I suppose most organizations are started by someone who has a plan for a business, along with start-up capital, but we did not know H4K was going to grow into an organization.

We did not PLAN for this to happen but over the last eight years, it has begun to happen.  While I prefer to be in the trenches with the children, I am often forced to sit behind this computer and network, research, and LEARN what to do next.

We use VolunteerMatch.  I started with them when there were only a couple of people in an office and I could call them up and they would assist me.  Their web site was a beta version and they appreciated the help.... so do we.

We have a grant writer but I am so particular about how our affiliation with other organizations could be misconstrued as being in agreement with their mission, he is probably getting frustrated with me.  Accepting Government Grants seem to be in contradiction with what we are doing, fighting big government.

We have survived eight years because my husband believes in the work we do and we provide the finances needed to keep on going forward.  We have come too far to turn back now.

Using volunteers requires a dedicated Volunteer Coordinator, which we have been blessed with for over a year.  Without her help, I would be so lost!  All too often, Volunteers do not take their position as serious as it really is.  They are the backbone that holds the organization together and I do not know how to get that message across to them.  We cannot afford to send them gifts.  We do not spend money on advertising, fundraising (unless the donation is specifically for that purpose), and we utilize as many free services as possible.

Want a serious headache, start a grassroots effort to change the way Big Government does something that is harmful to We The People!

Want a blessing?  Make a difference in a child's life!!

Joanna

Hope4KidZ, Inc.

http://www.hope4kidz.org

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I did not expect to be leading a volunteer based non profit when I started my advertising career 33  years ago. Yet, choices I made led me to where I am. I left my corporate job in 1990 and formed the Tutor/Mentor Connection in 1992, with the help of 6 other volunteers. We've raised money by using advertising tactics to attract potential donors to view and invest in our work, and by systematically searching for companies and foundations who might fund this work, and submitting letters and grant requests.

While we've raised over $4.2 million since 1993, we're always nearly broke, and we are constantly challenged by cash flow issues because donors don't respond to a traditional goods for services equasion.

In my http://tutormentor.blogspot.com blogs I've written some recent posts about how the philanthropy system is disfunctional, and how non profits might collaborate to draw donors to their causes.

In the LINKS area of www.tutormentorconnection.org I have a number of foundation and fund raising links that members of this group might find useful. 

Dan Bassill
Tutor/Mentor Connection
Chicago

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we have just incorporated to our non-profit status and would appreciate an effective grant-writer.  those qualified respond at :

SAGE_FoundationInc@hotmail.com

or place response on our open forum

http://www.care2.com/c2c/group/SAGEheadquarters

also lookingt for help with someone to design a website

THANK YOU

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Since you have your 501(c)3 nonprofit status, you can sign up for Volunteer Match at http://www.volunteermatch.org and post jobs and job descriptions.

You will likely get some people who have limited skills and over the years, we have created a somewhat arduous intake process and the ONLY time we had a problem with a potential volunteer was when I did not follow our own Policy concerning volunteer applicants.

We have an Intake Form that is pretty much like any other job application and a Confidentiality Form that ALL potential volunteers must sign and return via snail mail. 

This is a test.  If the potential volunteer does not take the initiative to get their volunteer forms to us, it is highly unlikely they will take the initiative to get their job done either.

Having a Volunteer Coordinator can make all the difference!

This was so cool and a total surprise to me but our Volunteer Coordinator was spotlighted on Volunteer Match's web site and in their newsletter!  http://www.volunteermatch.org

Katie Lee is awesome and has been with H4K for a couple of years.

Jo

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     OUr charity is 501(C)(3) and always broke but we do not focus on the money we focus n volunteeres and helpig people and children so I ma very interestd in working with you JO and also with the cahrity of DAiniels out of Chicago, ILLinois.

    OUrs astarted in IOwa so Chicago area is a place or stae inour current expansion goals currently already and with your tutoring and mentoring our aninmals HElping HUmasn Charity has many ways in with we may both hep each others charities rto reach better goals while our organisations also help each other imporve th effectiveness and usefullness and success of our progrms with children our or youth and others.

    WEare exapindg into Texas and I tried may ways to reach you JO so hope you recieve the group invitation from me and the email and the comment or contact us in your web site given in your porfile?

                        Animald HElping HUmans charity

                                 Wolfgram MD

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I share the pain and frustration with any small organization that is constantly seeking funding. I've been doing it 15 years.  So, I've created the Tutor/Mentor Connection to try to reverse this obsolete process. I maintain a web site with links to hundreds of organizations offering various forms of tutoring/mentoring, and a Program Locator database that people can search to find programs needing volunteers and dollars.

I host a conference in Chicago every May to encourage programs to come together, learn from each other, and collaborate on building public awareness of the value of tutoring/mentoring and the need for our programs in every high poverty neighborhood.

I also work with business groups with a goal that they will use their own leadership and resources to draw volunteers and donors to various programs. In Nov. 06 this was rewarded when a $2 million donation was made to a program at the Chicago Bar Association that will redistribute this money to tutor/mentor programs in Chicago over the next 3-10 years.  I feel this can be duplicated by legal groups in other communities, and by other industries.

The next conference is May 17 and 18 and you can learn about it at http://www.tutormentorconference.org  I encourage you to attend if you can, or to log onto the http://www.tutormentorconnection.org site and network in that forum.

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     Leadership and the organisations themselvel generating theri own volunteers and donations is a KEY FACTOR in the sucess of any given program and its ability to survive and flourish and thrive in the area and environment that it may exist or be beginging in.

   This also helps with growth and espansion to new areas or states or countries as well.

    Thanks for letting us all know about your siminars or educational programs DAniel.  I have gained much help and ideas and inspiritation from many other such programs or meetings and personal feel that we need many more of them going on?

   I hope to be attending yours, DAniel.

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