Online Fundraising Concept Can Also Connect Volunteers with Causes
Very recently we spotlighted VolunteerMatch, a site dedicated to the act of volunteering and matching a non-profit with those willing to give their time to do some good. This concept is an extension of the many (and varied) non-profit online fundraising platforms which connect causes with potential donors. Some of these online fundraising platforms we have previously explored include Jumo, CovergeUS, Razoo, Crowd Rise, Give2gether, Kickstarter, Kiva City, Givmo, Broadcause, Startsomegood and Donorschoose.
There are many other sites aside from VolunteerMatch that bridge the gap between non-profits and potential volunteers and today we are featuring two of those sites. Idealist and Catchafire are online platforms that give those who want to get involved the opportunity to connect with a suitable non-profit to start a project, search for volunteering, working opportunities or even to recruit others to work with.
Idealist logo courtesy of idealist.org
It was while travelling in Chile that Ami Dar conceptualized an idea that would connect both people and organizations to the many resources that are available, ensuring that opportunities are not missed or wasted. Based on a mission to “connect people, organizations, and resources” they created ‘Contact Centre Network’ in 1994 and later the ‘Idealist’ platform was born. A play on words, Idealist is both the true meaning: “a person who cherishes or pursues high or noble principles, purposes, goals, etc.” (Collins English Dictionary), as well as an ‘idea list’… for idealists.
Simply put Idealist is an extensive searchable database that connects people, causes and needs. Truly a global network, postings range from career, internship and volunteering opportunities in non-profits and charities, to those that cover events and resources. Over their 17 year history, they have expanded to feature their site in two additional languages, Spanish and French, expanding their reach and connecting people and causes with over 1 million registered users as of 2009.
Based out of offices in New York City and Portland, Oregon, Idealist is registered as ‘Action Without Borders’. Idealist is funded through donations, grants and earned income from US based job postings and their Graduate Degree Fair exhibit registration fees. This fair aims to connect prospective students with graduate schools in a variety of fields.
Catchafire logo courtesy of catchafire.com
CatchAFire connects skilled professionals with pro bono opportunities for non-profits and social enterprises that ultimately contribute to a greater good. Founded by Rachael Chong, an investment banker, who felt limited in the ways she could volunteer and give her time after the organization she worked for offered a volunteering opportunity to build a house. Given her small frame, this was not a realistic opportunity. After an extensive search for potential ways to volunteer her time effectively with her professional skill set, she found that there were little or no opportunities in which she could donate her time. Leaving her career behind and jumping into the non-profit world, eventually CatchAFire was born, with a mission that career minded individuals, don’t have to give up their careers to still do some good.
Free to the skilled professional volunteering their skillset, CatchAFire charges an annual membership fee to the non-profit to cover operational costs. However, the fee brings a great return as it helps extend the non-profits budget by an estimated ten times as the forum is designed to save the organization time and resources. A CatchAFire Community Manager assesses the organizations needs and guides them through the process of acquiring pro bono talent. They also host regular network events, seminars and workshops for both the non-profit and the skilled professional. Their easy to navigate site categorizes and matches available projects to skilled professional by expertise, skills, interests and availability.
In these cash-strapped times, volunteering is a way for corporations and the public to contribute to the advancement of a non-profit without having to spend money that may be difficult. These platforms serve a great purpose by making online fundraising and now volunteering easier for both the donor and the non-profit.
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[…] dashboard to keep track of their contributions and progress. CSR Connect has also partnered with Idealist to incorporate international volunteering […]