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How
Can Your Non-Profit Benefit From The Volunteer Workforce Solution?
WHAT'S PROVEN?
For the past 30 years, non-profits have reaped the enormous
benefits of participating in Volunteer Workforces. Charities
have raised remarkable amounts of money without selling products,
buying inventory, or all the other hassles associated with
traditional forms of fundraising. The point is this - your
non-profit has something very valuable, something business
is willing to pay for. Workers. How much are they willing
to pay? How about enough to fund a literacy program, enough
to build two brand-new churches in one city. How about $45,000
in one baseball season? The typical business budget includes,
at most, a measly 5% for charitable giving. But the same budget
will earmark 25%, 35%, or 45% for labor-related expenses.
That's the money your non-profit can tap into.
WHAT'S NEW?
Volunteer Workforce programs are spreading across the country,
leaping out of their historic narrow confines. Never heard
of them? Don't feel bad -- you're in good company. Unless
your non-profit has worked with a performance venue, a national
chain of department stores, or a 2,000-unit fast food operation,
you probably haven't had the opportunity to discover them
yet. But that's about to change.
WHO'S USING THEM?
Churches, school groups, literacy programs, health-related
organizations, auxiliaries from military bases . . . the list
goes on. And just who do these non-profits partner with in
Volunteer Workforce programs? The Dallas Cowboys, The Cincinnati
Reds, Albertson's, Fazoli's, Sonic Drive-Ins, Six Flags, among
others. So far mostly big business has enjoyed the benefits
of these programs. But your non-profit can team up with almost
any business, no matter how big or small, no matter what industry
it's in, and dramatically benefit as well.
WHO SHOULDN'T USE THEM?
Volunteer Workforce programs are appropriate for any business
with labor needs which could be filled by temporary agencies.
Retail, restaurant, clerical, manual labor -- all have been
used successfully. Common sense would tell you that Volunteer
Workforces wouldn't be appropriate in a dangerous or hazardous
work environment. If someone you know is running a nuclear
power plant, they probably wouldn't want the women's auxiliary
from the local United Methodist Church in there pulling their
power rods. They might wind up with glow-in-the-dark Methodists,
and that would be bad. There's probably someone on your board,
or a sympathetic member of your organization, who has a business
and needs help solving their labor shortage problems. That's
a good place to start.
HOW DO VOLUNTEER WORKFORCE PROGRAMS OPERATE?
The IRS recognizes a system whereby non-profits function very
much like temporary agencies. Charities supply teen and adult
volunteer workers to business. Those workers function inside
the business, just as any other staffer would, with one important
difference. They don't get paid a penny, and they're pleased
as punch with the arrangement. Because the money they would
have earned goes directly to the charity of their choice.
The non-profit enjoys a welcome flow of revenue, tax-free,
which helps it achieve its mission. The business profits from
a constant stream of very productive workers, with no benefits,
taxes or overtime required. It's the ultimate win-win situation
for all involved.
HOW MANY WORKERS ARE INVOLVED?
Volunteer Workforce programs are infinitely scaleable. The
smallest program involves just two workers, the largest currently
involves 2,000 volunteer workers in the building at one time.
Imagine how much money your non-profit could generate with
just 10 or 20 people working in a local business, even for
one day a month.
LEARN MORE!!
You need to know more about this! And that's why this website
exists. Whether you're a development officer, fundraising
executive, or just a concerned and involved member of a non-profit,
this information is vital.
Download the whitepaper, The Volunteer Workforce, for free. Inside you'll find a Rationale for using
Volunteer Workforces, along with six case studies of businesses (including
the Dallas Cowboys) which use them, and the non-profits which participate in
their programs.
If you need a super high-quality, printed version of the booklet, you can buy
it from Amazon.com.
But most likely what you need now is information, and you want it quick. Follow
the link and you'll get it right now, absolutely free.
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