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Business Volunteers Maryland

doing good. better.

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VOLUNTEERING: Good for the community, good for your health

November 3, 2020 by BVMD Staff Leave a Comment

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.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: Community Engagement, elf week, nonprofits, salvation army, volunteering

Want to Volunteer? Consider Board Service.

June 30, 2020 by BVMD Staff Leave a Comment

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.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: board leadership, board service, volunteer

Why Volunteering Is a Great Team-Building Activity

February 10, 2020 by BVMD Staff Leave a Comment

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.

Filed Under: General

How to Encourage Your Employees to Volunteer

February 5, 2020 by BVMD Staff Leave a Comment

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.

Filed Under: General

What Is Voluntourism? And the Impact of Voluntourism on Baltimore

January 29, 2020 by BVMD Staff Leave a Comment

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.

Filed Under: General

Should You Offer Paid Time Off for Volunteering?

January 10, 2020 by BVMD Staff Leave a Comment

Paid time off for vacation and personal needs is a common benefit at many companies, but have you considered offering paid time off for volunteering? While paying your employees for time out of the office volunteering might seem like a strange benefit to you, volunteer time off (VTO) policies are a great way to cement your company values and encourage employees to give back.

What Is Paid Time Off for Volunteering?

Many times, paid time off for volunteering does not need to be a large chunk of time. Most companies with VTO policies only offer 8 hours, or one day, of paid leave per employee per year. Some companies choose to create a list of valid organizations for VTO use that align with their corporate mission or community. For example, some organizations require that volunteer time off be used only for organizations that have United Way affiliation. VTO often works the same as PTO, where employees need to request the time in advance and get approval.

Should You Offer Paid Time Off for Volunteering?

Just over 10 years ago, only 15% of employers offered VTO as a benefit. However, now companies are taking social responsibility and the communities around them more seriously. Millennials are interested in businesses that want to improve the world around them, and companies who are focused on corporate social responsibility are also those who are thriving in a competitive hiring environment. One survey by Fortune also found that paid time off for volunteering improves employee retention efforts. When employees feel good about their jobs and the work that their employer is doing in and out of the office, they are much more likely to stay around.

How Can You Start a VTO Policy?

If you’re interested in learning more about paid time off for volunteering, designing a policy that works for your office or finding new opportunities to give back to your community, Business Volunteers Maryland is here to help.

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.

Filed Under: General

The Benefits of a Board Leadership

December 5, 2019 by BVMD Staff Leave a Comment

Could you see yourself serving on a non-profit board? While many business professionals don’t necessarily see themselves as board members, board leadership has a broad range of benefits that can bolster the resume and broaden the connections of almost anyone.

Boost Your Reputation

Whether you’re a business owner or a young professional, your reputation matters. Working on a board shows that you have the ability to manage your time well and maintain multiple commitments outside of the office. Any individual who has the strength of character and organizational skills to serve in a board leadership capacity shows that they can handle increased responsibilities, a leadership role or other tasks at their job.

The reputation boost that many people experience due to board leadership doesn’t just stop once they leave the office either. When you choose to give of your time, it improves your reputation in the community. Meeting other business leaders, employees and volunteers through your board leadership will open many new doors for you.

New Skills

If you are experienced in your field of work, there’s a good chance that you aren’t necessarily learning new skills on the job. Instead, you are honing the skills that you already have. How can you get new skills to add to your resume? Other than taking classes in your spare time, one of the best ways to do so is through board leadership.

Serving on a board will introduce you to people who are outside of your field and industry, like engineers, editors, lawyers, designers and anyone else you can imagine. When you are exposed to all of those industries and have a chance to learn from other highly-skilled professionals, you will learn new skills and have new opportunities to grow. By building your skillset and learning about different trades, you will bring new knowledge back to your current workplace or business. On the flipside, board leadership also gives you the chance to share your broad knowledge base with those working in other industries.

Give Back to Your Community

Finally, one of the primary reasons why so many professionals spend time on board leadership is to give back to their communities. Being a member of a non-profit board gives you the unique opportunity to solve problems in your community and be part of the solution. Whether it’s giving books to children in need or finding funding for critical community rehabilitation projects, improving the world where you live is a powerful way to do good.

Participate in the Board Leadership Program That Is Right for You

Business Volunteers Maryland is a nonprofit that works with more than 400 nonprofits, creating strategic connections between businesses, nonprofits and individuals. We provide each candidate with a broad and diverse array of organizations to consider supporting and help them connect with the most appropriate and meaningful opportunity, while achieving their business goals. Email boardleadership@businessvolunteersmd.org to learn more about our board matching services.

Filed Under: General

The News You Need to Know from the Civic 50 Report by Points of Light

November 20, 2019 by BVMD Staff Leave a Comment

As the Baltimore Points of Light affiliate, we were honored to have Jenny Lawson of Points of Light speak at our Business Impact Summit in October. At the Summit, she shared newly released information on the impact volunteering has on employee engagement and retention. The release of their Civic 50 report is always exciting, as it profiles companies with exceptional community engagement throughout the United States.

The Points of Light Civic 50 Report

The Civic 50, an initiative of Points of Light, recognizes the 50 most community-minded companies in the nation each year. It provides a framework for good corporate citizenship and showcases how companies can use their time, skills and other resources to improve the quality of life in their communities

The Civic 50

Each year, the group of honorees are recognized at the annual Points of Light Conference. The 2019 event was held in St. Paul, Minnesota in June. At the event, the president and CEO of Points of Light, Natalye Paquin, shared inspiring words about the recipients of the honor:

“This year’s honorees of The Civic 50 collectively have $2.3 billion to their communities, often giving 50% more than other companies, and volunteered for more than 10.5 million hours in 2019.”

Those statistics shed light on how prestigious this award is, and how important it is for companies to get and stay involved in their communities. Some of the recipients of the award included Aflac, AT&T, Barclays, Capital One, Citigroup, Comcast NBCUniversal, CVS Health, FedEx, General Mills, Inc., KeyBank, Marriott International Inc., MGM Resorts International, The Hershey Company and more.

What Sets the Civic 50 Honorees Apart?

  • The Civic 50 companies donated more than twice as much as United States companies on average ($283,000 for every $10 million earned).
  • Almost half of the recipients made gifts where grants are supplemented with in-kind goods, multi-year pledges or volunteerism.
  • 86% of The Civic 50 companies integrate community involvement into the agenda of one or more board meetings annually.
  • 68% of The Civic 50 businesses measure the social impact and outcomes of their grants as part of a standardized data collection process.

 Learn About The Inspiring Businesses In Person

The 2020 Points of Light Conference is in Washington DC in 2020! Mark your calendars for an informative and inspiring event June 10-12, 2020!  Click here for more information Points of Light 2020 Conference.

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.

Filed Under: General

Thank You for Making Our Business Impact Summit a Success

November 14, 2019 by BVMD Staff Leave a Comment

We held our second annual Business Impact Summit last month, and we are proud to share that it was a tremendous success thanks to your support. At our Business Impact Summit, over 225 regional business leaders gathered to learn more about giving back and the importance of community engagement for business.

The 2019 Business Impact Summit

On October 3, Business Volunteers Maryland hosted the Business Impact Summit, where Seth Goldman was the keynote speaker. Mr. Goldman is the co-founder and TeaEO Emeritus of Honest Tea and the Executive Chair of Beyond Meat. Both companies prioritize social initiatives and community impact.

During his keynote, Seth Goldman emphasized the importance of reframing how businesses interact with their communities. “In addition to doing a job, working for a company should represent a chance for an employee to serve people and stakeholders.”

Engaging Workshops

Attendees also had the opportunity to attend tailored workshops centered around strategies and tactics that businesses can use to get more engaged and find the right opportunities for their employees. The day wrapped up with an address from Jenny Lawson, the chief civic innovation officer with Points of Light. Mrs. Lawson shared vital data, including that employees who volunteer are 20% more engaged in the workplace. Company support is essential to encourage employees and boost retention.

Thank You to Our Partners and Our Sponsors

We look forward to welcoming even more business leaders to our next Business Impact Summit in 2021. Thank you for your support.

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 programs and services, contact us by calling (410) 366-6030.

Filed Under: General

The Benefits of Business Volunteers’ GIVE Fellowship

October 23, 2019 by BVMD Staff Leave a Comment

While graduate school might come to mind when you think about a fellowship program, things have changed over the past few years! Professional fellowship opportunities, like the GIVE Fellowship at Business Volunteers Maryland, are designed to help cultivate leaders, grow networks, offer unparalleled professional development opportunities and have a positive impact on the community. What are some of the benefits of GIVE?

Professional Development

Fellowships offer structured education and professional development opportunities designed to help those who want to make a difference in their community. They offer the resources, support and networks needed to learn new things and pursue goals that would seem unreachable otherwise. Our GIVE Fellowship offers a wealth of personal and professional development opportunities to every fellow.

Leadership Skills

Especially when an individual is a rising star in their field or in the start or mid-point of their career, leadership skills can be imperative to their future success. The opportunity to cultivate those skills in a positive and challenging environment is unique to a fellowship program, and many individuals from our GIVE Fellowship program go on to take leadership roles within their companies or by serving on nonprofit boards and more.

Expand Your Network

A fellowship program will also connect you with like-minded individuals and those who already have successful careers in the field you are interested in. Fellowships typically include a combination of trainings and networking events that expand the fellow’s reach and network. Through expanding your network, you are also better equipped to learn professional development and leadership skills through proximity to knowledgeable professionals.

All About GIVE

Our fellowship program is known as GIVE. GIVE is designed to create a stronger community, develop your leadership skills, give you access to a broad network of professionals and help you grow personally and professionally. The program is a nine-month commitment and consists of monthly workshops, action projects, networking opportunities and events. Numerous high-profile employers participate in our program and benefit from having their already-dynamic employees become even closer to reaching their potential.

Participate in an Amazing Fellowship Program

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.   Click here to learn more about GIVE or contact us by calling (410) 366-6030.

 

Filed Under: News

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Testimonials

We are proud to be the leading catalyst uniting the skills and talents of our business community with the needs of our nonprofit community.

John Wolf
Baker Donelson, Principal

What I saw with Business Volunteers was a way for companies to become more effective, efficient, accountable and responsible. So, I was hooked!

Jim Brinkley
Morgan Stanley Smith Barney
Vice Chairman

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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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