Charity Fundraising: Capital Campaigns
From time to time, charities need something that they don't need every year. Items such as computers, a new phone system, furniture, a new roof or other major maintenance are "capital" improvements. Capital improvements also include the buying, retro-fitting or renovating a building, or kicking off a new program initiative. Such specific and "one-time" needs of an organization require funds in addition to those generated by the annual fundraising campaign.
Charities conduct targeted capital campaigns in addition to other, regular fundraising activities. Monies donated to a capital campaign must be and are used specifically to carry out the expressed goals of the campaign. While many capital campaigns target large gifts from loyal donors, small gifts from loyal donors and gifts from new donors looking to support the new initiatives are always welcome.
*Talk to the charities that contact you about capital campaigns about their mission, progress, and how you can get involved.
Find Online Volunteer Opportunities
The United Nations Volunteers program (UNV) is the volunteer arm of the United Nations. UNV manages this Online Volunteering service at www.onlinevolunteering.org.
You can search the resources on the site and find online volunteering opportunities based on skills, location, and interests. Start your search for the right online volunteer position today!
Animal Charities Serve to Protect and Defend the Vulnerable
You can generalize and say that most charities exist to protect and advocate for people, places, and things that cannot effectively do so for themselves. Thus, many charities exist for the aid and protection of children, poor people, the disabled, the elderly, the environment, and for animals.
Charities that protect animals are both local and large-scale and focus on domesticated animals as well as wildlife. Such nonprofit organizations include animal shelters, animal adoption services, PETA, the World Wildlife Fund, and the like.
Give the Gift of Your Time
Volunteering can be very fulfilling¡ªyou are performing a much needed service, and filling a need like that can be very satisfying. You can get a lot out of it, such as:
? Volunteering can lead to learning new skills, all the while contributing to the pool of benefits that we all derive from society.
? Volunteering can give you great perspective and help you to be more sympathetic to and understanding about the world around you (this can help you deal with stress and problems in your own life).
? Volunteering can be very social, providing you with the opportunity to meet new people and breaks down barriers, and even make contacts that could help you in your personal or business life.
? Volunteering can be creative! You can take a volunteer vacation or make your wedding a volunteer occasion.
Online Tools
Finding the right volunteer opportunity is no small task. Like any job, volunteering carries with it challenges and rewards, and it is an obligation. You want to make sure that you commit to the opportunity that works for you, and where you can make a real impact. Luckily, in recent years, several organizations have developed online resources that will help you find the volunteer opportunity that is right for you. Each of them is affiliated with different charities and volunteer organizations, and provides slightly different services. Take some time to explore them and decide which one best suits your needs and interests, and then get involved!
The Network for Good is a nonprofit organization that connects individuals with their favorite charities. You can also make online donations, explore volunteer opportunities, and learn more about important causes at www.networkforgood.org. Idealist (www.idealist.org), a project of Action Without Borders, is a site that features more than 46,000 nonprofit and community organizations in 165 countries, searchable by name, location or mission. The site also lists thousands of volunteer opportunities in your community and around the world, a list of organizations that can help you volunteer abroad, and a nonprofit career center.
? VolunteerMatch (www.volunteermatch.org) offers a variety of online services that support a community of nonprofit, volunteer and business leaders committed to civic engagement.
? Volunteer Solutions (www.volunteersolutions.org) is a volunteer matching application available through the United Way of America that helps Volunteer Centers connect individuals to volunteer opportunities in their community.