Business Volunteers Maryland

doing good. better.

Business Volunteers Welcomes Sondheim Nonprofit Leadership Fellow

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Please join Business Volunteers Maryland in welcoming Lara Blaize!

Lara Blaize, 2021 Sondheim Nonprofit Leadership Fellow

Lara has been selected as a fellow for the 2021 Sondheim Nonprofit Leadership Program. Fellows of the program are placed at a nonprofit organization full-time under the mentorship of a dedicated team member from June 7-August 13, 2021. These emerging community leaders attend orientations and seminars targeted to strengthen their understanding of the functions of nonprofits and examining community needs through social challenges. Using the skills they develop during their internships and participation in the program, undergraduates and graduates will complete a group research project studying a community challenge impacting Maryland and design an innovative way to address this challenge.

Lara is a sociology major with a focus on African diaspora at Morgan State University. She believes much of the conflict in the world is caused by a different perspective that goes unexplained and hopes to use her lived experience and degree to combat at least a few of these misunderstandings and create a more inclusive, understanding, and equitable world.

While she is with Business Volunteers, Lara will be supporting our Nonprofit Service Coordinator with various programs and services. Some key tasks include nonprofit relationship management, supporting planning for fall 2021 programs, and supporting the work of the Marketing and Communications Team. She will help develop content for social media including writing and editing blogs and captions, designing graphics, and editing short videos.

Lara will be the driving force for the development of our nonprofit outreach and relationship building by researching benchmark institutions and new nonprofits, co-facilitating internal discovery meetings, independently conduct external relationship meetings, and writing reports that will be presented to our team.

Please join Business Volunteers Maryland in wishing Lara good luck as she embarks on this journey and brings a unique perspective to our team!

Our Favorite Ways to ‘GIVE’

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From Oprah’s Favorite Things to the Rolling Stones Top 50 Albums, this time of the year is jam packed with top lists and countdowns. We have a list you may not have realized you needed: BVM’s Favorite Ways to “GIVE.” 

Since 2010, the GIVE Fellowship has empowered 450+ rising professionals with resources, tools, and connections to transform and strengthen communities across the Baltimore region. For our team, the most wonderful time of the year is…wait for it…the GIVE application launch! Why is this special for us? We have the privilege of meeting community-minded individuals who want to do good. better. 

The GIVE application will be open from January 6, 2021 to February 10, 2021. We have the inside scoop! Here are our Favorite Ways to “GIVE.” 

Nominate  

Do you know a rising professional looking to have a greater role in their community? We invite you to nominate colleagues and friends who are ready to connect with a transformational network. Submit a nomination.

Receive updates 

Our team will make sure you continue to get the inside scoop on the application, tips for a stellar application, and updates on events you can attend. Join our email list. Attend an information session 

Do you want to learn more about the GIVE Fellowship experience? Meet with our team and alumni as we walk you through the 2021 GIVE season, the application process, and the stories that inspire us. Register for a session.

Meet GIVE alumni  

Do you want to talk with someone who went through GIVE? Hear from an all-star line-up of alumni who are ready to connect. Here is your chance to ask your burning questions. RSVP for an alumni social. 

Our Favorite Ways to “GIVE” continues on social media. Follow us on Facebook, Linkedin, and Instagram.  From alumni stories to event highlights, we will be sharing the fun and excitement throughout the application period. 

If you are as excited as we are about GIVE, you can start learning about the program on the GIVE page. 

Contact: give@businessvolunteersmd.org 

VOLUNTEERING: Good for the community, good for your health

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In April 2020, Business Volunteers Maryland President and CEO Julie Kernan reflected on how the COVID-19 pandemic upended our lives- personally and professionally.

“I am optimistic the way we are living today is not our new “normal,” and whatever our new normal is, I believe we will be gentler with ourselves and our neighbor,” she wrote. “The silver lining to the COVID storm cloud is the development of a greater commitment to caring for others through volunteering and community engagement.”

Our team has been continuously inspired by the way our business and nonprofit partners have pivoted programs and volunteer opportunities to keep constituents safe. Volunteers tremendously help nonprofits, but also, volunteering makes a huge impact on those individuals that donate their time.

One study by United Healthcare found that 78% of American adults who volunteer said that it has made them feel less stressed, which left them with lower stress levels and better mood than adults who don’t volunteer. It is undeniable that coming together around a positive cause and giving back improves mood and decreases stress. Now, more than ever, our communities are yearning for opportunities to connect with individuals and community.

Important ways to get involved this holiday season: consider donating to Salvation Army’s Angel Tree program! The Salvation Army Angel Tree program helps provide Christmas gifts for hundreds of thousands of children around the country each year. You can donate gifts through their Amazon wish list.

Or if you’d rather volunteer your time in person, consider signing up to help sort through all their presents in their warehouse (LINK ).

For our business partners, Business Volunteers is thrilled to announce the dates of our annual Elf Week with the Salvation Army, December 7-11, 2020. We recruit hundreds of volunteers to be part of “Elf Week” and come together to be a part of it all. It is our most fun and festive event of the year!

2019 Elf Week at Salvation Army with partners, BGE.

2019 Elf Week at Salvation Army with partners, BGE.

BVM has been running this program for 16 years, and every year looks a little bit different. We are so excited that we have been able to figure out a way to still make an impact this year on so many lives in our community, while remaining safe in the pandemic.

Your business teams are missing interaction with each other. This is a perfect way to gather them AND give back to the community.

For more information about sponsorship opportunities and how to get involved in Elf Week, contact Melissa Hersh, mhersh@businsessvolunteersmd.org.

Want to Volunteer? Consider Board Service.

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Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals and business partners have inquired about ways to safely engage in the community. The words innovation and flexibility have served as mantras for the nonprofit sector as volunteer activities have shifted to virtual gatherings and fundraisers have transformed into online events. However, no matter the state of the world, there is one way to engage with a nonprofit that, is always timely, impactful, and productive: nonprofit board service.

Board service is the perfect opportunity to make a significant contribution to a nonprofit, develop leadership skills, and build new networks.

Board Leadership Program

Our Board Leadership Program trains and matches diverse business professionals to positions on nonprofit boards and committees. For professionals seeking to become involved in community leadership, our Board Leadership program prepares and connects candidates for board positions, according to the needs expressed by nonprofit organizations, and the interests and skills of individual candidates.

FACTS: In 2019, Business Volunteers fulfilled 56 nonprofit board placements with 143 candidates either matched or in progress.

Board Matching during a global health crisis

Like many of our programs, all board matching at Business Volunteers has moved to virtual. This includes both our one-on-one concierge service through the Board Leadership Program and our famous boardCONNECT, a “round robin” coordinated event where professionals and nonprofits engage in brief conversations.  Regardless of the format used to make connections, BVM is pleasantly surprised that within the past few weeks we’ve seen a great increase of interest in the board leadership program.

FACTS: This year, Business Volunteers has fulfilled eight board placements at Casey Cares Foundation, Gunpowder Valley Conservancy, TasteWise Kids, The Peale Center for Baltimore History and Architecture and more. We anticipate more successful matches in the coming weeks as a by-product of our virtual boardCONNECT.

As part of our board leadership work, Business Volunteers is launching a NEW, in-depth board training- businessONBOARD: Fundementals. This training provides an engaging, comprehensive, real life look at board service for professionals. Co-branded and with thought partnership and funding support from the T. Rowe Price Foundation, this training represents a significant shift in programming and an exciting new phase of work for Business Volunteers. Learn more about businessONBOARD and register for the training here.

Creating a diverse board

The National Council of Nonprofits, shares that having a board with diverse perspectives is critically important. Each person brings their own expertise and experience – both personally and professionally – that positions a nonprofit to plan, manage risk, make decisions, and take full advantage of opportunities in a stronger, more strategic way.

Boards that are not diverse risk becoming stagnant, especially when it comes to recruitment. Nonprofits often share that recruitment of candidates can be the biggest challenge when managing their board.

Business Volunteers works to help nonprofits build qualified and diverse boards through our partnership with businesses across the Region. By utilizing our Board Leadership Program and boardCONNECT, nonprofits run less of a risk of having board members travel in the same social circle, making identifying and cultivating future board members easier, resulting in a stronger circle of influence for the nonprofit.

Virtual Volunteering: Flipping the Script

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On May 29th, I marked my one-year anniversary at Business Volunteers Maryland. I keep saying that this year has been the quickest, craziest, and funniest year to date…COVID-19 excluded.

Lauren, right, volunteering in New Orleans with SBP, a national nonprofit focused on disaster recovery.

As a new college graduate, I was excited to learn the ropes of the nonprofit sector and work with our business partners to provide engaging and impactful volunteer opportunities. Before joining Business Volunteers Maryland, I loved hands-on service projects. I spent time in Louisiana and Texas rebuilding homes after natural disaster and liked to spend Saturday mornings volunteering with Second Chance or The 6th Branch. This is something that I shared with many of our corporate volunteers as we revitalized schools and community centers or worked to create usable green spaces across the city.

And then the stay at home order happened. The idea of not being able to get our corporate volunteers out in the community was devastating.

After the initial shock of our new reality, the team at Business Volunteers began receiving unique requests to fill volunteer needs from local nonprofits. Three out of five charitable organizations report that the ability to deliver their mission is critically dependent upon volunteers. Knowing our role and capabilities as a connector agency, we created communityCONNECT– a forum for nonprofits to post their needs and for our corporate partners and individuals to find volunteer opportunities that fit their skills, comfort, and ability either on site, remotely, or virtually.

CommunityCONNECT filled an immediate need as people across the Region moved their lives online. As the direct needs surrounding food insecurity and personal hygiene began to fill, our focus shifted to the value of skilled volunteering.  Skilled volunteering (sometimes referred to as pro bono consulting) is when an individual, often with a specific professional expertise, helps a nonprofit solve an operational or business issue. This could include helping a nonprofit develop a comprehensive branding and marketing strategy, or assisting with financial modeling and budgeting, or helping to implement new technology solutions.

Our corporate partners are looking to engage their employees as they adapt to teleworking, and nonprofits need support as many are facing even more limited capacity than usual. While we do not know when we will be back completing the hands-on volunteer projects that we love, our partners are adapting to this virtual world and utilizing virtual, skilled volunteering to safely serve the community.

To adapt to the changing workforce into a primary telework community, Business Volunteers has adapted to the change and is offering our trainings and events virtually.

It might be too soon to talk about silver linings, but the team at Business Volunteers is inspired by the continued commitment to volunteerism in this virtual world and the increased interest in skilled volunteering.

 

The Value of Skilled Volunteering

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Last month, Business Volunteers Maryland President and CEO Julie Kernan shared her reflections on how the COVID-19 pandemic has changed our world. You can read her full post here, but her final thoughts expressed a silver lining of “the development of a greater commitment to caring for others through volunteering and community engagement.”

Usually, when an individual thinks of volunteering they immediately think of direct service- planting a tree, serving meals, tutoring children. But there are a variety of ways that an individual can engage with a nonprofit. The COVID-19 pandemic has brought the value of skilled volunteering to the forefront, something that Business Volunteers has been a strong proponent of for years. In the spirit of a greater commitment to caring for others, individuals can engage with nonprofits virtually, even as society begins to transition back to “normal.”

Skilled volunteering (sometimes referred to as pro bono consulting) is when an individual, often with a specific professional expertise, helps a nonprofit solve a complex operational or business issue. This could include helping a nonprofit develop a comprehensive branding and marketing strategy, or assisting with financial modeling and budgeting, or helping to implement new technology solutions.

Businses Volunteers’ communityCONNECT – a forum for nonprofits to post their needs and for our corporate partners and individuals to find volunteer opportunities that fit their skills, comfort, and availability- houses a variety of skilled volunteer opportunities that can be completed virtually.

According to a 2016 report by Maryland Nonprofits, 80% of nonprofits in Maryland are very small, all volunteer organizations with annual revenues of $25,000 or less. Skilled volunteering provides vital resources and support for nonprofits who do not have the capacity or funding to complete such projects on their own.

The Value of Skilled Volunteering

  • Skilled volunteering is about more than just doing good in the community. It’s also about developing talent through real world application of leadership skills. Skilled volunteering is a way to build up-and-coming leaders as the projects naturally require collaboration, communication, and self-awareness. Thus, giving employees the chance to practice agility and effective decision making.
  • Skilled volunteering helps to cultivate your workforce. By connecting employees to the community and causes they care about they are more likely to be engaged and productive within the business.
  • Skilled volunteering fosters strong organizational culture. Skilled volunteering (and the collaboration that is associated with it) is a way for business to live their corporate values. This byproduct of community engagement drives innovation and cross departmental collaboration.

According to Covestro, 80% of executives believe skills-based volunteerism could help employees satisfy their desire for purpose and hone their teamwork and leadership abilities.

At the end of the day, like you, we want to make an impact in our community. We want to see nonprofits thrive by fulfilling their mission. As COVID-19 has done with many ideas, we challenge you to think past the traditional definition of volunteering, engaging with nonprofits in new and innovative ways.

COVID-19: How to volunteer at home

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Across America and around the world, we are witnessing the true spirit of caring for others as our colleagues, friends, and neighbors align to ensure all are safe and secure and have access to necessities during the COVID-19 outbreak/pandemic. Business Volunteers joins the extended community in our commitment to supporting those in need during this unsettling time.

For eighteen years, we have made connections between those in need through our nonprofit partners and the business community. We have a profound appreciation for the ways in which individuals seek to engage in the community and a deep understanding of the variety of causes seeking support. But, how do we support these organizations while caring for our families and community by staying home?

Business Volunteers has been compiling virtual and remote opportunities on our new, real-time platform, communityCONNECT. While many of the opportunities fulfill immediate needs related to COVID-19, there are other remote volunteer projects that are impactful any time of year.

Engaging in volunteer projects helps individuals, especially children, build empathy and develop leadership skills while promoting personal wellbeing and happiness. In a time when selfcare is paramount, at-home volunteer activities provide a welcomed break in a monotonous routine.

Some of our favorite at home volunteer projects are:

Toiletry Kits
Now more than ever, vulnerable populations need access to basic necessitates that promote health and good hygiene. Package shampoo, conditioner, soap, deodorant, hand sanitizer, socks, toothpaste, and a toothbrush in a Ziploc bag. You can also include non-alcoholic mouthwash or other items such as a comb, Band-Aids, and Chapstick. Consider making a version with feminine hygiene products as well. Before sealing the bag, write an inspirational note or card to let the recipient know that you are thinking of them. Asylee Women Enterprise will accept toiletry kits and deliver them to their clients.

Dog Toys
Many shelters in the Baltimore region have placed animals with foster families for the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic. However, these furry friends could always use a fun toy to enjoy while waiting for their forever family. Since you are already cleaning out your closets and garages, use old t-shirts and tennis balls to create the perfect tug of war rope. Check out these easy instructions! When completed, reach out to Baltimore Human Society or BARCS to coordinate your donation drop off.

Great Reads Bookmarks
Channeling your creativity is a great way to stay productive during a stay-at-home order. Celebrate and share the joy of literacy by giving handmade bookmarks to a local organization. We recommend donating your works of art to the Maryland Book Bank or Village Learning Place. Cut paper into 8.5 inch by 2-inch strips. Color them, write inspirational quotes, add ribbons or stickers. Be creative! Don’t forget to reach out to the organizations before dropping off your donations as employees may be working remotely.

Generation On, a Points of Light Enterprise, provides project suggestions, instructions, material lists and reflection questions to help guide the experience for you and your family. We recommend referring to this resource or communityCONNECT when looking for a fun, easy at home project. As you complete projects, tag Business Volunteers on Facebook and Instagram! We want to see what you are doing to be a #LocalLight during COVID-19.

Safety Note: Please make sure you wash your hands before and after you work on your projects and practice social distancing when making donation drop offs.

Photos from MDSDAT, Service at Stevenson, The Spruce Craft

Why Volunteering Is a Great Team-Building Activity

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You understand the benefits of volunteering for your company and reputation in the community, but did you know that it is also one of the most powerful team-building activities you can engage in? Here are some of the many reasons why volunteering is an awesome team-building activity for almost any team.

Bonding as a Group

Even if you work with each other every day, how many opportunities do you get to connect with your team members in a positive environment outside of the office? If the sum of your experience with your co-workers happens during meetings or brainstorming sessions, co-workers will never truly get to know each other. Volunteering changes the venue for interactions and allows people to bond and get to know each other without the pressures of an office environment.

Doing Good is Good for Stress Levels

Team-building activities that involve a ropes course or trust exercises that might make stress levels rise can backfire and leave employees feeling stressed out and embarrassed. However, coming together around a positive cause and giving back improves mood and decreases stress. One study by United Healthcare found that 78% of American adults who volunteer said that it has made them feel less stressed, which left them with lower stress levels and better mood than adults who don’t volunteer.

Helping Non-Profits Help Those in Need

Finally, volunteering as a group and team-building activity allows you to gain satisfaction from helping community organizations in need. Volunteers have a tremendous impact on the organizations that they choose to volunteer with. Whether you want to host a meal at a local soup kitchen or plant flowers outside of a local elementary school, seizing the opportunity to both cultivate a great, strong team and give back to the community is a great idea. If you aren’t sure what non-profits are best suited to your industry, mission or team members, Business Volunteers Maryland is here to help find the perfect non-profit.

Use Volunteering as a Team-Building Activity with Business Volunteers Maryland

Business Volunteers Maryland is a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening the community by creating strategic connections between businesses, nonprofits and individuals. We help companies like yours to establish and expand community impact efforts while achieving your business goals. To learn more about our services and learn more about volunteering as a team, contact us by calling (410) 366-6030.

How to Encourage Your Employees to Volunteer

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Volunteering is a fantastic way to give back to the community, whether your employees are working as a group during a team volunteer project or independently off the clock. It can be a transformative experience for your employees, creating a culture that is vibrant and appealing. How can you encourage your employees to volunteer?

Offer Paid Time Off

Employees lead very busy lives and, when not on the clock, are moving between extracurricular activities, spending time with friends and family, and managing chores and activities at home, making it tough to find time to give back. By extending paid time off every year specifically for volunteering, you can increase staff participation. A 2017 employee benefits survey by the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) revealed that 22 percent of U.S. companies offer VTO. Many of the companies listed on the Points of Light Civic 50 also extend paid time off for volunteers.

Publicize Volunteer Opportunities

Some employees simply don’t know where to find out information about volunteer opportunities, so they avoid starting the process. Make an effort to include volunteering events in your company-wide mailings. If you are organizing any service projects or organization-wide outings, let employees know far in advance so that they can plan accordingly. To make volunteering a part of your company culture, you can also make a point to announce new volunteer opportunities during meetings, put flyers on bulletin boards, and post information on company intranet sites.

Recognize Great Volunteers

Does your business take time to recognize great employees for their volunteer efforts in your organization? Just like taking time to recognize your employees who complete trainings or go above and beyond, highlighting and rewarding the work that your best volunteers do can help to encourage other employees to volunteer. How can you recognize your volunteer-minded workers? Take it into account when awarding raises or additional paid time off. You can also host a special event just for employees at your company who volunteered.

Contact Business Volunteers Maryland to Learn More about Team Volunteer Projects

Business Volunteers Maryland is a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening the community by creating strategic connections between businesses, nonprofits and individuals. We help companies like yours to establish and expand community impact efforts while achieving your business goals. To learn more about our services and learn more about volunteering as a team, contact us by calling (410) 366-6030.

What Is Voluntourism? And the Impact of Voluntourism on Baltimore

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Voluntourism is one of the most powerful ways to share your skills and energy with a new community as part of a business trip or vacation. This emerging trend might seem catered to individuals or community groups, but it’s perfect for businesses looking to cement doing good as part of their culture and give back while doing business. What is voluntourism, and what has been the impact of voluntourism on Baltimore?

Voluntourism 101

Volunteer tourism, or voluntourism, allows individuals, families, school groups, community organizations and businesses to give back when they take a trip. Sometimes it takes the form of a group going abroad to help underprivileged children. Other times, when attending an event or conference the Baltimore Convention Center or other location, a group will help at a local soup kitchen or planting trees at a local school.

The Benefits of Voluntourism

Just like volunteering somewhere outside of your business, voluntourism on a trip to Baltimore will benefit your employees and company through:

  • Encouraging teamwork and team building;
  • Positive socialization;
  • Helping those in need;
  • Improving employee retention and engagement;
  • Learning about and participating in opportunities they could also engage in near the location of your business;
  • Team building in a positive environment that is separate from traditional team building; and
  • Demonstrating your company commitment to service, improving the world around you and putting your values into practice.

The Impact of Voluntourism on Baltimore

At Business Volunteers Maryland, we work with businesses visiting the Baltimore area to find ways to give back. When you visit our area for a convention or something similar, you can participate in team-building projects that make your travel experience special while helping out the community you are visiting.

Encourage Your Employees to Volunteer with Business Volunteers Maryland

Business Volunteers Maryland is a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening the community by creating strategic connections between businesses, nonprofits and individuals. We help companies like yours to establish and expand community impact efforts while achieving your business goals. To learn more about our services and learn more about volunteering as a team, contact us by calling (410) 366-6030.

Donate Online

Business Volunteers Maryland exists because of the generous support of our individual, business, and foundation donors. Help us continue our community impact today and beyond. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to Business Volunteers.

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