At The Table @ The Minneapolis Foundation

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.

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!

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.

• 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:

• Corporation for National and Community Service
• Independent Sector
• HandsOn Network
• HandsOn Twin Cities
• Corporate Volunteerism Council – Twin Cities

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.

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.

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.