Imagine using your singular skill set to help an organization that changes lives. That’s the beauty of skill-based volunteering (SBV). Unlike traditional volunteerism, SBV is the coupling of professionals with nonprofits that need the specified skills, thus creating partnerships that work for both sides and generating tremendous impact.
In a busy city like Chicago, volunteerism is alive and well. Recent figures indicate nearly 1 in 3 adults in Chicago are involved in volunteerism, providing millions of hours of service annually. In the spirit of thinking BIG, imagine if more Chicagoans volunteered their professional skills for a nonprofit that needed them.
Skill-based volunteering isn’t just lending a hand, it’s matching what you do well with a cause that inspires you. When it’s done right, it can be one of the most satisfying ways to give back.
What is Skill-Based Volunteering?
Skill-based volunteering, or SBV, is a more focused form of volunteering that allows professionals to use their expertise – whether that’s coding or financial management, to help a benefit organization with a focused task. In traditional volunteering, that could include helping to serve food in a soup kitchen or cleaning up a park. In SBV, you are capitalizing on your special skills to be able to create deeper, systemic change.
You might even say it’s similar to consulting for good. You help out but also continue to develop your skills, sometimes in buckets you wouldn’t imagine.
Benefits of Skill-Based Volunteering
For volunteers, it’s incredibly rewarding. Not only do you sharpen your existing skills, but you also build new ones—a marketer, for example, might learn about nonprofit fundraising strategies. It’s also a great way to expand your professional network, often leading to connections you wouldn’t have made otherwise.
For nonprofits, SBV provides access to professional expertise that might otherwise be out of budget. This results in increased efficiency and often takes organizations to the next level. Imagine what a skilled IT professional could do for a small nonprofit struggling with outdated systems.
And most importantly, the community at large sees the benefits. When nonprofits run more effectively, they can help more people—whether that’s providing education, housing, or medical services.
Popular Skill-Based Volunteering Areas in Chicago
Professional Services
Professional services encompass a variety of skills such as marketing, finance, or technology. A nonprofit could need help creating a website, paying payroll, or executing a social media initiative. Envision the women’s shelter you are helping promote through social media, which is generating needed donations during the winter months.
Education and Mentorship
As a city, Chicago is always looking for education volunteers. Whether its through direct education (tutoring in math or science) or even mentoring future professionals (how many youth need to write a resume?), there are all sorts of ways to be involved. A retiree, for example, can spend time tutoring high school students on the SATs. An industry professional may also mentor college students anxious to transition into the working world.
Nonprofit Management
Behind-the-scenes work like strategic planning and board development is critical for nonprofits. If you have experience in operations or management, you could be instrumental in guiding an organization’s decision-making processes and ensuring sustainability.
Organizations Providing Skill-Based Volunteering Opportunities in Chicago
Taproot Foundation
The Taproot Foundation is the largest virtual hub for skill-based volunteering, creating connections between nonprofits and professionals with marketing, HR, and IT backgrounds. The Taproot Foundation has coordinated of excellent projects across Chicago, connecting professionals and nonprofits to achieve meaningful work, as with a recent project where a young nonprofit was able to develop a branding strategy, and its first every branding identity.
HandsOn Suburban Chicago
HandsOn Suburban Chicago runs out a variety of programs which include volunteer matching services that put professionals with nonprofits looking for specific skills. One example of this is the way a graphic designer helped a local youth center rebrand itself and establish itself in the community.
Discover Financial Services
Discover Financial Services actively encourages its employees to engage in skill-based volunteering. Projects have ranged from financial literacy workshops to IT infrastructure consulting for nonprofits.
How to Get Involved
How to Get Started Volunteering
If you’re interested in becoming a volunteer, the first step is introspection. What skills do you have? What causes speak to you? After you’re able to articulate these answers, search for a volunteer opportunity online at sites like VolunteerMatch, or reach out to organizations such as the Taproot Foundation that connect skilled professionals to nonprofit organizations.
Resources for Volunteers
There are numerous resources out there for skill-based volunteers. Community centers sponsor networking events such as “Volunteer Fairs,” where you can meet nonprofits. Also, sites such as Catchafire specialize in connecting skilled professionals to nonprofits needing concrete projects done with skilled help.
In Chicago, the potential for making a meaningful change through skill-based volunteering is endless. With the right fit between your skill and organization, you don’t just help someone—you can exponentially impact their lives.
So what are you waiting for? Start skill-based volunteering today! Someone’s future could very well depend on you using your special skills.
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