands On Atlanta. Last year our Civic Fellows engaged close to 1,000 volunteers to serve over 2,600 hours across 10 different nonprofits and eight schools, raising over $13,000 for Hands On Atlanta. Our fellows go on to do great things, like this volunteer spotlight from former fellow — now Civic Leader —

Capt. Aprille Moore

.

What are some future plans for your organization to continue promoting volunteerism and civic engagement beyond Global Volunteer Month?

We’re looking to engage and recognize volunteers throughout the year, with another large focus and push during Hands On Atlanta Week in October and MLK Day in January.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give someone who’s looking to get more involved in their community through volunteerism?

Don’t wait! Dive in, experiment, learn what you like and don’t like, meet different organizations and you’ll find something that works well for you — while doing good along the way. It’ll become a lifestyle and a part of your weekly or monthly routine. You’ll feel good, meet great people, learn about some of the challenges in the community, maybe explore new parts of town you haven’t been to and make a difference every time you serve.

Phillips 66 and UPS Sponsor Global Volunteer Month 2023

It’s Points of Light’s fourth annual

Global Volunteer Month

and this year, our sponsors are continuing to support this month of service with their generosity. Through their contributions, Points of Light is better equipped to celebrate the impact of people who volunteer and engage in civic actions that change the world. Research shows that that 73% of people believe that volunteering is more important than ever, yet 66% think they can’t make a big impact in their communities. To tackle society’s greatest challenges and build a better future, we must engage a wide range of people to make a positive difference in the world. In partnership with Phillips 66, our lead sponsor for Global Volunteer Month 2023, and our supporting sponsor UPS, we’re shining a light on the work they are doing in communities around the globe.

Phillips 66

believes that giving back and investing in community is a critical role they play as a company. Whether it’s through their Good Energy Month in April or year-round, Phillips 66 employees are encouraged and empowered to give their time and talents to improve lives and demonstrate the company values of safety, honor, and commitment. Since 2012, the company has logged 680,000 hours of service from employee volunteers and invested $280 million into local communities. Whether it be education equity, environmental sustainability, social advancement or safety and wellbeing, Phillips 66 is using its resources of capital and people power to advance the causes their employees and communities care about.

At

UPS

, service is in their DNA. The UPS Foundation leverages their company’s people, business assets and philanthropic resources globally to address the systemic inequities and injustice that contribute to poverty and prevent people and communities from thriving. Their vision is to create a more equitable and just world, and their philanthropic approach centers on equity and justice through four focus areas: Health and Humanitarian Relief, Equity and Economic Empowerment, Local Community Engagement and Planet Protection – what they refer to as their HELP pillars. The company is committed to serving 30 million volunteer hours by 2030, and saw 2 million volunteer service hours recorded in 2022 alone, with over 529,000 volunteer hours recorded in underserved Black communities.

The UPS Foundation

has invested $120.8 million globally and has planted 22 million trees to date.

As these companies and many others engage employees throughout Global Volunteer Month, it’s important to keep in mind that volunteer recognition helps promote active participation and strengthens ESG programs. If you’re leading a project or team for Global Volunteer Month, consider nominating one of your employee volunteers for the

Daily Point of Light Award

or the

President’s Volunteer Service Award

. And if your organization is looking for volunteer projects to get involved with this Global Volunteer Month, consider partnering with one of our nonprofit affiliates. Points of Light’s

Global Network

is made up of innovative volunteer-mobilizing organizations that serve more than 145 affiliates across 39 countries around the world. Together we are inspiring, equipping and mobilizing more people to use their time, talent, voice and resources to create positive change in their communities.

Ruach Tova Incorporates International Day of Volunteering “Good Deeds Day” for Global Volunteer Month 

Global Volunteer Month

is in full swing, and we’re continuing our series of highlighting some of our

Points of Light Global Network

affiliates who are positively impacting their communities through volunteerism and other pathways to doing social good. The Points of Light Global Network operates with a network of innovative volunteer-mobilizing organizations that serve more than 145 affiliates across 39 countries around the world. Together, we are inspiring, equipping and mobilizing more people to use their time, talent and resources to create positive change in their communities.  

Ruach Tova

, the leading organization in the field of volunteering in Israel, specializing in matching volunteers with organizations. We’re proud of all the work this member of the Points of Light Global Network is doing in Israel and beyond. We spoke with Hannah Wojno, director of the international division of Ruach Tova, to get her unique perspective on Global Volunteer Month and how her organization incorporates their own upcoming event, an international day of volunteering, Good Deeds Day.

How is your organization recognizing Global Volunteer Month this year?

Ruach Tova (“Good Spirit” in Hebrew) celebrates Global Volunteer Month primarily through our event,

Good Deeds Day

, which was created 17 years ago and has gone on to become a global movement of doing good around the world. As the Points of Light Affiliate of Israel, we see Global Volunteer Month as part of the global month of celebrations, like an umbrella of volunteering. In Israel, Good Deeds Day saw 2 million people taking part in hands-on volunteering projects across the country. There were also seven mega-events for the public to celebrate doing good, including entertainment and fun ways to volunteer. One thousand companies volunteered, 250 municipalities engaged their residents, and 10,000 projects were offered to the public via our website. The message this year is: think good, speak good, do good.

What are some of the projects completed through your organization during Global Volunteer Month?

Some examples include establishing community libraries, packaging food, giving aid to underserved populations, working to protect the environment, volunteering for animal welfare, helping seniors in their homes, preparing food for those who needed a hot meal and more. All of these are done under different frameworks – in the neighborhood, through the schools, in the workplaces or through the mobilization of the entire organization, with the participation of entire units of soldiers, policemen, students, trainees of youth movements and private companies.

Are you working with other Points of Light Global Network affiliates on a community project around volunteerism?

Over 20 Points of Light Global Network affiliates are taking part in Good Deeds Day around the globe.

Atados

, in Brazil, carries out projects nationally as part of their strategy to involve more people in volunteering.

Houston Food Bank

will gather 500 volunteers that will involve inspecting, sorting or packing food.

iVolunteer

offers projects around the country. In Delhi, there will be a school renovation project to create better infrastructure and creative learning space for children. They will engage up to 200 employees in a School Refurbishment activity, clocking 600+ volunteering hours. These are just a few examples of organizations we partner with.

How are you engaging with volunteers to inspire them to participate in community service activities?

We run campaigns both online — social media, online news publications — and offline in Israel, through radio, billboards and posters, to encourage volunteers to either sign up for a volunteer project in their community or lead a project with friends, family members or their companies. We also work with hundreds of municipalities in Israel to help them involve people in volunteering.

What resources or tools are you providing to volunteers to help them get involved in their community?

We provide toolkits, branding, seminars, workshops, mentoring, 10,000 projects anyone can sign up for, activation at universities on how to plan projects and more.

How are you recognizing and thanking volunteers for their contributions during Global Volunteer Month?

There are specific events recognizing the work of volunteers. All of the projects and the entire initiative is focused on the volunteers themselves (instead of the beneficiaries).

What impact has Global Volunteer Month had on your organization and the communities you serve?

It’s had a huge impact. We are breaking records of community involvement and impact, boosting the culture and activation of volunteering in Israel and globally. It’s positioned our organization as the place to go for when you want to volunteer, and the impact on the communities has been the most important. Through the framework they are now engaging in volunteering all year round, bringing communities together and addressing critical issues as a community.

What role does volunteerism play in your organization’s overall mission and objectives?

Volunteerism is the backbone of our mission and objectives. We believe everyone has the power to do good, which is why we specialize in connecting individuals and groups to causes and organizations they’re passionate about, in order to help them to make a difference in the world.

Share one success story of a volunteer (or a group of volunteers) in your community who have made a significant impact.

One woman decided to organize free wedding dresses and fittings for brides due to the high prices of wedding dresses. She is giving out 300 dresses to women who need them by offering a fun day to try on and get fitted for their special day. She opened a bridal shop 10 years ago after her own struggles with the mission to make wedding dress shopping accessible for all. She receives and accepts donations and for her project, volunteers will help arrange the dresses. Some of them come from the school for special education in Kibbutz Hamediya, and the girls from the studio of Beit Shean as well. Girls will come to pick a dress and get it fitted and then return it after the wedding for another person to use.

What are some future plans for your organization to continue promoting volunteerism and civic engagement beyond Global Volunteer Month?

Engaging volunteers is the backbone of our everyday work – we operate a call center divided by region that assists individuals on finding the perfect opportunity for them. We also work with more than 2,000 companies year-round for corporate volunteering.

Can you share any tips or best practices for other organizations looking to recognize Global Volunteer Month?

Just start small or brand one of your current projects as part of Global Volunteer Month.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give someone who’s looking to get more involved in their community through volunteerism?

Find the right cause. What is a cause your community needs, that matches both your interests and abilities? Sometimes we want to do something but don’t have the means or connections, while other times we have the means and it matches perfectly with the community needs and our personal passions.

4 Tips to Maximize Your Social Impact This Global Volunteer Month

April is

Global Volunteer Month

and offers the perfect opportunity for you to get more civically engaged in your community and beyond through

volunteering

. This month, we’re highlighting ways you can contribute your time and talent through volunteering, one of the nine elements of

Points of Light’s Civic Circle

®

, a framework for creating social impact that opens the door to doing good in your own community.

Why is Volunteering so Impactful?

Volunteering represents an individual’s ability to choose to lend their time and talent to a cause area they are passionate about in order to advance that cause or help solve a societal issue without concern for personal gain – monetary or otherwise. Although the spirit of volunteerism can be seen in an act as simple as helping a neighbor bring in their groceries, volunteering is an act that is often done in partnership with a nonprofit organization. Most nonprofits rely on their volunteer base to help keep their mission alive and do the greatest level of good for the communities they work with. Volunteers help these organizations save critical financial resources that can then be maximized in other ways for the benefit of the communities served. There are plenty of ways you can volunteer, both with a nonprofit and outside of one. The majority of acts of volunteerism today are typically informal – mowing the lawn of a senior friend or organizing a donation drive for someone who lost their home in a natural disaster.

Points of Light’s research

shows that while 43% of Americans prefer to volunteer with a nonprofit organization, 28% prefer to volunteer with friends or neighbors, without an organization’s involvement.

Create Your Action Plan

You might be passionate about a lot of different cause areas, so narrowing down the one or two areas to which you’d like to contribute your time and talent is the first step.

HandsOn Greater Richmond

has created a helpful

Giving Back Guide

to help guide this initial process of defining where you’d like to focus your energy in volunteering and other ways of supporting the causes you care about. By determining your top values and issue areas, exploring the issues to get educated on what initiatives currently exist and considering your specific skill set, you can make a more strategic decision about how, when and where to volunteer.

Research Volunteer Opportunities

Next, you’ll want to find volunteer opportunities in your community – or beyond – that align with the causes you defined in your action plan.

Points of Light Engage

is a great place to start. This global database features hundreds of thousands of volunteer opportunities throughout the world just waiting for the right volunteer to step up. You have the ability to search and filter opportunities based on location and even look for virtual opportunities if you’d like to volunteer from home. You can also contact nonprofit organizations in your area to see what their needs are and how you can best contribute. Reaching out through a phone call or email can help you make connections with the organizations advocating for the social issues you care about and even if they don’t currently need volunteers, they may be able to help point you in another direction so you can start contributing to the cause.

“Volunteering doesn’t just mean dedicating your whole life. Just a note. Just a phone call. Just appreciating someone who’s around you. You yourself can step into someone’s shoes, feel their pain and help improve their lives. Volunteering can start with shaking someone’s hand or patting someone on the back, all the way to going on mission trips or donating every month. Volunteering is a blessing. When you give, you receive. You receive an abundance of peace, happiness and improved outlook on life.” — Daily Point of Light Honoree NISHA MANDANI

Start Small and Work Your Way Up

You don’t need to tackle every cause area or take on hours of volunteer work per week to start making a difference. Often, the best way to begin is by completing a one-time volunteer project.  Then, you can get a feel for the organization and for the type of work you’re doing to see if it’s a good fit. If you have the capacity, committing to a regular volunteer schedule once a week or once a month is a smart next step. Don’t try to take on too much too quickly – this can result in compassion fatigue and

burnout

. While volunteering is always needed in our communities, the most effective and impactful volunteerism is achieved by those who maintain a healthy sense of balance and continue to prioritize self care throughout their work.

“There’s nothing magic about it. If you have that volunteer itch, scratch it! It doesn’t matter what cause it is. Volunteering is so rewarding. It’s something special — it’s so authentic and it comes from a great place, which is an individual’s heart. You should never think any volunteer opportunity is too small. It can grow into something huge.” — Daily Point of Light Honoree ALEX BROWN

Check Out Global Volunteer Month Resources

The tips above cover some ways you can get started with volunteering now and at any time of year. For more ideas on planning an initiative or event for Global Volunteer Month, check out Points of Light’s

Global Volunteer Month toolkits

. These resources are full of inspiration on creating and leading successful social impact initiatives throughout April, including communication techniques, ideas for recognition and even logos you can use on social media. There are four different toolkits tailored to various audiences – nonprofits, companies, government officials and individuals. Download the toolkit that’s applicable for you to get fresh ideas on how to celebrate volunteerism this month.

Want to explore more? Check out these additional resources:

  • How to Volunteer: One Microstep at a Time: This article covers more tips for getting in the right mindset and taking small steps toward making volunteering part of your lifestyle.
  • How Physical Volunteering Can Engage Employees Coming Back to Work: this article discusses the ways that volunteering can help promote employee engagement in for-profit organizations.
  • Charity Navigator: you can vet the nonprofit organizations you’re considering to see how their mission aligns with your values, what their impact has been and how their funds are distributed, making you a more informed participant as you begin to volunteer.
  • Points of Light’s Corporate Services & Solutions: if you’re managing a CSR program or attempting to launch an employee engagement program, partnering with a nonprofit can help. Points of Light has a team of experts with best-in-class tools, frameworks and customized support to help establish or refine your initiatives.

HandsOn NWNC Focuses on Volunteer Recognition During Global Volunteer Month

April is

Global Volunteer Month

, and we’re highlighting a few

Points of Light Global Network

affiliates who are positively impacting their communities through volunteerism and other pathways to doing social good. The Points of Light Global Network operates with a network of innovative volunteer-mobilizing organizations that serve more than 145 affiliates across 39 countries around the world. Together, we are inspiring, equipping and mobilizing more people to use their time, talent and resources to create positive change in their communities.

HandsOn NWNC

, a member of the Points of Light Global Network, mobilizes the people and organizations that inspire community change in Forsyth, Davidson, Davie, Stokes, Surry and Yadkin counties in North Carolina. HandsOn NWNC envisions a Northwest North Carolina where citizens and nonprofits are equipped and engaged in creating thriving, healthy communities. We spoke with Amy Lytle, executive director at HandsOn NWNC, to get her thoughts on Global Volunteer Month and how the organization supports its volunteers to take action and increase social good. She shared why volunteer recognition and other ways of engaging volunteers is so important.

How is your organization recognizing Global Volunteer Month this year?

Our largest event of the year is the Forsyth County Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards, where we recognize the “best of the best” volunteers in our area at a 250 to 300 person breakfast that draws a wide variety of community leaders. This year, we’re holding the breakfast on May 2, but we profile all of our two dozen nominees in social media posts leading up the event.

How are you engaging with volunteers to inspire them to participate in community service activities?

The

Forsyth County Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards

(GVSA) are our primary method of volunteer recognition efforts, and of inspiring other volunteers to serve. We also make sure to give out

The President’s Volunteer Service Award

(PVSA) to any GVSA nominee that qualifies. Additionally, we run our

Project Blueprint

program, which engages BIPOC community leaders in board service (and which includes a program stipend for professional development.)

What resources or tools are you providing to volunteers to help them get involved in their community?

We run

GetConnected

, our online volunteer matching portal. And we publish a quarterly Volunteer Connection e-newsletter that highlights a variety of engagement opportunities. We also provide ongoing

board training classes

in addition to Project Blueprint.

What role does volunteerism play in your organization’s overall mission and objectives?

Volunteerism is at the heart of why we exist. We have an active and engaged board of directors. The Program and Marketing committee of our board also serves as the core of the selection committee for our GVSA awards as well as our competitive, stipended programs. We constantly seek to engage new audiences in volunteerism, whether it be youth (we just recently laid down a Youth Engagement Coalition, but it had been very active during the pandemic) or corporate, or the more rural/ex-urban parts of our service area.

Share one success story of a volunteer (or a group of volunteers) in your community who have made a significant impact.

Lots of our “best” volunteer stories have been recognized as

Daily Point of Light honorees

, including

Rosa Johnson

and

Karl Yena

. In the past, Points of Light has made it easy for us to submit our GVSA winners each year for DPOL consideration.

Sarina Horner

, another outstanding volunteer, was the driver behind our Youth Engagement Coalition and served on our board for two years while she was in high school, and has changed local public transport policies to make relying on the bus easier for families who need it to buy groceries:

What are some future plans for your organization to continue promoting volunteerism and civic engagement beyond Global Volunteer Month?

We also promote volunteerism around our large, established MLK Day of Service Read-In event, and we’ve put together a Civic Circle presentation that we’ve done for our local Chamber’s HR roundtable as well as local conferences for a variety of audiences. We hope to continue to do similar presentations to civic and church groups in the future.

Can you share any tips or best practices for other organizations looking to recognize Global Volunteer Month?

Just do it! Try to tie your local, pre-existing efforts into GVM and the Civic Circle to widen your story and generate press coverage.

What’s one piece of advice you’d give someone who’s looking to get more involved in their community through volunteerism?

Give us a call, check out our website and think about the causes and issues you most care about. As the Indigo Girls said, “If I’ve got a care in the world, I’ve got a gift to give.”

Volunteer Recruitment Strategies for Global Volunteer Month

When anyone embarks on planning a volunteer project or initiative, sufficient v

olunteer recruitment is often a concern that tops their list

. As

Global Volunteer Month

approaches, you will want to consider what you can do to ensure you have enough people power to truly make an impact in the cause area you’re supporting. Whether you’re leading a team of CSR professionals or simply trying to enroll others in your volunteer project at work, you can use these volunteer recruitment strategies to maximize your impact.

Plan Ahead for Volunteer Recruitment

To maximize your results, you’ll want to start planning your Global Volunteer Month project or initiative now. Determine which cause area(s) you’ll choose to support, who will lead the efforts and what supplies you’ll need. If you’re partnering with a nonprofit organization for an event, you’ll need to establish this relationship and ensure logistics are overseen. Where and when will your event or project take place? How many volunteers will you need? What will you need to prepare in advance? Will the partner organization take care of supplies, or is this something you’ll need to supply? Consider food, transportation, parking and scheduling as well.

“In addition to addressing basic community needs, companies should also consider how they can collaborate effectively with community partners to help create the next generation of their workforce to help strengthen local communities economically, educationally and socially. If your company is creating partnerships that foster opportunities to expose, train and educate the next generation for employment in your industry, then everyone wins.” — Jennifer Nash, Senior Vice President, Points of Light Corporate Solutions

Communicate Early and Often

One of the best ways to boost volunteer recruitment is to ensure that people know about your event and how they can participate. So as early as possible, begin to promote your project in internal communications materials like emails or newsletters. Be clear about who the project lead is and how employees can sign up to volunteer their time and talent. You might even promote the event on your social media channels. You can reference Points of Light’s

Global Volunteer Month toolkits

for inspiration on your communications strategy. These resources include translated logos, social media graphics and sample messages to easily share your participation with your audiences. They’re tailored to four audiences: nonprofits, companies, government officials and individuals.

Provide Ample Resources to Bolster Volunteer Recruitment

Your employee volunteers will need to know as much as possible about the project or event, and how to plan effectively for it. So provide them with a detailed schedule as well as a list of things they should prepare, pack or wear. Will you be providing food? If not, make that clear in your communication. Incentivizing volunteers can go a long way in recruiting employees for your project. You might be offering a catered lunch, a certificate of completion, a small gift card or something else as a “thank you” for their time. If you’re offering paid volunteer time off (VTO), make this clear in your communication strategy – it can be one of the best ways to incentivize employees.

Celebrate Your Project and Volunteers

Want to increase employee engagement for your program or initiative, or ensure that next year’s Global Volunteer Month efforts have a great turnout? One method to help promote volunteer recruitment is to celebrate the efforts from this year’s volunteer activities. Some recognition ideas are to have a shoutout in your company-wide newsletter, host a luncheon for volunteers or nominate an outstanding employee volunteer for the

Daily Point of Light Award

. When volunteers feel seen and recognized, they’re more likely to participate again in the future, and recognition can help you attract new talent too. If you’d like more support rolling out your employee engagement program or finding ways to recognize your employee volunteers, Points of Light’s

Corporate Services and Solutions

can help. Our team of experts equips you with best-in-class tools, frameworks and customized support to streamline your program and increase your impact.