Skills-Based Volunteering

The resources of nonprofits across the nation are being stretched like never before, with the country seeing both a significant increase in needs and a considerable decrease in the financial resources available to meet those needs. To maintain current levels of service, and increase their capacity to meet the growing challenges, nonprofits must access a variety of skills and expertise that may not be available within the organizations themselves. At the same time, the corporate sector is beginning to recognize that it can create a greater impact on critical social issues by offering its own best resource – its professional expertise.

At the intersection of the challenges to be met and the expert human resources to meet those challenges is skills-based volunteering (SBV). This pioneering approach takes advantage of individuals’ skills and experience to help service organizations build and sustain their capacity to bring real solutions to our most pressing social problems.

Skills-based volunteering means leveraging the specialized skills and talents of individuals to strengthen the infrastructure of nonprofits, helping them build and sustain their capacity to successfully achieve their missions.

Examples include:

• Strategic and Business Planning Human Resources and Organizational Development
• Marketing and Communications Finance and Accounting
• Information Technology Logistics
• Product Development Fundraising and Development
• Project and Program Management Multi-media Strategy
• Pro bono services are an important type of SBV that provides a nonprofit with skills and expertise critical to maintaining a productive organization.

What SBV Means for Companies?

Good corporate citizenship is increasingly recognized as a key component of successful businesses, and skills-based volunteering is an effective way to improve a company’s reputation as a socially responsible organization.

What SBV Means for Nonprofits?

Skilled volunteers can help nonprofits do more with less by working on a wide variety of projects at no cost, including: creating marketing materials, developing new programs, training staff and raising money. 

Volunteer Connections

Skills-based volunteering opens the door to those seeking to use their personal and professional skills and talents to serve others. For those who volunteer through their employer’s SBV program, volunteering also provides a refreshing, creative change from daily work that enhances the overall work experience.

Thanks to the Corporation for National and Community Service for this information.