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6 minute read
Five benefits of skills-based volunteering and nonprofit board service
There are many benefits to skills-based volunteering through board service. This includes:
1. Professional development
Serving on a nonprofit board helps you develop leadership, strategic thinking, and problem-solving skills, enhancing your professional growth. The organization gains from the fresh perspectives and professional expertise you bring, leading to more effective governance and innovative solutions.
2. Networking opportunities
Board service expands your professional network, connecting you with like-minded individuals and influential leaders in various fields. The nonprofit can leverage your connections to build partnerships, attract donors, and increase its reach and influence.
3. Personal fulfillment
Contributing to a cause you care about provides a deep sense of personal satisfaction and fulfillment, enriching your life beyond your professional achievements. Passionate and committed board members are more engaged and motivated, driving the nonprofit’s mission forward with enthusiasm.
4. Enhanced reputation
Volunteering your skills and serving on a board enhances your reputation as a socially responsible and community-focused professional. Having respected professionals on the board can increase the nonprofit's credibility and attract more support from the community and stakeholders.
5. Broadened skill set
You gain exposure to different areas of operation, such as finance, marketing, and governance, broadening your skill set and making you a more versatile professional. The diverse expertise of board members can address various organizational challenges and drive comprehensive growth and development.
Volunteer highlight: Meet Madeline
We spoke to Madeline, Associate Producer of Studio at Athena Global Advisors, about her volunteer journey on Catchafire and how it led to her joining a board.
“There's no perfect time to volunteer - you need to make the time to engage in your community. It's easy to say that you don't have time, but even ten minutes can make a huge impact for an organization and those it serves.”
Madeline, Volunteer
In a few sentences, tell us more about yourself and your background.
I am an Associate Producer in Corporate Communications, but I spent the last five years working in a Post Production and Color facility remotely out of New York. I've been a volunteer video editor for almost three years now, and have been volunteering since I was young.
Why and how did you begin volunteering on Catchafire?
I was looking for a way to give back during the pandemic - I felt lost and out of control. Catchafire allowed me to practice my editing chops while also doing a lot of good.
Tell us about your journey to becoming a board member through Catchafire. What is the nonprofit you are supporting, and how are you impacting the mission as a board member?
I support More Than Bootstraps as an Advisory Board Member. Our conversation started when I started volunteering with them in 2022. Audrey and I hit it off, and we continued collaborating over the next year. In 2023, Audrey offered a board membership to continue my work with the organization. Today, I take care of video editing needs, as well as consult on social media strategy. I am also a mentor for a College Student Leader, where we connect about future career plans.
What is your main motivation for taking on a board role? What aspects of serving on a board are you most passionate about?
My main motivation is building up More than Bootstraps and its mission in helping First Gen college students. College was an expectation for me growing up, but I had no idea what I was getting into. I want to help students forge their paths - whether to a 4 year university, community college, or tech school.
What skills or expertise do you bring to the board? How are you leveraging your professional background to benefit the nonprofit?
While my skills are primarily technical video editing, I also bring a long history of volunteering and community engagement. In college, I interned with the Hanson Film Institute and assisted with their yearly film festival, Tucson Cine Mexico. I was working in and with the community to create accessible programming in multiple languages, as well as social media content.
How did your volunteer work prepare you for the responsibilities of a board member?
It jump started my relationship with Audrey and the organization. Board membership is all about connections and encouraging new ideas to grow the organization. I can still offer my technical skills, but now I can offer my experience and thoughts to better the organization.
What has been your most impactful or memorable experience as a board member?
My most impactful work has been mentoring. My mentee and I have learned a lot from each other, checking in and ensuring that we're on track with our goals. I've been able to offer up my own expertise, even though I'm in an entirely different field. I love celebrating her successes, and I'm so grateful that I could help her on her journey.
What has been your biggest takeaway from your experience on Catchafire? How has serving as a board member impacted your life and career goals?
My biggest takeaway from Catchafire is that there's no perfect time to volunteer - you need to make the time to engage in your community. It's easy to say that you don't have time, but even ten minutes can make a huge impact for an organization and those it serves. As a board member for More Than Bootstraps, I've been connected with so many incredible professionals that align with my values.
How do you feel serving as a board member has made a difference for the nonprofit or those it serves?
I am able to offer on-the-ground support for students, as well as facilitate social media content that is eye catching and engaging. I want to share students' stories, and it's through my work that More Than Bootstraps has gained more and more eyes. I'm so excited that the organization is growing every year to help more and more students.
What advice would you give to volunteers who are considering joining a board on Catchafire? Are there any particular insights or lessons you’ve learned so far in your journey?
Absolutely do so! Find an organization that aligns with your values and begin making connections. Volunteer for a while and ensure that you are a good fit. Most importantly, don't be afraid to be honest with your organization. Don't overcommit, but be willing to explore.
About More Than Bootstraps
More Than Bootstraps aims to build a community of first-generation, underrepresented students who empower each other to access and succeed in higher education. Located in New Jersey, the nonprofit’s approach includes near-peer mentorship, stipend support for program participants, and parent engagement.
Their vision is to build a world in which every young person has access to and support for success in higher education. More Than Bootstraps has turned to Catchafire’s skills-based volunteer program for support, enlisting volunteers’ expertise on projects related to graphic design, video editing, and social media. To date, volunteers have donated close to 1,800 hours in support of 80 projects, strengthening the organization’s operations, visibility, and programming.
And that’s not all–in addition to Madeline, the organization has enlisted an additional two volunteers from Catchafire to join its board, Cassie and Hannah.
Their executive director, Audrey, says, “When we started More Than Bootstraps, we were educators with a deep knowledge of education and the challenges facing first-generation college students. Our initial board had, however, little experience in the nonprofit world and with all the elements of running a nonprofit. We were lucky enough to find our way to Catchafire where we found skilled volunteers to help us think about elements like letters of inquiry, social media, graphic design, newsletters, and videography.”
"Three of our volunteers have since become members of the Advisory Board, Cassie (Cassandra), Madz (Madeline), and Hannah. Their initial volunteer work through Catchafire has grown into deep and steady support for More Than Bootstraps. Two of them have since taken on new professional positions in their own lives, roles they acquired, in small part at least, by the experience they acquired by volunteering for the organization. It's wonderful to think that we have contributed in a small way to their success because all our Catchafire volunteers have contributed enormously to More Than Bootstraps and to the first-generation college students we serve.”
Audrey Fisch, Ph.D.
President, More Than Bootstraps
Through nonprofit board service, Cassie, Madeline, and Hannah can make a deeper impact with More Than Bootstraps and their students, as they invest in their own long-term professional development. Nonprofit board service is a win-win, for the individual, nonprofit leaders, and the communities they serve. Hannah says, “Each project was valuable to me in meeting my own career goals, and the long-term relationship that has developed with More Than Bootstraps has given me the opportunity to grow in my technical skills and hone a style specific to the organization’s personality and purpose.”
“For any volunteers considering joining a board, I would say that it is a great opportunity. Serving on an advisory board has allowed me to expand my understanding of the educational system, where it falls short in supporting students, and how to empower members of a community to use their own experiences to help each other succeed. It has also given me the opportunity to try new things within my skill set, and develop a portfolio of work that was indispensable in helping me to get the job I work at now.”
Hannah S., Volunteer
