volunteering Presentation for the Kaplan University chapter of the - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

The opportunities and benefits of online volunteering

Presenter: Dr. Natalie Hruska Ph.D. Management M.S. Information Technology B.A. Psychology

Presentation for the Kaplan University chapter of the National Society of Collegiate Scholars

Overview

• What is Volunteering Online?
• Major Benefits
• Health and Happiness - feel better in mind and body!
• Experience - use it, gain it
• Networking - expand your network, get your foot in

the door

• How can you start Volunteering Online?

What is Online Volunteering?

• Origin goes back to ARPANET (1960s), which made Project

Gutenberg (1970s) possible- online volunteers began development of a massive digital library of eBooks- important cultural works

• 1990’s- grants provided to research the state, the impact, and the

possibility of online volunteering then and into the future

• Defined as the use of the Internet and other technologies to

volunteer

• It’s EASY! Online Volunteers have more flexibility- more choice

in what, where, when, and how they volunteer

• Non profit organizations benefit from greater outreach, access to

unique skills, and technology

Scenario

• Amy- no job, bills to pay, finishing degree
• Wants to learn about field and become a professional,

start her career, but is not encouraged by the job market

• Finds a volunteering positions online; applies to several

and is accepted

• Becomes a spokesperson for non profit organization
• Uses old skills, gains new ones
• Meets people, makes connections, opens doors

Health

• Volunteers feel better mentally and physically; they

feel healthier; they are better at managing stress

• Volunteers feel more in control of their health
• Volunteers have deeper connections with others;

increased sense of independence and meaning in lives

• In the project team engagement, volunteers develop

soft people skills leads to how volunteer develops experience

Experience

• Volunteers gain real world experience; they can explore career in

a more flexible work environment

• Volunteers refine professional skills and add new ones
• Volunteers gain in depth knowledge in a subject area, building

confidence in their chosen field

• “…73% of “employers would choose a candidate who had

volunteer experience over a candidate who did not have any experience.” And, 94% of employers “believed that volunteering helps increase job skills " (Murphy, 2013)

• Nearly half of hiring managers view volunteer activity as equally

as valuable as work experience, but people do not add this experience to a resume or online profile  onto networking

Networking

• Volunteers expand their network, increase social and

professional connections; working with top administration

• Adding volunteer experience to a LinkedIn profile not only

looks good to employers and prospective employers, but links volunteers to a wider network of career opportunities and new contacts (Shifman, 2013)

• 1 of 5 hiring managers in the U.S. agree they have hired a

candidate because of their volunteer work experience

• Use your online profile to show your passion and share

your volunteer experience in depth. When your network sees what you do, they will reach out to you with more relevant opportunities

Finding Opportunities

www.onlinevolunteering.org Positions around the world

• Develop a marketing,

business, or management plan

• Serve on a board
• Design a logo, newsletter,

website….

• Research a social issue

Finding Opportunities

www.idealist.org Find volunteer positions, jobs, internships, and more

• nline/on ground

www.volunteermatch.org Select Advanced tab to search Specifically for virtual opportunities

Other Tools

 Red Cross: www.redcross.org/  EPals: http://in2books.epals.com/  Virtual Food Drive: http://feedingamerica.org/  Do Something Campaigns: www.dosomething.org/  A Million Thanks: www.amillionthanks.org/  Advice from older people: http://www.elderwisdomcircle.org/

Write to your favorite organization can I volunteer for you?

Ideas

• Crisis counselor for disaster relief
• r suicide prevention hotline
• Design a mobile application for

childhood cancer organization

• Write to businesses asking them to

donate school supplies

• Blog, post to social networks
• Take photos, write editorials on

assignment

• Design a new logo for a non profit
• Redesign a school house
• Develop a public service

animation; create cartoon characters

• Promote a non profit organization

as a social media manager

• Put on a charity fashion show
• Prepare a blue print for non profit

regional expansion; new buildings, etc.

• Develop small business plans for a

new restaurant, hotel

• Research donors, search

databases; write grants

Micro volunteering

• Can take seconds or minutes: possible through use of a smartphone or PDA
• Freerice.com- answer quiz questions correctly and they donate rice to WFP
• HelpfromHome.org- pick the time you have and what you want to do
• Shop through GoodShop.com or ShopforAmerica.com- part of cost goes to

a non profit

• User search engine GoodSearch- every time you search, you donate to a non

profit or your choice

• Make something up- ‘Like’ a non profit on Facebook, post something

informational or positive, inspirational quotes

• Edit online content, Wikipedia, tag photos- interesting research projects

End

Any questions or comments?

http://onlinevolunteering.net/ https://twitter.com/volunteeronline

References

• CMurphy. The Five Benefits of Volunteering. 19 March 2013. Web. 26 March 2015.

<www.pointsoflight.org/blog/2013/03/19/5-...> Doing Good is Good for You. United Health Group. 2015. Web. 26 March 2015. Dorsey, A. More Than Just a Resume: Share Your Volunteer Aspirations on Your LinkedIn Profile. LinkedIn Blog. 4 Sept. 2013. Web. 26 March 2015. Do Good Live Well Study. 2010. Web. 26 March 2015. http://www.volunteermatch.org/corporations/resources/businesscase.jsp Susan J. Ellis. Why Volunteer? Energize Inc. 2013. 2015. Web. 26 March

2015http://www.energizeinc.com/art/awhy.html

Volunteering and its Surprising Benefits. HelpGuide.org. 2015. Web. 26 March

2015.http://www.helpguide.org/life/volunteer_opportunities_benefits_volunteering.htm

Idealist.org. 2015. Web. 26 March 2015. http://www.idealist.org/

References

Katherine Reynolds Lewis. (2011). Should you include Volunteer Work on a Resume? CNN

• Money. 20 Oct. 2011. Web. 26 March

2015.http://management.fortune.cnn.com/2011/10/20/should-you-include-volunteer-work-on- a-resume/ Shifman, J. 2012. 7 Reasons Volunteering Can Lead to a Job. Legions of Americans are devoting time to nonprofits and finding paths to employment. NextAvenue. 2 July 2012. Web. 26 March 2015. Ten Professional Development Benefits of Volunteering (Everything I Learned in Life I Learned through Volunteering). Mary V. Merrill, LSW , Merrill Associates. 2015. Web. 26 March 2015. TimeBank: Be a Volunteer. 2015. Web. 26 March 2015. http://timebank.org.uk/. Virtual Volunteering. Wikipedia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Virtual_volunteering. 2015.

• Web. 26 March 2015.

World Volunteer Web. 2015. Web. 26 March 2015. http://www.worldvolunteerweb.org/