Active Volunteerism

Jeanna Hensler

Jeanna Hensler has been working at The Minneapolis Foundation since October 2006. She worked in the Community Philanthropy Department for two years and currently holds a position in the Development and Client Services Department. She spends her time with The Wildcat Sanctuary as an on-site and special events volunteer and with Retrieve A Golden of Minnesota (RAGOM) as the Volunteer Meeting & Training Coordinator and as an Intake volunteer.

If your calendar’s anything like mine, free time is almost impossible to find. But of all the activities that jam my calendar, volunteer days are one of my favorites.  Many of us support our favorite organizations and causes with cold hard cash, but volunteerism is a particularly generous way to personally connect to the people and causes that you love.

For the past 3 years, I’ve been spending time as a volunteer, playing several different roles with several different organizations.  The cause that is nearest to my heart is animal welfare.  After 8 years working in the field, I decided to make a career shift but didn’t want to lose my connection to animals and the animal welfare work in which I had been so deeply involved.  Volunteerism was a natural choice.

I chose to take a volunteer position with The Wildcat Sanctuary, a group that I worked along side during my career as an animal shelter director.  I chose this group because I was already familiar with the work of the Sanctuary and because they have a reputation as a leader in their field.  Most of us have some idea of where we would like to spend our time, but if you aren’t sure, there are number of resources available to help you find your way.  Check out websites for Volunteers of America, Volunteer Match, HandsOn Twin Cities, and even Craig’s List.  Just as it is important to understand the mission, philosophy, and financial health of an organization that you would donate dollars to, it is equally important to understand these aspects of an organization when you are considering donating your time and energy. Taking the time to “interview” and research a prospective organization before accepting a volunteer position is a great way to ensure that you will find a fit that will be prosperous and long-lasting.

While the commitment of a volunteer isn’t as binding or as time consuming as that of an employee, it is important for volunteers to take their positions seriously and to honor their volunteer commitments.  There are so many non-profits that depend on the time, energy and expertise of volunteers to fulfill their missions. Often times the bulk of the work falls into the laps of a few, fiercely dedicated volunteers.  When you find a position with an organization that suits you, set expectations for your contribution and don’t feel like you have to do it all.  Remember, volunteering should be fun; it should make you feel good about how you spend your time; it should be a contribution; it will be rewarding.  One of the best contributions you can make to an organization and to your community is to be a dependable and dedicated volunteer.

Get out there!

Find what motivates you!

Make a difference!

And do it all out of the goodness of your heart!

Corporate Volunteerism

Katy Friesz
This post is by Katherine E. Friesz, Manager of Community Relations for Ameriprise Financial. Her work focuses on engaging more than 10,000 financial advisors, nationwide, in community involvement through effective communications and relationship building.

I work in corporate philanthropy, and one particularly rewarding aspect of my job is helping our employees engage with the community through volunteerism. And if there’s one metropolitan area where you’d want to be a volunteer leader, it’s Minneapolis-St. Paul.
  • In 2009, the Corporation for National and Community Service ranked Minneapolis-St. Paul #1 in volunteerism for the second consecutive year, with 38.4% of its population volunteering.
  • Our state ranks third in volunteerism, which translates to 1.6 million Minnesotans who contributed nearly 170 million hours of service from 2006 to 2008, valued at $3.4 billion of service, according to the Independent Sector’s estimated dollar value of volunteer time.

OK, so we’ve got statistics to prove we’re above average. But that’s not the end of the story when it comes to volunteering.

Every year, around this time, I’m reminded of the unlimited potential of volunteerism. My colleagues and I are gearing up for National Volunteer Week in April. Meanwhile, the Fifth Annual HandsOn Twin Cities Volunteer Expo recently connected more than 130 area nonprofit organizations with the thousand or so visitors who frequent the Mall of America (MOA) on any given Saturday.

I’m no stranger to the MOA; its proximity to my South Minneapolis home and LRT access often make it my most convenient shopping destination. For the past couple of years, I have represented the Corporate Volunteerism Council – Twin Cities at the volunteer expo, and I can tell you that the energy in the mall is somehow changed for those few hours. Yes, the positive energy has much to do with the line-up of talented local community groups performing on the HandsOn stage and the participating nonprofits’ tireless dedication to strengthening our communities, but the impromptu conversations are really what get me.

At the Corporate Volunteerism Council booth, my exchanges with passersby usually begin with them scanning our member list, then telling me about the great time they had volunteering with their colleagues at work and the important need their company’s nonprofit partners meet. (Music to a corporate volunteer manager’s ears!) Many employers use volunteerism as a teambuilding and retention tool, and, increasingly, skills-based volunteerism, which leverages a person’s specific talents and training, is finding its way into professional development plans and performance reviews around the world.

The conversations eventually turn to other ways in which these people give back – maybe as a mentor, a coach or through their faith community – on their personal time and why they volunteer. Suddenly the statistics have names, the power and potential of giving by doing are personified, and HandsOn’s (and Gandhi’s) call to “Be the Change” walks among us.

The year is still young. Challenge yourself to volunteer. Together, we can effect change – one person at a time.

Related links:

The State of Minnesota Nonprofits

With so much attention being placed on the economy today, I was very interested to hear from the Minnesota Council of Nonprofits on the economic state of Minnesota’s nonprofit sector. John Pratt, Executive Director, and Ruth Duran Deffley, Membership and Chapter Coordinator visited our office to present the 2009 Minnesota Nonprofit Economy Report and the December 2009 Nonprofit Current Conditions Report.

While the Nonprofit Economy Report utilizes macro data from 2008 to assess trends, the Current Conditions report analyzes results from a survey conducted in the first week of December that was completed by 639 organizations representing 32,589 staff and a combined budget of $2.5 billion. The purpose of the survey is to compliment the Nonprofit Economy Report with quick, real-time analysis of the challenges nonprofits experienced in the last year.

Fortunately the nonprofit sector has not experienced the same magnitude of unemployment as the for-profit sector. The nonprofit sector employs 11% of employees across the state. In 2008 this represented one out of every nine workers in the state. The healthcare industry continues to represent the largest portion of employees. In 2009, nonprofits chose several measures to weather the recession. 32% reduced their number of employees, 52% implemented hiring and/or salary freezes, and 25% have reduced employee benefits. The larger the organization the more likely it was to have cut employee benefits.

Demand for services has increased in recent years particularly in the areas of mental health and crisis intervention, food and/or housing, and employment and jobs. Meanwhile organizations saw a decline in revenue. Organizations most frequently reporting declining revenue were environment related, education and employment and jobs. A few bright lights for the sector appeared in individual giving. 21% of organizations reported an increase in donations from individual donors compared to 2008. A significant factor was GiveMN.org’s “Give to the Max Day” which raised $14 million in charitable donations in one day.

Minnesota’s nonprofits also benefitted from Federal stimulus dollars. Of the respondents to the Current Conditions Report, 30% applied for stimulus funding and 53% were successful in receiving funds. Employment and job related organizations and food or housing organizations were most likely to receive funding. 64% have used the funds to retain existing staff and 50% have hired new employees.

There have been some closings of long-time organizations and mergers, but not at the rate locally that was predicted by national leaders. As John and Ruth spoke it was clear that the Minnesota nonprofits are a hearty bunch. Cutting where needed, relying on volunteers and a strong commitment to their mission, organizations are pulling through and are optimistic about 2010.

The Do It Yourself Patient


This post is by Kristine Migely, Community Relations Associate at The Minneapolis Foundation

As a young professional, I often take for granted that my family and I can access quality healthcare whenever we need it. But for 47 million uninsured Americans, including 1 in every 8 children, this is not the case.

Healthcare is an incredibly complex and ever-changing system. To keep up, we need to stay informed and advocate for ourselves. It’s also in our best interest to make sure everyone in our community has access to affordable, high-quality care.

Dr. Josh Riff

Dr. Josh Riff

Last week, a group of At the Table participants came together to talk about the current and future state of healthcare. Dr. Riff, Medical Director of Target, led a discussion called “The Do it Yourself Patient: Alternate Sites of Healthcare Delivery.”

He talked about the future of our healthcare system and how it will affect our individual care and the health of the greater community, including services for people who are uninsured and underinsured.

A new kind of “House Call”
Between 2000 and 2006, salaries rose just 20% while healthcare premiums rose 87%.

Healthcare consumers are becoming more and more cost-conscious, and they have more options than ever before to make choices. Among them is access to retail clinics such as Minute Clinic, Wal-Mart, and Target Clinic, which in some cases may be less expensive and more convenient as more people are finding it more difficult to see their primary care physicians for same-day appointments.

Dr. Riff also spoke about some of the cost-saving measures employers are beginning to adopt to save money — from televisits, e-visits, and in-home diagnostic equipment (think strep throat tests), to home-based genetic testing.

Checking the Vital Signs of the Community
No matter what sort of individual healthcare we might have, we all have a self-interest in the health of the greater community.

You may have heard about the impending elimination of the General Assistance Medical Care (GAMC), a state-funded program that provides health care for the uninsured. Dr. Riff discussed the impact of these cuts, where an estimated 35,000 Minnesotans will lose medical coverage in April of this year and will have to rely solely on free clinics or emergency rooms for their healthcare.
At The Table Febuary 2010
This will increase the impact on our emergency rooms and, as Dr. Riff explained, this primarily means HCMC in the metro area — the safety net for those without insurance who need medical care for everything from a sore throat to a major trauma.

According to willyoulose.org, HCMC and its patients will be dramatically impacted through these cuts. Without alternate funding, the hospital’s teaching and training programs, statewide care and disaster preparedness will be affected, putting an even larger strain on the already stretched services of this ER in particular.

This is just one piece of a very complicated system that we all rely on, whether we have health insurance or not. Not only do we need to keep up with our own care, but be aware of how changes within the healthcare system affect us all.

Upcoming guest bloggers

As noted in my last blog, I am expecting my second child soon.  While I will be out on maternity leave, a series of guest bloggers will be contributing posts to the blog.  I thank them in advance for their contributions and hope that you all enjoy hearing some new voices.

Doctors visits in a DIY World

I’ve been spending a lot of time lately at the doctor’s office.  Fortunately, for good reason; I am expecting my second child – soon! I really like my doctor and trust the care that I receive, but every now and then feel that I am at the mercy of their expertise and my lack of a medical degree.  This becomes particularly true when dealing with my health insurance company.

Yes, the downside to my numerous doctor visits has been my increased interaction with my insurance company.  Only two years has passed since my last pregnancy, but it feels like light years in regards to the changes and complexity of insurance.

What is most striking about this complicated system is that it feels like the onus is all on me.  I, the patient, need to be sure to ask all the “right” questions. For good or bad, we can no longer blindly follow doctor’s orders.  Before agreeing to any tests or procedures I have to first find out if it is covered by my insurance and then weigh the cost against the potential benefit to me or my baby.  This would be a lot easier if we were talking about weighing the choice of car seat or stroller.  I would ask friends and family for opinions and diligently read Baby Bargains and Consumer Reports.  I would do my homework and as a skilled shopper make a decision.  But, I am not a doctor.  Being a savvy consumer of my healthcare is totally daunting and yet, totally necessary.

At the same time, I am incredibly grateful that my husband and I both have access to good medical insurance through our employers.  We are fortunate to have choices.  But even that gets tough as our plans our annually tweaked.  As we weighed the pros and cons of each plan on the myriad of spreadsheets my husband designed only one thing became clear – we were comparing apples to oranges.  High deductibles vs. monthly premium costs.  FSAs vs. HSAs.  Each option has risks and it was clear that any choice would affect the way we access our healthcare – how often do we go, when to fill prescriptions, etc.  We have to know our plan and wisely navigate our usage.  Again, it is our responsibility and it does not always coincide with doctor’s orders.

What bothers me most as I am struggling to understand the health care landscape is that I am one of the fortunate ones.  I have access to insurance and the means to afford it.  I am educated and have resources around me to get my questions answered.  And yet, it is still hard!!!  What about those who don’t have access to insurance?  Who are not native English speakers? Who don’t have choices of doctors to see?  What does the future of health care have in store for them?

I also keep thinking that with more pressure on individuals to navigate their own health care, what happens to the big picture?  What does this mean for the overall health and wellness of our community?  My health affects others.  From the passing of germs as I go about my day to accessing preventative care or taking a sick day from work, my personal health has an impact on those directly and indirectly connected to me.

With all of this in mind, I thought it would be relevant to invite Dr. Josh Riff to be the next speaker at our At the Table lunch series.  Dr. Riff is the Medical Director of Target and will present “The Do It Yourself Patient: Alternate Sites of Healthcare Delivery.”  He will address how the future of our healthcare system will affect the way in which we access our individual care and how consumer driven healthcare affects the broader community.  If you are interested in attending the session, click here.

Resources for Giving to Haiti

Following the devastating earthquake in Haiti I know that many of us are anxious to do something to help.  We also want to be sure that we give to organizations that will effectively and efficiently get our dollars to the people in need.  I wanted to share some links that may be helpful.

The Minneapolis Foundation’s list of organizations offering aid in Haiti.

Interview with the Editor of The Chronicle of Philanthropy on the best ways to give to relief in Haiti.

Blog post by President and CEO of the Council on Foundations on philanthropy’s response to Haiti.

Community Sketchbook

Its 2010 and a new year which brings new projects and new ventures.

As previously mentioned here The Minneapolis Foundation was selected by the Knight Foundation as one of twenty-one community foundations to receive a Community Information Needs Challenge grant to promote public affairs journalism in collaboration with MinnPost. Now the project is off and running.

Known as Community Sketchbook, MinnPost will run six stories each month focused on “the economic and social challenges facing communities, especially low-income communities and communities of color, and how people are trying to address them.” Additional articles on related topics will also be highlighted through the Sketchbook.

Community Sketchbook debuted on January 6th. Click here for the first feature. The first topic happens to be about Minnesotans living on food stamps, a topic also recently discussed here.

One of the benefits the Foundation is most excited about from this partnership is that all stories can be republished or distributed, in print or online at no cost.  This effort will be promoted to ethnic, community and rural media outlets who may not always have easy access to this kind of information.

We hope you enjoy this new feature.

Party Talk 2009: What will you be chatting about?

The hectic season is upon us.

Every year I am surprised at how busy the holiday season is — buying gifts for all my relatives near and far; sending out our family holiday cards; baking cookies and making our end of year charitable donations.

.  . .And then there are all the holiday parties –  work parties, family parties, school parties and friends’ parties. I tend to panic before walking into a party: what on earth I will talk about?

For the sake of those who share my panic  — and those whose parties I will be attending – I wanted to get some ideas from you. What do you expect to be talking about at holiday events this year?  In addition to the stories featured in supermarket tabloids:

  • What community events have caught your eye?
  • What world news have gotten you riled up?
  • What local news will you not forget?

Take a second to complete this poll and feel free to offer other suggestions.

Fighting Stigmas to Put Food on the Table

I returned to work after the Thanksgiving holiday still feeling full. It was a long weekend filled with an abundance of my favorite foods. Of course, on my way from the front door of the office to my desk I passed two fully stocked candy dishes and then opened my email to an announcement that pastries were in the kitchen. On mornings like this, it is hard to remember that there are many who go hungry or struggle to buy groceries on a daily basis.

Yesterday’s Star Tribune cover story examined the increase in food stamp usage in Minnesota, specifically among the middle class and not just in urban areas. Carver County’s food stamp participation increased by 85 percent in between June of 2007 and June 2009, while in the same time span Scott County saw a 70 percent rise, and numbers were up 49 percent in Dakota County and 40 percent in Washington County.

The Strib article provides a state lens to last week’s Sunday New York Times’ article, “Food Stamp Use Soars, and Stigma Fades” which looks at hunger and how food stamp use, already at a record high, is growing in our country.

Today 1 in 8 Americans and 1 in 4 children utilize food stamps for daily nutrition. Growth in usage is taking place in urban, suburban and rural communities as families deal with repercussions of unemployment, the housing bust, and increasing medical costs.

A recent study by a professor at Washington University found that half of Americans receive food stamps at least briefly by the time they turn 20. Among black children the figure was a staggering 90%.

Both articles address the stigma of food stamp usage. Nationally, only two-thirds of those eligible actually access food stamps, often because they feel relying on food stamps is embarrassing or a sign of laziness. However, many are forced to overlook those stigmas as time passes and people face the realities of needing to feed their children. You do what it takes to make it happen.

One response to the increase in hunger was announced right before Thanksgiving as a collaborative campaign by the White House, United States Agriculture Department, and the Corporation for National and Community Service called United We Serve: Feed a Neighbor. The campaign asks people to do things like prepare or deliver meals to the elderly, donate or volunteer at a food shelf, plant a shared garden or develop anti-hunger programs. The campaign refers people to Serve.gov to find specific local opportunities and to access its anti-hunger volunteer toolkit.

What programs do you know about locally that are addressing hunger effectively?