Western New York IFT’s Post

Timely #communications advice for #communityfoundations from Philanthropy for Active Civic Engagement (PACE): the terms you use with your board and external stakeholders can further unite or divide them. Great resources at https://lnkd.in/etftwyR9

Quick Question. Do you Volunteer? If so, where, and why do you volunteer? If you are a #NonProfitOrganisaion, please let us know what volunteer opportunities you have available and where you are located. #Volunteering #DoGood #NonProfitOrganisation #VolunteerOpportunities 

Creating a Grassroots Community Initiative: Learn How to Build a Coalition Discover how to create a grassroots community initiative using available resources. Join our masterclass to learn how to build a coalition and make a positive impact, regardless of your background or knowledge. Find out how to utilize commercial kitchens and collaborate with restaurants to redistribute food in need. Let's solve this problem together! #GrassrootsCommunity #CoalitionBuilding #CommunityInitiative #Masterclass #FoodDistribution #Volunteering #NonprofitOrganization #PositiveImpact #ResourceUtilization #RestaurantCollaboration

Several years ago, I was lucky enough to work on a brilliant piece of research into #volunteering in archives for Historic England Archive. (link in the comments). I truly love researching volunteering, and feel really lucky I've made a full time job out of it for the last 7 years through research and strategy development projects. This particular project was fascinating, and showed clearly how smaller organisations, with scarce resources, often are agile enough to deliver incredible results around #inclusion #belonging and #impact, using simple digital and comms approaches that large charities could benefit from too. It was a treat to revisit this recently as part of a wider client project, in particular as one of the case studies is Leeds own Leodis, a crowdsourced and volunteer-run collection of historic images of our city gathered and curated by local citizen scientists. Like a lot of Leeds folk I've got quite a few of these images on the wall at home including this stunner of the end of my street in 1910. I often wonder why larger organisations don't adopt these more DIY approaches that can be really effective. Maybe it's around the complexities of getting new approaches set up collaboratively across teams, worries about safeguarding and compliance, or a concern around not appearing professional enough? #Leeds #Volunteering #CitizenScience #Crowsourcing #Archives

How do we create spaces where it is easier for people to cooperate? The Y (YMCA) taught me a lot about that. My piece in The Chronicle of Philanthropy https://lnkd.in/gKRMwgT6

This past weekend, I had the privilege of stepping into the boots of Santa Claus at my local church Craft Fair. For the fourth year in a row, I donned the red suit, greeted excited children, and posed for pictures that brought smiles to both kids and their parents. But this role goes beyond spreading holiday cheer—it’s an opportunity to give back. Our Santa photo sessions raised funds for the church’s Outreach program, ensuring that children in need will have presents under the tree this Christmas. Volunteering has been a constant in my life, and during my job search, it’s become even more rewarding. It reminds me of the importance of: ✅ Purpose: Supporting meaningful causes keeps me grounded and focused on the positive impact we can all have. ✅ Community: Connecting with others, whether they’re children excited to meet Santa or parents supporting a great cause, strengthens my relationships and network. ✅ Leadership through service: Volunteering is a great way to demonstrate commitment, reliability, and the ability to bring people together for a common goal. For anyone currently seeking their next opportunity, I encourage you to find ways to volunteer in your community. It’s a powerful way to build skills, expand your network, and make a difference—all while lifting your own spirits in the process. What are some ways you’ve given back recently? I’d love to hear your stories! #Volunteering #JobSearch #CommunityImpact #LeadershipThroughService #GivingBack

Tips for Seniors: Living in a senior community offers plenty of activities! Sign up for something different this month and invite a family member to join. If you're not in a senior community, local senior centers or park districts can help you find new activities. Consider attending a sporting event, trying a new restaurant, or visiting a museum. Learn to cook or play an instrument. Volunteering at a school, library, or hospital is another great way to stay active and engaged. #SeniorLiving #HealthyAging #StayActive #WellnessTips

Doing the right thing

Tomorrow is #GivingTuesdayCA. Like many others Volunteer Waterloo Region relies on the generosity of others to achieve our mission. But we also understand that, especially in today's environment, giving has changed, and become more difficult. That is why we always recommend giving in the way that works best for you; For those out there who are not in a position to give money, give your time or service to others, give the gift of supporting your community. For those of you who are pinched on time, giving your monetary support to an organizations helps to ensure that it can continue to support others on your behalf. If you are not in a position for either, please share out the posts and information on #GivingTuesday. Amplifying the message of support can only strengthen your community. Your contribution to Giving Tuesday is valued, no matter what it is. We want to Highlight the link between #VolunteeringAndGiving and the impact you make just by supporting amazing days like giving Tuesday. If you are interested in supporting Volunteer Waterloo Region, you can visit buff.ly/4g9zM8A

The latest landscape study of collective giving shows that participation in collective giving has grown to more than 4,000 groups contributing over $3.1 billion — more than DOUBLING its impact in seven years. 📈 This not only fuels greater civic engagement, but also fosters improved mental well-being while bridging political divides. 💪 Learn more in our latest giving report, published in partnership with Philanthropy Together and Colmena Consulting: http://collective.giving #CollectiveGiving #GivingCircles #InAbundance