Catchafire is an organization based in New York that connects skilled professionals with pro bono volunteering opportunities. This month Catchafire is growing beyond New York by launching virtual pro bono, an online service open to professionals and social change organizations nationwide.

The Community Corps represents a unique and powerful community of nonprofits, corporations and skilled professionals, who share a passion for using technology to make a difference in people's lives. The Community Corps achieves this by matching pro bono resources with nonprofits in need of support. Visit thecommunitycorps.org to register your nonprofit or volunteer!

After Graduating in 2008, like many fellow graduates, Lucy Nightingale from Manchester University struggled to find employment and with graduate unemployment rates hitting all time highs, Lucy dreamed of escaping the UK to leave the doom and gloom behind. The idea of idly travelling the globe, hopping from beach to beach did sound tempting, but Lucy feared it would not make her employment situation any better when she inevitably returned. After researching opportunities abroad, volunteer teaching seemed ideal, as it offered her the opportunity to experience another culture and at the same gain experience and skills.

Before I begin writing about my experiences volunteering in Sri Lanka, I thought I would give a little background to my involvement with these projects. 

Since volunteering in 2005, in Sri Lanka, I have been planning my return trip. So with University out of the way, I got back in touch the society I volunteered with for 6 months. They were happy to hear that I was interested in coming back to teach English and volunteer at the orphanages. I slowly learnt that there enthusiasm for my return was partly because they had not received as much volunteer help for the past few years and in the past 8 months they have had no one come to continue previous volunteers work. 

Volunteers are the lifeblood of your organization. Your board are volunteers, and they are responsible for the oversight of everyone at your nonprofit or charity.

Volunteers are also there for you when you need to do an appeal mailing, when you're stuck with one hundred phonecalls you need to do for a phone-a-thon, when you need someone to do grant research for you, or pro-bono graphic design, when you're tired and just want to go home.

Volunteers are so wonderful. And they save your organization $18 for every hour they're there.

So where do you find these wonderful, mythical creatures?

1. Your donor database. Is there anyone in there, a loyal donor, who could be engaged as a volunteer?

Let's face it: finding good volunteers is tough. A good volunteer can be a priceless addition to the team, but the process of matching the expertise and timing needs of the project to the skills and availabilities of potential volunteers can take time and resources away from your organization. This month's Net2 Think Tank is exploring ways that organizations can use the internet to make finding volunteers more efficient and effective. Share your tools, tactics, and best practices with the NetSquared Community!

Topic:

Written by guest blogger, MeiMei Fox, @meimeifox and cross-posted to TechSoup blog.

I have to admit giving a heavy sigh over the recent post by the folks behind the Net2 Think Tank asking "How can organizations innovate to allow donors to effectively contribute their time, talent, and skills online?" It went on to say, "What are some examples of organizations allowing donors to contribute their time and/or talents virtually? Which specific tools or tactics are working for your organization and which are not working?"

Because, you see, there's a word for that. It's called volunteering.

Due to budget cuts brought on by the economic crisis, Peacework Magazine has had to close as a printed publication.  For nearly 40 years, this magazine has covered peace and justice movements and championed "empowerment journalism." 

Although Peacework's life as a magazine is ending, the former co-editors are spearheading a transition into a new online Peacework that would serve as a blogging platform and networking site for non violent activists hoping to "wage peace and justice" throughout the world.

Alianza Jatun Sacha is a non-profit, private Ecuadorian NGO dedicated to conservation (of forest, aquatic, and mountain ecosystems through technical training and scientific research), investigation, environmental education, community development and the management of ecologically important habitats. The principal lines of action of the organization are: biological conservation and cultural diversity through private reserves, environmental education, the development of natural products, and research that promotes the improvement of quality of life for the people that live in the zones of influence of the foundation's activities Volunteers must be of age 18 or above with minimum education of high school.