Using Volunteers a “Courageous” or Bold Act? Oh Please!

Volunteerism instills passion in daily life | The Tennessean | tennessean.com

Volunteerism instills passion in daily life | The Tennessean | tennessean.com: As board chairman of the Young Leaders Council, I am particularly intrigued by the research showing that the national volunteer rate tends to increase with age until mid-life. I have seen this trend firsthand in the young professionals establishing themselves in their careers who have expressed a desire to take their volunteerism to the next level by applying to the Young Leaders Council board training program.

Why I'm Not Going to Volunteer with Your Nonprofit | Engaging Volunteers

Why I'm Not Going to Volunteer with Your Nonprofit | Engaging Volunteers: Last week I was catching up on the many blogs I follow, and I came across a great post on Jocelyn Harmon’s “Marketing for Nonprofits” blog. The article was titled “7 Reasons I’m Not Going to Donate to Your Nonprofit.” It was short and straightforward, providing 7 bulleted reasons why many donors say “no,” and some tips for how to turn that “no” into a “yes.”

Volunteerism Holds Steady in America - Volunteers - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Volunteerism Holds Steady in America - Volunteers - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: "The number of Americans who volunteer dropped slightly in 2010, according to a federal report released today."

Volunteerism Increases at Highest Rate in 6 Years - Volunteers - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas

Volunteerism Increases at Highest Rate in 6 Years - Volunteers - The Chronicle of Philanthropy- Connecting the nonprofit world with news, jobs, and ideas: "The report, released today by the Corporation for National and Community Service, says that 63.4 million adult Americans�—nearly 27 percent of the population—volunteered to help charitable causes last year. That’s an increase from 2008 of roughly 1.6 million volunteers, the largest single-year jump since 2003."

- Volunteers and fairies-at-heart

- Volunteers and fairies-at-heart: "There's one thing in particular that amazes me about living in Covington: That's the number of volunteers and volunteer-based organizations that are at work in this community year 'round. Among our friends, all are volunteering somewhere. It can become a way of life. It's been in my blood for years since I was invited onto the board of the Atlanta Community Food Bank and worked the check-out register in its cavernous food warehouse."

$1 million initiative to encourage older adults to volunteer - baltimoresun.com

$1 million initiative to encourage older adults to volunteer - baltimoresun.com: "Three foundations plan to tap the value of older adults to strengthen five city neighborhoods and one in Baltimore County through a $1 million initiative funded by nonprofit groups."

Boomers driving makeover of American volunteering - 50 Plus: Life & Leisure | Centre Daily Times - State College, PA

Boomers driving makeover of American volunteering - 50 Plus: Life & Leisure | Centre Daily Times - State College, PA: "Baby boomers have been rewriting American culture for decades. Now, as the first wave of retiring boomers leaves the work force and the next wave is reaching the 55-plus mark, they are redefining yet another great American institution — volunteerism."

Student Volunteering Can Be Blessing and Curse for Nonprofit Groups - Philanthropy.com

Student Volunteering Can Be Blessing and Curse for Nonprofit Groups - Philanthropy.com: "Student Volunteering Can Be Blessing and Curse for Nonprofit Groups

College courses that incorporate volunteerism are now part of the curriculum at most colleges and universities, writes The New York Times"

Tyler Paper - Tyler Morning Telegraph

Tyler Paper - Tyler Morning Telegraph: "The shirts were the uniform of Day of Caring volunteers for United Way, and hundreds of volunteers were dispatched throughout town to help nonprofit organizations with day-to-day tasks."

Boredom, Not Rigor, Dampens Volunteers' Spirits - BusinessWeek

Boredom, Not Rigor, Dampens Volunteers' Spirits - BusinessWeek: "Boredom, Not Rigor, Dampens Volunteers' Spirits
Championed by the Obamas, volunteerism is on the rise. Now nonprofits need to match volunteers with tasks that maximize their talents"

JournalStar.com - Lincoln, Nebraska - Obama: Community service is a national duty

JournalStar.com - Lincoln, Nebraska - News: "Joined by first lady Michelle Obama, the president appeared Thursday at Fort McNair to promote community service. The project this day: loading 15,000 backpacks with books, healthy snacks and toys for children of the men and women of the armed forces."

Jobless Professionals Yearn to Do Good - WSJ.com

Jobless Professionals Yearn to Do Good - WSJ.com: "Now, she's spending her severance pay on a mosquito net and malaria pills for her new job: as a Peace Corps volunteer teaching computer skills to high-school students in Cameroon.

Ms. Kornfeld, 26, applied to the program in August, before the worst part of the financial crisis. Her acceptance arrived a few weeks after she was laid off in January. 'Honestly, getting laid off was a good thing,' she says. 'Merrill Lynch just wasn't a good fit for me and it gave me an opportunity to do something different.'"

Advertising - An Effort to Differentiate Yet Another Day of Volunteering - NYTimes.com

Advertising - An Effort to Differentiate Yet Another Day of Volunteering - NYTimes.com: "THERE was a time when holidays meant a break from working. Not so anymore, as seemingly every day of the year is National Something-or-Other Day. And a handful of nonprofits, with help from the White House, are working to rebrand occasions like Martin Luther King’s Birthday and Sept. 11 as national days of volunteering, to say nothing of César Chávez Day (March 31), Make a Difference Day (the fourth Saturday of October), National Volunteer Week (the third week of April) and Be the Change Day (this year, Oct. 3). Add one more to the calendar: Mandela Day, July 18, when people around the world will be urged to perform 67 minutes of community service to honor the 67 years (and counting) that Nelson Mandela has fought for racial and social equality. The holiday is the brainchild of the Nelson Mandela Foundation and 46664, the advocate group that bears Mr. Mandela’s prisoner number"

Independent Sector | Research -- The Value of Volunteer Time

Independent Sector | Research -- The Value of Volunteer Time: "Just updated:
The estimated dollar value of volunteer time is $20.25 per hour for 2008.

The estimate helps acknowledge the millions of individuals who dedicate their time, talents, and energy to making a difference. Charitable organizations can use this estimate to quantify the enormous value volunteers provide."

Volunteers Come Forward - TIME

Volunteers Come Forward - TIME: "For the past few years, Carl Anglesea gave about $400 each year to charity. But he lost his job as a software developer in August, and since then Anglesea, 54, of Chuluota, Fla., hasn't given a dime. What he has done, though, is triple his hours as a volunteer AARP tax counselor helping people fill out tax forms. 'I'd like to give cash, but I can't,' he says. 'So I'm committing to more hours as a substitute.'"

House Readies Passage of Volunteerism Bill Critics Call Pricey, Forced Service - Presidential Politics | Political News - FOXNews.com

House Readies Passage of Volunteerism Bill Critics Call Pricey, Forced Service - Presidential Politics | Political News - FOXNews.com: "WASHINGTON -- The House of Representatives is expected to pass a measure Wednesday that supporters are calling the most sweeping reform of nationally-backed volunteer programs since AmeriCorps. But some opponents are strongly criticizing the legislation, calling it expensive indoctrination and forced advocacy."