Volunteering

The Harsh Truth – Those Who Do Not Volunteer Are Not Keen On Charity

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Many persons like the idea of doing charity but are not keen on getting their hands dirty. In the long run, you would be in a position to do good for maximum number of individuals only if you are prepared to contribute much more than money. However, this does not mean that you should stop at money alone. There are many ways to volunteer for charity without actually dealing with the poor and needy people who make you so guilty.

Why don’t you offer to design the website of a charitable organization? You can work from your home and can put in your best skills and efforts to set up their website. The website will help the charitable organization establish its online presence. It may even succeed in receiving donations through the internet.

Do not bill them for your work done and let that be your charitable contribution. Setting up a website is like doing labor to set up a shelter home for the poor and needy people. It will be an asset that will help them for a very long time. As long as the charitable organizations can pay for the hosting charges, it will have an online presence and will be accessible to web surfers from all over the world.

Once you start thinking on these lines, you will realize that your hesitation in volunteering is because you do not want to do charity. Many persons don’t like to think themselves as uncharitable. However, the truth is that the most of us are very selfish and greedy. How else would we explain the condition of poor people all over the world today?

Filed Under: General, Uncategorized, Volunteering Tagged With: Charitable organization, Poverty, Volunteering, Website

4 Ways to Promote a Charity Event

Charity events take place year round. So, it is important to make sure that your event is set apart from the rest. Distinguishing your event will ensure you draw a significant crowd and raise more money.

Here are four of the best marketing strategies for this type of event:

Partnering with local businesses for promotional and financial support

Using the Internet and social media platforms to spread the word
Requesting free space in newspapers
Engaging in a bulk mail campaign that targets people who live in the community where the event will take place

Don’t Overlook Mail!

Mailing out postcards can be a great way to notify the public about the charity and the event for that charity. A postcard can provide details about the purpose of the event, the cost to attend, as well as the time, date, and place. By sending out information through the mail, you will reach more people in a wider area, making it possible to have a successful fundraiser. The best part is that sending a postcard is more cost effective than sending a longer letter; you can communicate the same information for less money. Remember that bulk mailing usually comes with a discount. You can also use the postcard to tell your attendees that charitable contributions are tax deductible, a fact that can help motivate the public to attend your event.

Some of the types of charities and non-profit organizations that can benefit from these four strategies include churches, homeless shelters, and animal rescue operations.

Filed Under: Society, Volunteering Tagged With: Charitable organization, Non-profit organization, Postcard

Careers in the Non-Profit Sector

Non-profit organizations are extremely respected and reputable. People can pursue these jobs as potential careers. When people think of non-profit organizations, they tend to assume that all workers within the organization are volunteers, providing their time to assist humanity. However, while many volunteers make up the employee base of non-profit organizations, there are many paid employees that are necessities. These employees are paid by the various facets through which the organization raises funds, as well as by investors and donations.

In the pursuit of a career in the non-profit sector, individuals should first consider obtaining an educational background that can assist in the growth of the particular organization in which they seek employment. As with most careers, a relevant degree is a big plus to your chances of getting hired. Resources for learning how to earn a degree online are the most convenient and viable options in obtaining a degree for your potential non-profit career.

When the time comes to begin seeking employment in the non-profit sector, there are many options to choose from that are both rewarding and long lasting. Among some of the most widely known types of organizations that are commonly associated with the non-profit category include food banks, charities, hospitals, and many more programs and facilities that cater to specific needs. Non-profit jobs tend to provide employees with a sense of well-being and motivation that is not always found in many other career choices. Due to this fact, this highly-sought-after field is a viable choice for anyone looking for fulfillment in their career.

Filed Under: Community, Volunteering Tagged With: Employment, Non-profit organization, Organization

The Many Benefits of Family Involved Charitable Work

There are many different ways to devote time towards a charitable outlet. Whether you opt to participate in a fundraiser, or simply contribute monetarily to organizations like Kars for Kids; there are plenty of ways to help the less fortunate and show you care. Among one of the more widely practiced ways to lend a hand is to participate in family volunteering. Family volunteering has a number of different benefits that simply make it a win win situation for everyone involved.

Family volunteering is an activity that clearly, the entire family can participate in. Not only are you assisting in making life better for the charitable organization or individual people you are helping, but you are coming together and creating a bond that cannot be obtained through other types of activities. You are creating that lasting bond as a member of humanity showing your compassion for others through family volunteer work that can immensely and positively impact your working relationship with everyone involved.

In conjunction with volunteering, another way your family can get involved together is by participating in a program called Kars for Kids. This unique and innovative program provides the opportunity for families to donate an old vehicle in any condition, even if it is not running. By doing so, not only are they helping out the charity, but you can write off the donation come tax season.

In all, there are many viable ways for a family to be brought together through participating in charitable work. Whether you opt to go the route of family volunteer work, or something along the lines of the Kars for Kids program; there is plenty to choose from that can abide by any particular preferences or desires. Not only does it reinforce an internal positivity that cannot be obtained through other activities, but participating in family charitable activities can do wonders for the working relationship of family members, and the entire family in general, bringing them together and making them closer.

Filed Under: Volunteering Tagged With: Charitable organization, Charity (practice), volunteers

The Peace Corps Application: What to Expect

There’s a reason the Peace Corps has one of the most rigorous applications of any volunteer organization. A two-year assignment is something that not everyone can commit to so the Peace Corps has to be sure that their volunteers are dedicated and will stick with it. Volunteers aren’t replaced if they early-terminate (ET, in Peace Corps lingo) and the organization spends thousands of dollars are spent in training, airfare, and living expenses.

Prospective volunteers can expect to wait nine months to a year until they are placed in an assignment. During this window, from the time the application is submitted, volunteers are interviewed over the phone, and undergo a thorough medical and legal background check.

Here are some things to remember when going through the application process

Showcase your volunteer work

The Peace Corps wants to see that you have the spirit of volunteerism. Even if you don’t have much volunteer work at the time you submit your application, volunteer throughout the year. Typically, recruiters will ask you to turn in an updating resume showing the steps you’ve taken to improve your candidacy.

If possible, get teaching experience

A large percentage of volunteers do some type of teaching during their service in the Peace Corps. Experience in this field will give you an edge.

Location, location, location

The Peace Corps places its volunteers based on a number of different factors. Time of year, skill sets, vacancies in the host country, and knowledge of the local language all contribute to where a volunteer will be placed. Let a recruiter know where you’d like to be placed and why (perhaps you’ve been there or volunteered there before), but be open to being sent somewhere else. If you have friends or relatives in a country, the Peace Corps will not send you there. They want to make sure volunteers’s focus is totally on serving their host country’s needs.

Filed Under: Volunteering Tagged With: Peace, United States, volunteers

Make Your Peace Corps Application Shine

Not everyone gets into the Peace Corps. It takes some serious credentials to get this prestigious volunteer position. While most applicants are at least interviewed over the phone, not all make it to the invitation. There are some things you can do that will help you stand out, however, and help your application rise above the rest.

Language skills

Skills in Spanish and French are most in demand. The Peace Corps operates in several French and Spanish speaking countries worldwide. Knowledge of Swahili, Russian, Mandarin, or Portuguese will narrow your country choices, but will give you a leg up as a candidate. Formal training or native fluency in the languages is usually necessary for Spanish-speaking countries.

Educational background

If you have a masters degree you’re almost guaranteed a spot in the Peace Corps. Demand for university-level teachers (requiring post-graduate degrees) is high. An undergraduate degree is expected of most candidates, though someone with only a high school diploma with considerable volunteer or specialized experience will be considered.

References

Make sure you get great references. Former volunteer supervisors will count the most. Typically applicants choose college professors or high school teachers to writer their references. The Peace Corps also accepts one reference from a close friend.

Medical/legal background

Don’t worry if you have a health condition – this doesn’t automatically disqualify your application, it only restricts the countries where you can serve. Some health conditions however do disqualify applicants such as being HIV positive. Check with a recruiter before completing your application. If you have any marks on your legal record – misdemeanors, etc – this will impact the Peace Corps’ decision to invite you to serve. To save yourself time, explain your situation to a recruiter and ask their opinion on how your legal background may affect your candidacy.

Filed Under: General, Volunteering Tagged With: Peace, United States, volunteers

Taking a Stand: More Peace Corps

Since 1961 the Peace Corps has been sending volunteers to developing countries for two-year stints to work in education, youth development, agriculture, environment, HIV/AIDS awareness, food security, health, and business development. Since its inception, the number of Peace Corps volunteers has dwindled to nearly half of the number serving in the 1960s. Currently there are roughly 7,000 volunteers. When President John F. Kennedy started the organization he envisioned 100,000 volunteers serving, a far cry from today’s 7,000. The advocacy group, More Peace Corps, brings light to this issue and aims to get government change within the industry. Based on research from numerous interviews with returned Peace Corps volunteers, More Peace Corps set a list of aims for improving the organization.

Bigger

There are several reasons why numbers have dwindled in the past few decades. The long and extremely competitive application process prevents meeting volunteer demand quickly. Also,

More Peace Corps wants to increase the number of volunteers by lowering some of the restrictions on service. For example, since 1961 volunteers have been required to serve two years consecutively. More Peace Corps advocates shorter volunteer terms to encourage people to join. More Peace Corps also calls for the U.S. Government to increase the Peace Corps budget.

Better

One of the Peace Corp’s little-known offshoots is Peace Corps Response, a crisis-response team comprised of former volunteers who serve as need dictates. More Peace Corps wants to open this program to first-time volunteers and increase its funding. Other improvements include a stronger training program.

Bolder

More Peace Corps encourages the general public to help them in their mission to better the Peace Corps. Writing letters to your representative or holding fundraisers are just two ways in which you can get involved. There are state chapters for those looking to volunteer their time telemarketing, distributing flyers, or fundraising.

Filed Under: General, Volunteering Tagged With: John F. Kennedy, Peace, volunteers

The New Volunteer Challenge: Getting Kids Fit

When one thinks of traditional volunteer jobs it’s probably teaching, feeding the hungry, building houses, or pitching in at under-funded arts organizations that first comes to mind. But what about helping people get fit? As obesity continues to rise in America, it’s more important than ever to educate adults and children about eating right and staying in shape. Children, especially, are being targeted by health and volunteer organizations. A mind-blowing 20% of children in the United States are considered obese, putting them at risk for developing Type 2 diabetes among numerous other health problems. Inheriting bad food choices and sedentary lifestyles from their parents, kids need the help of health volunteers now more than ever. If you’re looking to get involved, there are a couple of great organizations in need of donations and volunteers.

USA Fitness Corps

Targeting low-income neighborhoods where school wellness and exercise programs are typically under-developed and fast food is often the meal of choice for its convenience and affordability, USA Fitness Corps pairs military veterans with out-of-shape kids. Military veterans returning from service often have difficulty finding work, so USA Fitness Corps gives them a way to help out their community and get paid. With all of their hard discipline and dedication to staying active and fit, veterans make the perfect mentors for kids in desperate need of a role model. To donate visit their website: usafitnesscorps.org.

Alliance for a Healthier Generation

Aiming to reduce the number of obese kids by 2015, Alliance for a Healthier Generation targets all areas where obesity can be promoted or neglected – home, school, communities, and medical facilities. The organization challenges parents, doctors, teachers, and community members to take responsibility for children’s diets and well-being. To read more about their projects check out: www.healthiergeneration.org

Filed Under: Volunteering Tagged With: Health, Obesity, United States

Recent Grads: Why Not Volunteer?

Recent college graduates are entering the workforce at one of the worst economic times the United States has ever seen. Employment is down and while experts believe jobs are making a come-back, it’s happening at a snail’s pace. But as a new entrant into the workforce with little work experience and a mound of student debt, this news is of little comfort. However, new jobseekers should keep their spirits up – volunteer work could be the saving grace on their novice resume. Taking a job to pay the bills doesn’t have to mean a lapse in experience. Volunteer with an organization that’s closely related to what you’d like to be doing. For example, spending a few hours each week offering administrative support to a non-profit company could eventually lead to full-time employment. And even if it doesn’t, the experience will make your resume shine and may yield some great work references and networking opportunities. For those looking for more financial stability and a long-term volunteer position consider one of these programs geared toward younger volunteers seeking to gain professional skill sets while helping out in high-need communities.

City Year

City Year places “Corps Members” in positions for ten months in youth leadership programs. This program gives volunteers the ability to get to know a new city through its youth programs while making a difference. Cities to choose from include: Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, Little Rock, Los Angeles, Miami, Milwaukee, New York, Philadelphia, San Antonio, San Jose, Seattle, and Washington D.C.

National Civilian Community Corps

A division of Americorps, the NCCC offers work areas that range from education to cleaning up the environment for volunteers aged 18-24. A commitment of ten months is required and work is split up into 6-8 week assignments. Room and board, a small stipend for living expenses and some student loan forgiveness are among the benefits of joining the NCCC.

Filed Under: Volunteering Tagged With: Americorps, United States, volunteer