DoSomething.org Launches DoSomething U

I'm so excited I can barely type. Yesterday, an amazing resource became available for all the current and aspiring do-gooders of the world: DoSomething U. Started by the organization DoSomething.org, this website is another tool through which they "help young people rock causes they care about."

The mission of the site is to help individuals passionate about social change make their ideas a reality. In that vein, the site is full of articles on topics categorized by seven "majors" ranging from activism to technology to human resources.

On the site you'll also find videos on various topics. Each week DoSomething U will release a new one on a different topic. Here are a few to get you started:

• How to Tell a Story Through Video - As someone with little to zero (closer to zero) video media skills this was a great intro to me. And if you haven't heard of Andrew Jenks, he's pretty cool. Google him.
• How to Create a Strong Brand - This one is particularly interesting to me because over the last week or so I've put a lot of thought into how to begin branding the non-profit I work with right now. As a business person, I truly believe in the value of branding for organizations, and not just in the private sector.
• Overcome the Fear of Asking for Money - No matter what kind of organization you intend to start, the money has to come from somewhere. If you're anything like me, it's better to start getting over that fear sooner than later!

So now that DoSomething.org has provided yet another reason to stop putting off any program and venture ideas we may have, how long will it take for you to get started?

Volunteering Not Only Rocks Socks, It Helps Your Corporate Career Too

I was recently distraught by a comment made by a colleague. An affinity group that I’m a part of at my firm sent out a survey asking participants to provide feedback on the group’s activities. One question asked participants to rank how involved they’ve been in the past years, requesting that those who were not actively involved to explain why. One individual’s response was that the organization is overly focused on community events and not enough on the eminence of our firm. He stated that this is a “disconnect” that he could not fully support.

Stop, Nikita. Pause. Breathe.

To say that this comment frustrates me would be an understatement. First, let me just say that I have absolutely no issue with individuals who are not passionate about community service. While I will admit that I really struggle to understand why it doesn’t rock their socks, I do respect their perspectives. However this particular individual’s comment, in my mind, does not provide a reasonable explanation as to why he or she has not wanted to be involved over the years. Let me explain why.

Community involvement does build eminence for the firm.
I’ll start by addressing the most obviously incorrect part of the response. Whether or not one agrees with the reasoning behind corporations’ involvement with non-profits and causes, there is valuable marketing done for a firm by having employees get involved in the community. For a firm like mine, the primary form of community service we provide is pro-bono consulting work. The relationships that are formed while executing those projects and the word of mouth generated about who we are and what we do is extremely valuable in the development of future business opportunities.

The firm also uses community involvement to build eminence for the firm by supporting employees who go out into the community via partnerships with local non-profits and organizations. This is typically done throughout the year, often organized with small groups at the employee level. The firm also supports community service by organizing a specific day within the year where everybody in the country leaves the office on a Friday to spend the day working in the community. All of these events build a strong reputation for the firm in the community through the blatant marketing of our name (think 100s of company tshirts in one place) as well as through the excitement that many of us have for being able to give back with our colleagues in some way.

The actual purpose of the affinity group is to provide opportunities for networking.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again and again and again: attending community service events is one of the best opportunities to network. For me, relationships develop most naturally when I’m sharing a common experience with other individuals. Whether it’s working with colleagues to serve Thanksgiving dinner to the homeless or cleaning up a school, community service events provide an environment where you and other individuals are working toward a common goal and enjoying each other’s company along the way. By creating such opportunities - in addition to the social, more formal networking events - the group has actually succeeded in achieving its mission. So I have a hard time understanding the disconnect mentioned in this individual's response.

Volunteerism also provides opportunities for professional development.
This is something that I’ve noticed that many people don’t see. Yes, volunteering gives you the opportunity to do something worthwhile, make an impact (however small), and feel good about it. That’s why most of us do it. However, while you may recognize that you are offering something of value to the organization you are working with, also recognize that they are offering you opportunities in return.

Skills-based volunteerism provides individuals with the opportunity to take on roles within non-profits and other organizations that allow them to both utilize and further develop skillsets. Whether you are simply looking for an opportunity to use your expertise in a new environment or you are looking for an opportunity to try something completely new, volunteering can help. Furthermore, it is a great opportunity to seek feedback on your performance from the leaders and employees of the organization.

Lastly, volunteering provides opportunities for career growth by providing you with a safe environment to explore both personal and professional interests. Volunteering for an organization is an excellent way to learn about a new field, develop relationships with current employees, and get your foot in the door if you are looking for a new job. Any way you look at it, it’s an investment that is guaranteed to pay off. As Melissa Maddox Barnes, Esq. states in her post on the Womanifesting blog, “Who knows, you may be able to volunteer your way into your dream job.”

A savvy professional is able to see the opportunities to build eminence for the firm, develop one’s network and take advantage of various professional development opportunities through community service. It’s one thing to state that volunteerism is not something that interests you as you pursue your career goals, however don’t disregard it because of false assumptions that it won't significantly contribute to your professional journey.

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You work in Corporate America. How could you possibly change the world?

As I mentioned before, I am taking part in the 31 Days to a Brand New Blog challenge. I joined the challenge late, so I'm catching up with old assignments as I begin writing posts for the site. This post is a combination of Day 4's assignment: Writing a List Post and Day 9's assignment: Write a "How to" Post.

If you are anything like me, this is the question that sometimes pops up like the little devil on your left shoulder in a cartoon. For those of us do-gooders out here making our way through Corporate America, there are times when you feel as though you aren’t truly committed to change simply because you don’t spend the bulk of your work week with the “right” type of organization, whether it be a social venture, non-profit, or government agency.

But the reality is that it's still possible to find fulfillment by focusing your energy outside of your 9-5 (well 9-5ish) job on making an impact in the local - or even the global - community. Depending on the amount of time you have available on evenings and weekends, there are many ways you can make a difference. Here are four that require more effort than writing a check:

Read about the issues you care most about.
Knowledge is power, and the best ally a cause or organization can have is an empowered and educated advocate. Sharing the information you acquire brings more awareness to causes and, ultimately, more support. Don’t underestimate the power in that.

Sign up to volunteer with a local organization.
Some people are often discouraged from looking for volunteer opportunities because of the level of commitment they assume to be involved. Organizations are always looking for support ranging from a few hours at an event to a few days a week for an entire year. You have complete freedom to determine how much time you are able to give. Most importantly, you probably have skills that are much needed somewhere.

With the current state of the economy, volunteers are more important than ever for non-profits that have had to cut or eliminate salaries. A recent study by the Corporation for National and Community Service estimates the value of a volunteer’s time be $20.85 per hour. This value varies depending on the state with DC having the highest average dollar value of $32.74 per hour. That’s a hefty bill for most organizations, especially those whose operations are highly dependent on volunteers.

Spearhead community initiatives for your company.
This is a great way to give back to the community while building your network at your firm and helping your company's brand. Your company may already have a strong presence in the community. If so, that's fantastic. Do some research into which organizations receive the most time and money. If none of those organizations interest you or if your company currently doesn't do much, spearhead something new! Some ideas: gather a group of colleagues to particate in a charity walk, organize a monthly visit to a local homeless shelter to serve breakfast, or raise money for a local organization (possibly getting your company to match whatever you raise).

Join a non-profit board.
There was a YNPNDC twitter chat held in June - moderated by Rosetta Thurman and Allison Jones - discussing the importance of young non-profit professionals joining boards for their own professional development. I believe that it's equally as important for those of us outside the sector, if not more, to get involved with non-profit boards so that we can remain abreast of what is going on and utilize our resources outside of the sector to resolve issues. Last year I had the opportunity to join the board of the Cultural Academy for Excellence, and it has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career.

Interested but not quite sure how to join one? Check out the recap of the twitter chat I mentioned as well as Rosetta Thurman's post on how to join a non-profit board.

For those of you in the corporate world, how do you keep yourself connected with the community? For those of you in the non-profit world, how else would you like to see individuals engaging with the community?