Handson Twin Cities

Programs: Volunteer mobiliztion:at handson we make it easy to transform your passion to action. We connect people to volunteer opportunities that align their skills and interests. We help nonprofits find, develop and retain volunteers, and we make it assist companies in delivering on their corporate social responsibility goals and employee engagement strategies. In 2016, handson twin cities transitioned website platforms (www. Handsontwincities. Org) to provide a more user-friendly experience to nonprofits, companies, local colleges and universities and nonprofits. Its enhanced features will equip volunteers to better connect to opportunities that align with their passions and availability. In 2017 we met with several colleges, universities and community partners to share ways to utilize the website. We're now working with a newly formed group called legacy next to build off a module of the site that will just be focused on skills-based volunteer opportunities for retirees to create their "encore" volunteer experience. This past year, 300 organizations were affiliates and program partners of handson twin cities. As an affiliate they receive promotion of their volunteer needs, training and resources to enhance volunteer programs, the ability to networking with leaders in the volunteer management field, individualized support, and handson works as a connector for on and off-site projects with groups and corporate volunteers. These opportunities often cover the cost of supplies for "wish list" projects for our nonprofit partners. The corporate community represents a powerful force for change. Handson twin cities helps corporate groups strengthen communities and impact social change. We partner with companies of all sizes to engage employees in volunteer community service based upon priorities. Matching the unique community goals of local companies with our massive network of community partners, our expert staff finds the greatest need in the community and creates the highest quality volunteer experience for employees. During the past year, handson twin cities engaged7,283 corporate volunteers in service. These volunteers contributed 9,441 volunteer hours - a value of $227,905 provided to our community. Handson twin cities volunteer events & programs target important community issues such as: hunger and homelessness, youth development, the environment, the digital divide and more. We can coordinate everything planning, supplies, logistics and leadership so that all that our corporate partners have to do is show up, volunteer, and make a difference! In addition to our day-to-day services, handson twin cities does several signature events that are focused on highlighting and propelling the volunteer sector. In february 2017 our annual volunteer expo at mall of america brought together 60 organizations to share their volunteer opportunities with the public; our skills-based summit that brings together approximately 150 corporate, nonprofit professionals, school administrators, faith-based leaders, service corps members, and community volunteers for a full-day of sessions; and for the second year we held find your cause. Find your cause brings together local nonprofits and the twin cities' best and brightest young professionals who are looking to get involved in their communities through service. Nonprofit organizations have the opportunity to share high-quality, skills-based volunteer opportunities to be matched with young professionals. In 2017, approximately 100 millennials participated, interacting with 20 nonprofit organizations. In 2017 handson partnered with target and general mills to offer a new type of event called a skills-based challenge. These events are a high-energy way for professionals from local companies to help create solutions to a pressing challenge local nonprofit organizations are facing right now! The nonprofit agencies are trained and prepared to act as facilitators of the session, coming prepared with background information to "set the stage" about their organization and their challenge and then a list of key objectives that they want to address with the expertise of local employees. Participants are saying, "i was able to meet, network and work with other employees from different areas to help a nonprofit achieve their goals. And, "everyone was eager to offer their input and welcoming of the ideas of others - awesome to come together for a greater cause and very energizing! "last year hotc also launched a new series called volunteerson tap, in which approximately 50 volunteers participate in a speed volunteering opportunity at a local brewery. In 2017 this series was sponsored by sunrise banks and every other month the 50 slots were filled within a few days of opening them. These five events engaged approximately 230 volunteers in service making fleece blankets for home free, dog toys for ruff start rescue, snack packs for avenues for homeless youth, super hero capes for children's hospital, and fleece blankets for project for pride in living. Building on 97 years of experience as the nation's first volunteer center, handson twin cities works to remain on the cutting edge of volunteerism working in partnership with a variety of stakeholders to turn people's passion to help into solutions that help address our most challenging issues in our community.

capacity building:nonprofits are better equipped to engage volunteers when there are strong volunteer management practices, systems, and infrastructures in place to support the work of the volunteers and the nonprofit staff. Handson twin cities works closely with volunteer program managers, corporate community relations managers, and employee resource groups to offer customized training and consulting designed to build capacity and meet organizational objectives when engaging volunteers. Handson develops approximately forty-five customized workshops annually. Trainings are interactive in nature and cover topics related to volunteer engagement. Consultation services offer organizations a customized approach to their greatest needs including organizational assessments of volunteer engagement, program design and measurement, staff and board retreats, focus groups, meeting facilitation and other customized services requested. With each opportunity, we start with a dialogue to learn the outcomes needed by leadership, staff and volunteers offering a plan best suited to the situation. Handson twin cities additionally helps build nonprofit capacity by facilitating service enterprise. A service enterprise is an organization that fundamentally leverages volunteers and their skills across all departments of an agency, to successfully deliver on the social mission of the organization. Research conducted by tcc group and deloitte demonstrates that nonprofits operating as service enterprises outperform peer organizations on all measures of organizational capacity. When an organization leverages volunteers and achieves an effective volunteer management model, they are significantly more adaptable, sustainable and better resourced to be more effective in addressing community needs and operate at half the median budget. To-date, 40 minnesota organizations have become certified as a service enterprise throughpoints of light, handson twin cities' national partner. More organizations are working toward certification this year. Handson twin cities and minnesota association for volunteeradministration (mava) are partners in the service enterprise initiative.