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Funding Your Cause

3 Ways to Find Money to Support Your Community Cause or Service Project

Looking to make a difference in your community but falling short on funds? Even the littlest amount of money can make a difference towards purchasing much-needed supplies, food, and gas for your initiative. There are GOOD companies out there who want to support your ideas - you just need to know where to find them. Check out these 3 below:

1. DreamBuilders Contest: Now through Feb. 7th, 2016, CreatetheGood.org is collecting video entries for the DreamBuilders contest where the grand prize winner will get $2,500 to support their favorite nonprofit's service project or event. It's super simple to enter, even a short video from your smartphone will do! Click here to register and submit your entry today >> 

2. Thrivent Financial Action Teams: Thrivent Financial, a leading financial services organization "connecting faith and finances for good," supports community volunteer teams led by Thrivent members. With seed money and promotional supplies provided by Thrivent Financial, these Action Teams are an incredible way for Thrivent members to make an impact where they live, work and worship. Learn more.

3. GrantWatch.com: Keep an eye on GrantWatch for news about grants and government dollars allocated for community service. Filter your alerts by region, category of nonprofit or service initiative, and source of grants (federal, foundation, state, etc). Learn more here

 

Also see:

5 Ways to Encourage Teens to Volunteer

10 Family Service Ideas

 

 

VolunteerSpotlight | Park Square Theatre, Saint Paul, MN

VolunteerSpotlight | Park Square Theatre, Saint Paul, MN

Please tell us about your organization and your volunteer needs.

Park Square Theatre in downtown Saint Paul, MN is one of Minnesota’s largest non-profit producing theatres. We inspire one of the nation’s largest teenage theatre audiences (nearly 40,000 strong from all over Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa and North Dakota). Now with two stages and more than 400 performances, our volunteer ushering needs grew from about 600 slots per season to over 1,500!

 

Photo by: Amy Anderson

 

Explain how you use VolunteerSpot to coordinate these volunteers.

VolunteerSpot has been a lifesaver! Our old system required staff to manually enter all the shifts in the system and manually confirm and make changes. It was more than we could keep up with!! We just load the entire performance schedule in VolunteerSpot and the automatic reminders send out – it’s great!

Why did you decide to use VolunteerSpot?

I used VolunteerSpot as a volunteer at my church, which gave me the idea to use it to organize my Rotary Club meeting volunteers. When I learned about Park Square’s clunky system, I switched us immediately!

What’s one piece of advice you have for volunteers or their leaders out there?

Volunteers want the best for you, but you need to stay on top of communication. Getting the basics taken care of with VolunteerSpot allows you more energy for things like volunteer awards, spontaneous prize drawings and other perks that will keep them coming back. You should also keep an eye out for the stars in your volunteer pool who might have leadership skills to take more initiative.

What else would you like our readers to know about your organization or volunteering?

Park Square Theatre built its new two-stage facility in order to increase diversity on all levels – a wider range of stories and artists to give different experiences. We are one of the top theatre employers in Minnesota and we put more women and artists of color on stage more than any other Minnesota theatre.

We salute C. Michael-jon and all the other volunteers making a difference in their communities.  Check out how VolunteerSpot’s Volunteer Software can save you time and stress and boost parent involvement in your school. Take a tour today!

5 Valentines for Teachers

Teacher Gift Ideas | Valentine's Day

Show your child's teacher some LOVE this Valentine's Day with a small, festive gift! Check out five of our favorite printable and DIY Valentine's teacher gift ideas below:  

Valentine Scratch Off via Oopsie Daisy

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Sweetest Teacher Prints via We Heart Parties

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Cookie Jar Gift via Lil' Luna

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Hand Sanitizer via Craftiness Is Not Optional

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Valentine's Gum Balls via Living Craftily Ever After

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Related:

10 Valentine's Day Gift Ideas for Volunteers

Classroom Valentine's Party Ideas

Love Your Teacher

Volunteer Management Ideas

How to Prevent (and Handle) Last-Minute Volunteer Cancellations

An all to real situation volunteer managers have to face when coordinating a busy schedule for lots of volunteers is last-minute cancellations. Not only can this seriously affect the support your volunteer event so vitally needs, but it can cause undue stress and lead to further scheduling complications. Check out these 5 top tips for preventing and handling last-minute volunteer cancellations:

1. Coordinate volunteers online: Free, online volunteer scheduling systems like VolunteerSpot afford volunteer managers the capability to rely on comprehensive online tools to schedule, manage and communicate with volunteers (to avoid last-minute cancellations). An easier alternative to paper sign-up sheets and 'reply-all' emails, free, online sign-ups from VolunteerSpot ensure all your volunteers the convenience of checking out available spots to get involved from their computer or mobile device; as well as captures contact information for the organizer and issues automated confirmation and reminder messages. Try a free demo

2. Ask volunteers to swap: Establish a 'swap' policy with your volunteer group where if someone cannot make their shift, they're in charge of swapping their spot with another volunteer who can cover them. *Note: VolunteerSpot's unique "Swap" feature makes it super easy for volunteers to message and swap spots with one another, right from the online sign-up. Learn more

3. Share a 'sub' list: If the total spots for your volunteer event filled quickly, but you still have interested individuals, ask them to serve as subs or alternate to be on call if someone cancels. Build your substitute list in VolunteerSpot as a "no date" sign-up, or share with your volunteer group using Google Docs or Dropbox, free cloud storage tools.

4. Invite volunteers to bring friends: When recruiting volunteers for your school or nonprofit, encourage individuals to come in groups or with friends. Volunteers may be less likely to cancel last minute if they have both a commitment to the event and to another person they're going with.

5. Use group messaging tools: Find easy ways to communicate with your entire volunteer group quickly in case of a last-minute cancellation. VolunteerSpot's online sign-ups come with free messaging tools that help leaders email volunteers in seconds as a group or by status (i.e. signed up, invited, etc). Apps like Voxer and Facebook Messenger let you text, message, or live voice chat with your volunteer group wherever they're at on any device.

Also see:

10 Ideas for Volunteer Recruitment

8 Ways to "Reach" Volunteers

Free Twitter Volunteer Recruitment Images

Volunteer Incentive Ideas

Maintaining a Successful Volunteer Program

 

 

Feel Good Friday | January 2016

GOOD News Stories

Kick off the New Year with these inspiring stories of hope, kindness and helping others.

3 Huskies Save Dying Cat
(via BoredPanda)

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Artist Honors Kids with Strength of a Lion
(via 9News.com)

~ ~ ~

Cher Donates Water to Flint, MI
(via SunnySkyz)

~ ~ ~

Paralyzed Man Designs Snow Plow for Wheelchair
(via Hooplaha)

~ ~ ~

Celebrity Chef Cooks for NY Rescue Mission
(via @HuffPostImpact)

~ ~ ~

Also see:

Feel Good Friday 2015

6 Snow-Inspired Snacks

Snow-Themed Treats for the Holidays

Great for class parties, winter carnivals, you name it . . . these snow-inspired snacks are a must! 

Snowballs via Schenk Sightings

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Let It Snow Cupcakes via Not Your Mama's Cookie

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Cinnamon Snowflakes via Come Together Kids

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Snowman Popcorn Cups via Creative Kid Snacks

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Snowman Sticks via Random Thoughts of a Supermom

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Snowflake Quesadillas via Martha Stewart

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Related Posts:

Fun Holiday Kids Craft Ideas

Free Holiday Printables

Winter Class Party Sign Ups

"Don't miss more great snack, craft and game ideas in our free eBook with FamilyFun! Teacher gift guide and room parent checklist too!"

 

Holiday Class Party Ideas for Kids from VolunteerSpot

 

MLK Day 2016

Celebrating the Legacy of Martin Luther King, Jr.

Join your neighbors, friends and community this MLK Day to serve others and carry on the legacy of his dream. Check out our top resources below:

 

5 MLK Day Activities for Families

10 Family Volunteer Ideas

4 MLK Day Activities for Kids

MLK Day Service Ideas for Kids

NobelPrize.org - MLK, Jr.

 

 

Valentine's Party Sign-ups

Class Party Sign-up Sheets for Valentine's

Fall in love with free class party sign-ups this Valentine's Day! Room parents, teachers and school-parent leaders save time (and save stress) building quick, easy sign-up sheets for class parties and Valentine's celebrations >>

Class parents can sign up from anywhere, on any device, at anytime - no password needed! They simply tap the spot they want to fill, VolunteerSpot captures their info and even lets them sync their spots to the eCalendars. Automated email reminders and swap features help keep everyone on track too! Did we mention this is all totally free?!

PLUS, organizers can add custom Valentine's themes and background to their sign-ups as well as send thank you notes and more. Start planning >>

 

Also see:

Valentine's Class Party Planning Ideas

5 Valentine's Class Party Trends

Best Valentine's Teacher Gift Ideas

 

Free eBook: Valentine's Class Party Ideas

Valentine's Party Ideas for Kids

Download and share the free ebook from VolunteerSpot and FamilyFun today - Valentine's Class Party Ideas!

In this eBook, you will find:

• Valentine's Party Sign-ups
• Teacher Gift Guide
• Room Parent Checklist
• Valentine's Holder Ideas
• Sugar-free Kids Valentine's 
• Valentine's Party Snacks for Kids
• Valentine's Crafts & Stories
• And more!

Whether celebrating in the classroom, with your child's Scout troop or team, you name it,
this free Valentine's Party Guide is a must! View, download and share today!

5 Healthy Money Habits for Busy Families

Family Budgeting for Financial Confidence

Is improving your family’s finances one of your goals for 2016? If so, abiding by a few simple financial principles can help. Check out these tips from our friends at Thrivent Financial:

1. Spend less than you make: A recent Money Mindset Report* from Thrivent Financial found that “only 27 percent of Americans are very confident they are making the right decisions with their money and the same percent admit they currently live above their financial means.” Living within your means sounds good, but can be hard when bills and expenses for school, teams, music lessons, you name it, add up so quickly. Manage your family’s budget and spending with online tools like the Home Budget Calculator from Thrivent Federal Credit Union. Plus, members of the Thrivent Federal Credit Union have free access to FinanceWorks™, an online tool to track spending, create budgets, review spending and saving habits and more.

2. Be wise with debt: Prioritize paying down debt and work hard to minimize credit card debt by paying off your balance each month if possible. If your wallet is full of credit cards, resolve this year to pare down to just one or two - making it easier to keep track of balances and due dates. Check with your credit card companies about “pay off” amounts so you’re not stuck with a last-minute interest charge; and get fresh balance numbers on outstanding student, car and home loans to build a comprehensive long-term pay-off strategy with your spouse.

3. Protect yourself against setbacks: Emergencies, illnesses and injuries can have major financial consequences. The Thrivent Financial survey found that 32 percent of Americans don’t have an emergency fund, 53 percent don’t have life insurance and 89 percent don’t have disability income insurance.  Whether you call it a “rainy day fund” or the “emergency stash,” setting aside some dollars every month for emergencies is wise planning. And don’t overlook the protection insurance can provide – a little knowledge goes a long way! Learn more

4. Have a short and long-term plan: If you’re like most people, you have many financial goals — building a nest egg, saving for your kids’ education, preparing for retirement, etc. But it’s hard to achieve goals without a plan. While your long-term goals may seem overwhelming, a good practice is to identify two to three actions you can act on this year to get your family on track for the long term. For help, consider working with a Thrivent Financial representative who can help you implement financial strategies that reflect your values. Read more

5. Give back: Survey results from the 2015 Money Mindset Report showed that more than 1 in 3 Americans (35 percent) think the purpose of the money they make is to give back – whether during their lifetime or after. Giving back is a key healthy money habit and a great way to engage kids in family finances. Living generously can take many forms: sharing an offering at church, setting up a monthly donation for a favorite nonprofit or volunteering your time. You may wonder how you can manage to give when family budgets are tight. Check out these planning ideas.

More about Thrivent Financial:

Thrivent Financial’s unique approach blends faith, finances and generosity. No matter how much money you have, Thrivent offers products, tools and sound financial guidance to help you feel comfortable and confident with your finances. It's not just about making more, it's about doing more – for your family, your church and your community. Learn more about saving, spending and sharing as well as unique volunteer opportunities to make a difference in your community. Click here 

* The Thrivent Financial 2015 Money Mindset Report, conducted in partnership with Wakefield Research, surveyed 1,001 U.S. adults ages 18+ to learn more about Americans’ relationship with money, including how they make decisions when it comes to their personal finances, giving back to others and the role of faith in their finances.

VolunteerSpotlight | Histio Heroes

Cheers to Pamela Kurtz, Race Director for using VolunteerSpot to support her volunteering needs!

Please tell us about your organization and your volunteer needs.

I am the Race Director for the Histio Heroes 5K – a 5K race raising money and awareness for the Histiocytosis Association. We use a lot (over 100) of race-day volunteers to put on our event. These volunteers help in several different positions – race-day registration, t-shirts, gear check, course marshals, finish line, etc., which all have different responsibilities and time frames.

Explain how you use VolunteerSpot to coordinate these volunteers. 

I used VolunteerSpot to sign up my volunteers this year. I shared the link with different volunteer groups and our volunteers from previous years. Since VolunteerSpot was updated automatically, it was easy for volunteers to see what positions were still open and to send volunteers instructions through VolunteerSpot’s website. The process was very simple, and this step took me so much less time than it had in the past! 

Why did you decide to use VolunteerSpot?

I wanted to simplify the way I kept track of my volunteers and liked the idea of volunteers signing up online. This allowed me to send out my request to different groups, and not worry about overlap or how to split up the list of positions. I checked out VolunteerSpot, and it seemed to be just what I needed!

What’s one piece of advice you have for folks organizing races and walks? 

You will need a lot of volunteers! The best way to get the numbers you need is to get some groups involved. VolunteerSpot made it so easy for us to have a few different groups involved and not end up duplicating spots or leaving any spots open. If for some reason you can no longer volunteer for the position you signed up for, please cancel out of it instead of just not showing up.

What else would you like our readers to know about your organization or volunteering? 

The Histio Heroes 5K is a run/walk along the Fox River Trail in Batavia, IL. in support of Histiocytosisis, a rare blood disease that can be deadly or can cause life-long disabilities. Patients are often treated with chemotherapy, radiation and bone marrow transplant. While this disease affects all races and ages, the majority of cases involve children under 10 years old. Because histiocytosis is so rare, it receives virtually no government funding for research. The Association receives most of its money from events such as this one, started by family and friends of those affected by the disease. If you live in the Chicago area, please come out to participate or volunteer!

We salute Pamela and all the other teachers and volunteers making a difference in their communities.  Check out how VolunteerSpot’s Volunteer Software can save you time and stress and boost parent involvement in your school. Take a tour today!

 

5 Things to Do for Your Teen in the New Year

Tips & Resources for Parents of Teens

Thanks to Microsoft Learning for this great post!

Want to pave a bright path for your teen’s future? From digital parenting to financial planning and college preparedness, the resources for helping your teen succeed are but a click away. Check out our top 5 picks below:

1. Check out Microsoft certifications: Did you know your teen could earn college credits before they even apply to school? Microsoft provides a unique opportunity for teens to acquire valuable IT skills and for parents to save big on college tuition. Microsoft professional certifications help your child:

- Demonstrate their skills on the latest technologies and real-life business challenges
- Achieve greater success in college
- Build outstanding resumes
- Increase employability while in college and after graduation

The American Council on Education (ACE) recommends bachelor and associate degree college credit for select Microsoft certifications including administering Microsoft Office, configuring Windows operating systems, as well as development and coding with HTML5 and Javascript programming languages. Additionally, Microsoft Certified Associates and Specialists on average make $16K more per year in employable salaries then their non-certified counterparts. Now that’s a bright future for your child! Learn more about the ACE program and Microsoft Certifications, click here.

2. Start Planning Financially: How is your teen’s financial literacy? Do they already have their own job and bank account? For many, that answer is no, but that does not mean they can’t still learn about budgeting and saving money. We love this list of financial literacy tools and resources from NerdWallet.com, click here. And for parents, the teenage years are the time to learn about college savings plans (if you haven’t already) that make sense for your family, as well as what’s new in the way of student loans and government assistance for college. Check out StudentLoans.gov for the low-down on financial aid, responsible borrowing and financial counseling for college.

3. Help with Volunteer Ideas: A robust college or career path is paved with lots of service. Whether it’s through a club or group at school, or simply on their own, teens should prioritize community service, acts of kindness and helping others as they near graduation. Not only does it round out college and job applications, but it teaches vital life values like compassion, time management, leadership skills, and dedication. See: 5 Ways to Encourage Teens to Volunteer

4. Be a Good Digital Parent: Feeling lost in the digital environment your teen seems so apt to navigate? Quit over-monitoring and start mentoring – learn what the new apps are that your kids and their friends are using. Ask your kids to demo them for you and show you how they use them to communicate with others. And finally, talk to other parents! Ask what programs, apps and tech tools their kids are using – compare, share and collaborate. See: Overwhelmed by Apps? 3 Strategies for Parents

5. Teach Driver Safety: Whether your teen is a new driver or working on getting their license, driver safety simply can’t be emphasized enough. StopTextsStopWrecks.org reports, “In 2013, ten percent of all drivers 15-19 years old involved in fatal crashes were reported as distracted at the time of the crashes.” Talk to your kids about the importance of not texting while driving – it is both against the law and is super dangerous. Snapchatting, Instagramming, etc can be easy temptations for teens on the road too. Be aware of the real dangers and communicate with your teen often about them.

Festival Planning | FestForward

Festival Planning Hints and Tips from FestForward

At VolunteerSpot, we power festivals big and small around the country - from one-day community events like the Mississippi Book Festival in Jackson, to multi-day international events like the Long Beach International Film Festival. We wanted to learn more and went to the experts at FestForward.

Laurie Kirby and Stuart MacNaught, two long time veterans in the festival space, saw the diversity of festivals and lack of a centralized network and community and created FestForward, a conference dedicated to festival organizers. On Sunday, November 22, over 500 attendees gathered in Santa Barbara to learn from one another over the course of three days while participating and enjoying dozens of panels, speakers, a hackathon, live music, wine and beer tastings and a “Best of Fests” Award Ceremony.

Highlights included Lesa Ukman, a leading authority on sponsorships, who led an intimate panel that helped festivals better understand how to approach sponsors and execute sponsorship proposals, and Scott Mirkin, one of America’s most successful event producers, sharing his thoughts on the importance and evolution of technology in festivals.

The diversity of festivals is impressive and that’s before you consider the people and companies who bring them to life. From tiny non-profits, which can be staffed almost entirely by volunteers and rely on donations or fundraisers for support, to large for-profit organizations with legions of paid staff with healthy budgets and big name sponsors that can generate millions of dollars in revenue.

Not surprisingly many of these festivals and their organizers face a number of similar challenges including sponsorship activation, staffing, volunteer organization and most importantly delivering a great experience to attendees. A number of vendors were on hand at FestForward to show off their solutions for addressing these issues including Eventbase, a company that specializes in designing world class apps for festivals of all shapes and sizes.  In addition to building custom apps for events like SXSW, the London Olympics and Sundance they also offer a free version for those who might have a slightly smaller budget.

Based on the success of this year’s event dates have already been announced for next year’s conference which will take place November 20 – 22 in Santa Barbara. For more details, please visit:  http://www.aboutfest.com/home.html

 

*Image courtesy of AboutFest.com

Happy New Year from Team VolunteerSpot

Happy 2016!

What a whirlwind year of growth, progress and GOOD 2015 was! VolunteerSpot soared in 2015 thanks to the support and tireless efforts of so many schools, nonprofits, teams, faith and community groups doing more GOOD than ever. With over 8.5 MILLION unique users and over 35 MILLION volunteer spots filled to date, we are thrilled to see what the next year has in store!