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 […]
Virtual Volunteering: Flipping the Script
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. 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 […]
The Value of Skilled Volunteering
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 […]