Photo Credit: Heraklit

As I work to turn ideas into action, I seek to connect with non profits in the new year where I can volunteer my time and technology skills.  It was fun helping in the computer lab for Project Homeless Connect Minneapolis a few months ago and would welcome another positive experience like that.

There is a problem.  I am finding it difficult to find a nonprofit that runs it’s volunteer program well.  One I contacted last year kept procrastinating the initial meeting.  After 2 months I said I would contact them in 2009.  Another I left several voicemails but didn’t hear back.  One I’m trying to volunteer with now sends sent out emails announcing upcoming events with really important details missing like location.  If nonprofits need volunteers so badly, it would benefit them to make it easy to volunteer.  I think the Barack Obama campaign was a huge success due to the volunteer management.  That said I’m providing the following as a template to help nonprofits consider what they can send out in their communications to ensure volunteers have enough info:

Essential Information For Volunteer Events

Date All numeric (1/20/2009) or the full date (January 20th, 2009) are both fine.

Time Please indicate AM or PM and if people are helping across timezones, indicate the event’s timezone (6pm Central)

Event All events should have a title.  This will help volunteers communicate information about the event (January bake sale)

Location Please include the full address with City, State and Zip.  A google map would be great!

Duration How long will the event last.  If setup and breakdown time is needed, include those times too.  (bake sale starts at 10am until 4pm, setup starts at 9am.)

Volunteer Activities Needed Think big.  There are many activities around making an event successful including event activities, getting the word out, composing the event description, volunteer management, collecting contact information, logistics, parking, rental space, technology, press and media notices, event goal, food, photography and capturing the event outcome.

How To Invite Volunteers Faster, Quicker, Better

There are several ways to communicate this information and save time.  One is to use a website that allows you to send out RSVP’s.  EventWax, a surprisingly powerful and versatile (free, even!) event planning tool. Facebook has this functionality built in so you can host an event and only invite staff and members of the organization.  Another solution is if you website is already running a Content Management System like Joomla or Drupal, you can install a module to create events and polls.

When I observe a situation where I see the potential to streamline the process, I speak up.  This isn’t always a popular thing to do as many organizations are used to “doing things a certain way” or “the person who is in charge has been in charge for 15 years”.  What I do know is that I have the choice where to put my time and money.

Is there a nonprofit in the Minneapolis or St. Paul area that you could recommend because you know they’re Get Things Done (GTD)?

List of GTD NonProfits

Bridging Inc.
Serving over 130 Minnesota Families Each Week

Founded in 1987, Bridging is a non-profit 501(c)(3), operating 100,000 square feet of warehouse space in Bloomington and Roseville.  Bridging was founded on the simple concept that community resources should be shared with those in need.  Our purpose is to “bridge the gap” between the “haves” and the “have nots”.

Our mission is to provide the economically disadvantaged with a one-time gift of quality furniture and household items which helps to stabilize and improve their lives while effectively using community resources. Through a network of over 200 social service agencies, eligible clients are referred to our warehouse for a once-in-a-lifetime shopping experience.