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Causes: Philanthropy, Voluntarism Promotion
Mission: Volunteernow (formerly the volunteer center of north texas) serves as the hub of volunteerism in north texas. As a national thought leader in volunteerism and one of the largest volunteer centers in the country, volunteernow provides a wide range of programs and services that build capacity for nonprofits. Volunteernow transforms communities through volunteerism because volunteers change everything.
Programs: Voly. Org, powered by volunteernow, is the 24/7 connection between volunteers and local service opportunities. Annually, volunteers serve 1. 3 million hours, generating a $32 million economic impact for the region by connecting more than 70,000 volunteers to 2,200 local nonprofits. School districts, banks, companies, nonprofits, court systems, governments and municipalities, and volunteer centers utilize voly. Org as software-as-a-service to fulfill their critical missions. The public-facing platform connects volunteers to hundreds of volunteer opportunities and needs directly posted by nonprofits. Voly. Org customers utilize the same function in addition to a unique organization-specific portal, tracking, scheduling, data exporting, background checking integration, and more. The volunteernow agency relations team provides specialized support focused on strengthening agencies' abilities to more effectively leverage volunteers' time and talents, which enables nonprofits to stretch limited resources. Often small to mid-sized nonprofit agencies do not have the capacity to recruit volunteers, nor do they have a dedicated staff memeber to manage volunteers. Volunteernow fills those gaps by recognizing that when organizations can effectively engage and manage volunteers, they can make a greater impact on the community. We share our expertise through our cost-effective training and consulting on a wide range of topics. These include effective treatment, retention, recognition, conflict management, staff and volunteer relations, project management, risk management and skills based volunteering. This training improves the effectiveness of nonprofits and enhances the volunteer experience. Volunteernow has also managed youth volunteering, service-learning and team projects for a number of leading corporations, foundations and national grant-making organizations.
community service restitution, administered by volunteernow, places individuals in volunteer positions to fulfill service hours assigned by the courts. In conjunction with local courts and school districts, volunteernow screens, places and monitors court-ordered volunteers in local nonprofits to complete their mandated service assignments and minimize local recidivism. We also serve students who have been ordered to perform community service due to violations of state truancy laws. Volunteer service often helps these students refocus and succeed academically. Community service restitution hours served improves local communities and the lives of those volunteering.
verifyi background checking, available through volunteernow, provides access to one of the most comprehensive criminal background processes available in texas. Nonprofits have a responsibility to protect vulnerable clients and volunteers. By law, volunteernow has access to texas department of public safety records that are not available to commercial background checking services. Verifyi helps our agencies make informed decisions to keep clients safe. The standard search is a multi-state search that includes: state records, texas state records, social security trace, and a multi-state search of national criminals and sex offender records, as well as employement and educational searches. Agencies love the low cost and rapid response.
volunteernow operates two donated goods discount depot stores - one in dallas and one in fort worth - to help nonprofits stretch limited budgets. Offering primarily new and some gently used items, including clothing, office supplies, furniture, equipment, and health and beauty items donated by local and national retailers and manufacturers, we help nonprofits save up to 80 percent on critical items that support their mission and delivery of services. By leveraging our expertise with nonprofits, volunteernow connects companies with the community to create rewarding, impactful volunteer experiences. We serve as idea generators and project managers for corporate groups of all sizes. Our team identifies and collaborates with local nonprofits, municipalities and schools to provide corporate teams the opportunity to volunteer, learn and read. Youth programs coordinated by volunteernow includes youth volunteering, service-learning and team projects for a number of leading corporations, foundations and national grant-making organizations. We offer young people a variety of ways to become involved in the community, which fosters a lifelong commitment to volunteerism and service.