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identify needsVolunteerism and Community Service
Volunteerism and Community Service+context
see also:
Nonprofit Human Resources and Volunteerism SubCategory
Human Resources (Grantmaking) SubCategory
+resources and best practices
Volunteerism and Community Service+background
read about the origins of the concept of a CIVIL SOCIETY here: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Civil_society#Origins
An overview of Volunteering in America, including data: http://www.volunteeringinamerica.gov/
Volunteerism and Community Service+definitions
The voluntary sector (also non-profit sector) is the sphere of social activity undertaken by organizations that are non-profit[1] and non-governmental. This sector is also called the third sector, in reference to the public sector and the private sector. Civic sector is another term for the sector, emphasizing the sector's relationship to civil society.
What constitutes the voluntary sector may be interpreted widely or narrowly, and may include such diverse groups as advocacy/interest groups, think tanks, social movements, political parties, charitable organizations, volunteer community organizations, and religious organizations. The voluntary sector may be said to comprise organizations with a social purpose, although usually not including those with a primary focus on social enterprise or social entrepreneurship activities.
from: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voluntary_sector
Volunteerism is the willingness of people to work on behalf of others without being motivate by financial or material gain. Volunteers may have special training as rescuers, guides, assistants, teachers, missionaries, amateur radio operators, writers, and in other positions. But the majorities work on an imprompt basis, recognizing a need and filling it, whether it be the dramatic search for a lost child or the everyday giving of directions to a lost visitor.
In economics, voluntary employment is unpaid employment. It may be done for altruistic reasons, for example charity, as a hobby, community service or vocation, or for the purpose of gaining experience. Some go so far as to dedicate much of their lives to voluntary service. One way in which this is done is through the creation of a Non-Profit Franchise.
from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volunteerism 11/08
Volunteerism and Community Service+where to start
Volunteerism and Community Service+best practices
Volunteer Managment
The Nonprofit Good Practice Guide has provided resources for volunteer managment. They are divded into the subcatagories communication, evaluation, legal considerations, management and training. Under each subcatagory it is divided further with links to each resource.
http://www.npgoodpractice.org/Topics/Volunteer/Default.aspx
A Guide to Investing in Volunteer Resource Management: Improve Your Philanthropic Portfolio (PDF)
UPS Foundation
This guide "encourages businesses, corporate foundations and other grantmakers to strengthen the capacity of their nonprofit partners to more effectively manage volunteers."
The UPS Foundations's Guide to Investing in Volunteer Resources Management (445 Kb)
Volunteerism and Community Service+issues
A July 2009 report by the Corporation for National and Community Service indicates that volunteering is holding steady despite the economic recession. Read report here: http://www.volunteeringinamerica.gov/assets/resources/VolunteeringInAmericaResearchHighlights.pdf
09/09/09 Volunteering Waning in Recession, Report Says - NYTimes.com - "As the recession took hold, most Americans cut back on volunteer work and other civic activities, according to a survey conducted for the National Conference on Citizenship."
That finding undercuts anecdotal reports of volunteers’ flooding nonprofit groups as unemployment has increased and suggests the challenges faced by the Obama administration, Congress and foundations working to encourage greater volunteer service and civic participation.
“They’re not saying they’ve stopped volunteering, but they are cutting back on the time spent on volunteering and civic engagement,” said David Smith, executive director of the National Conference on Citizenship, which conducted the survey as part of a study titled America’s Civic Health Index..
http://www.ncoc.net/index.php?tray=content_blog&tid=2kctop2&cid=2gp115
Criticism of Volunteerism programs: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volunteerism#Criticism
Volunteerism and Community Service+lessons learned
Boomers and Babies: Engaging Baby Boomers in Early Childhood Programs
OCF (Oregon Community Foundation) supported research about the viability of engaging baby boomers as early childhood volunteers, as well as research about the impacts of the pilot projects after one year of funding. The research reports, produced by Oregon State University, are available below: - Report - Report read more about the program here: http://www.oregoncf.org/receive/grants/grant-opportunities/early-childhood-program/boomers-and-babies
Volunteerism and Community Service+standards in field
Serve.gov
01-2010: The President has said that the challenges America faces are unprecedented, and that we need to build a new foundation for economic growth in America. The Administration has begun this work with dramatic new investments in education, health care and clean energy, but we cannot do this alone here in Washington. Economic recovery is as much about what you're doing in your communities as what we're doing in Washington – and it’s going to take all of us, working together.
Serve.gov is your online resource for not only finding volunteer opportunities in your community, but also creating your own. Use Serve.gov to help you do your part. America’s foundation will be built one community at a time – and it starts with you.
Serve.gov is managed by the Corporation for National and Community Service.
United We Serve
"United We Serve" is a nationwide service initiative that will help meet growing social needs resulting from the economic downturn. With the knowledge that ordinary people can achieve extraordinary things when given the proper tools, President Obama is asking us to come together to help lay a new foundation for growth. This initiative aims to both expand the impact of existing organizations by engaging new volunteers in their work and encourage volunteers to develop their own "do-it-yourself" projects. United We Serve is an initial 81 days of service but will grow into a sustained, collaborative and focused effort to promote service as a way of life for all Americans.
Volunteering at the Open Directory Project
Volunteerism and Community Service+Attached Documents
Volunteerism and Community Service+other
Giving and Volunteering in Michigan
Council of Michigan Foundations
Key findings from a 2007 survey of Michigan residents.
Giving & Volunteering in Michigan [PDF]
Kate Cassidy
