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BVU steers companies toward helping nonprofits through skilled volunteering

Business Volunteers Unlimited Maryland (BVU) is helping a growing number of professionals find volunteer opportunities where they can use their specific skills and expertise for the benefit of a nonprofit. Skills-based volunteering has recently seen revived interest as businesses seek new innovative and meaningful ways to contribute to their communities, while encouraging the professional growth of employees. Deloitte’s 2009 IMPACT Survey found that 95 percent of nonprofits need more skilled volunteers, while 91 percent of corporate Human Resources respondents say skills based volunteering adds value to their professional development programs.

One company that has taken advantage of this opportunity with the help of BVU is LCG Technologies. BVU worked with three employees from the Towson-based firm to find volunteer positions where they could use their professional skills to meet the critical needs of area nonprofits.

• Volunteer Patricia Sarrat will help to modernize the business procedures for the Women’s Industrial Exchange, which sells handmade crafts made by more than 175 disadvantaged individuals. To enhance the organization’s sales systems, Ms. Sarrat will guide WIE from a paper to an electronic record keeping system. This three month commitment will involve researching vendors, drafting a formal proposal, and implementing the new system.
• The Shepherd’s Clinic provides low cost healthcare to people who are medically uninsured. With the capacity to serve more patients, the clinic wanted to introduce its services to small businesses, but didn’t have the resources to do so. Volunteer Joyce Kilburn will develop a strategy to contact local businesses that do not offer health benefits to employees. Outreach will involve forming relationships with key Baltimore professional groups which can share information about the clinic with their members. Ms. Kilburn will also council the organization on cultivating fundraising partners.
• The statewide nonprofit membership agency Maryland Nonprofits relies on its website as a critical resource for the nonprofit community. To support this need, the organization decided to refine its business technology and online presence; volunteer Martin Harris is overseeing this process. Mr. Harris will research options for an upgraded database, which controls interaction with Maryland Nonprofits online. He will also explore a full system upgrade.

“We need to remember that corporate giving isn’t limited to financial donations. Providing skilled volunteers is one of the most significant contributions any business can make to the nonprofit community,” said BVU Executive Director Kelly Hodge-Williams.

If your business wants to inquire about skilled volunteer opportunities in Greater Baltimore, BVU is ready to help.

About BVU

BVU inspires volunteerism by connecting motivated people and businesses with the nonprofits and communities that need them most. As the primary resource for recruiting, developing and organizing volunteers in the Greater Baltimore area, BVU has referred more than 50,000 people to meaningful volunteer opportunities. Through its extensive network of more than 350 nonprofit organizations, BVU has organized over 400 service projects in Baltimore City and the surrounding region.

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