When we donate money to a nonprofit organization, it’s natural that we do so with a specific program or initiative in mind. But for a nonprofit to be the most efficient and successful in carrying out its mission, it needs a strong infrastructure.  A strong infrastructure means having the right staff and volunteers who can effectively and efficiently implement programs. It means having appropriate workspaces, equipment, and technology to enable staff and volunteers to carry out the nonprofit’s critical mission work. Investing in nonprofit infrastructure makes sense, which is why Volunteer Houston has been investing in our community’s infrastructure with the help of our web-based portal that connects volunteers and their passions to nonprofits and their needs to strengthen our community’s resiliency, capabilities, and service.

Giving circles. Donor advised funds. IRA distributions. Online gifts. There’s a multitude of ways you can donate to causes you care about. Points of Light launched the newest issue of #CivicLifeToday – Donate. This issue of Civic Life Today explores the mindful approach to donating money or goods. Donations are critical to the nonprofit sector. This issue thoughtfully helps individuals understand the power of their donations, but also how to approach donating with a critical lens to have the greatest impact. Download the digital magazine today.

A short excerpt from the Donate issue follows…

“When we donate our money to a nonprofit organization, it’s natural that we do so with a specific program or initiative in mind. But for a nonprofit to be the most efficient and successful in carrying out its mission, it needs a strong infrastructure. A strong infrastructure means having the right staff­ who can implement programs both e­ffectively and meaningfully. It means having the appropriate workspaces for both staff­ and volunteers to work from. It means having the right equipment and technology (and even a coff­ee machine.)”

TAKE VOLUNTEER HOUSTON, FOR EXAMPLE

We work behind the scenes to provide a web-based networking and volunteer connection portal (www.volunteerhou.org) to the entire Gulf Coast Region. We often struggle to raise funds for our work since it is the intangible concept of connecting volunteers with other nonprofits. The impact happens in the other nonprofits, with the populations they serve. Yet Volunteer Houston makes that impact possible.

We help local organizations increase their capacity to serve MORE people by providing a FREE resource to recruit, engage, schedule, and manage their volunteers. Volunteers are the lifeblood of the nonprofit sector, and we are here to keep the veins in working order! Volunteer Houston is the go-to volunteer resource center for Greater Houston’s nonprofit sector.

Here’s the impact we made during the first half of 2021. Many thanks to the volunteers, organizations, donors, and partners who contributed to this impact during the first half of the year.