The Significance Of Volunteers

It’s tragic really just how much volunteers are taken for granted. Whenever there’s a catastrophe, they’re there to help out as much as they can. When nonprofits need manpower to spearhead their causes, volunteers are there. They give their time and effort, taking minimal pay (if at all any), and receiving even less recognition to help fill in the gaps in communities all over the world.

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While their part in disaster relief is well-documented (yet still widely ignored), volunteerism is alive and well in nonprofits, as mentioned earlier. One of the major misconceptions surrounding volunteers is that they’re only around to do either clerical or manual work with relief goods. But that isn’t the case. Volunteers can be seen everywhere. They assist in various tasks for nonprofits – from tech support to accounting to leadership. They help in planning and in some occasions, even come up with plans themselves. However, one of the main goals of volunteers is to keep things as organized as possible. 

Although it hasn’t been mentioned a lot, volunteers save nonprofits loads of cash simply by offering and providing their services for free. Because of this, those loads of cash go to people who and causes that need them more. 

The bottom line is a lot of organizations won’t achieve even the slightest degree of success without volunteers, and worthy causes would go on much more slowly. Such is the significance of volunteers.  

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Hello, I’m Larry Polhill, a recent graduate of the University of Florida. I love to volunteer for worthy causes. For more on my interests and advocacies, follow this Facebook page.

How Can Your Volunteer Experience Boost Your Corporate Career?

They say that it's better to be an active volunteer while you're young. Most people suggest going on an overseas volunteer trip during semester breaks or after graduation. On the one hand, I've heard people say that these trips provide a young person exposure to harsh and heartwarming situations. On the other hand, there are also people who told me that getting involved in volunteer experiences provides an edge for a person who wants to enter the corporate world. More than the technical skills gained in classes and internships, those who have given their time to worthwhile causes gain skills and life experiences that can be an advantage in the workplace.

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Those who are looking at a long and fruitful corporate career might not realize that volunteering can be a crash course to some of the many responsibilities they'll be handling in the office. Having hands-on experience with team management, events planning, and communications while in an unfamiliar situation can cause HR managers and employers to take notice. On the other hand, being an active volunteer is a commitment that is sometimes driven by compassion. Even without a stable salary, some volunteers choose to stay to bring change. In the eyes of employers, this could mean that an individual has ambitions that are not driven by money.

As for me, volunteering after college became a way for me to give back to the community before I entered the workforce. It was also a time for me to really think about what I want to do with my life. Yes, it was a time of hard work, but it taught me so much about life. My experiences working outside of my comfort zone made me value the job I have now.

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HI there! My name is Larry Polhill. I’m a young philanthropist and poverty reduction advocate. Visit this blog for more updates.

How to setup a crowdfunding campaign

Crowdfunding is one of the most popular ways of funding a business idea, a cause, or a product. It’s a useful way to launch your companies without much capital investment but it needs to be done the right way.

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Here’s how to setup a crowdfunding campaign:

1. Develop your story

Crowdfunding is all about stories. People need a good reason to chip in. Unlike traditional websites where the focus is on products, people on crowdfunding sites like Kickstarter or Indiegogo want to know how you turned your idea into reality. Your explanation for needing their support is as important as the product you’re pitching.

2. Offer great rewards

Another motivator for people to back your project is the perks. But make sure to be fair with your rewards in terms of price points, and make sure you can actually fulfill them.

3. Set a funding goal

There are different funding models for each platform you choose to launch your campaign. Keep in mind that Kickstarter has an all-or-nothing funding model. If you meet or exceed your funding goal, you get to keep the money, otherwise, you don’t get anything. Platforms such as Indiegogo have a slightly different model where you get to keep the funding regardless of whether you reach your goal.    

Remember to think about how much money you need and be realistic. Most of the time, people who already know you are the ones that will fund your project. 

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Hi there, Larry Polhill here. I’m a recent graduate of the University of Florida. I’m heavily engaged in various volunteer work. Follow me on Twitter for more updates.

Building an effective partnership with a non-profit organization

There are many things to consider when a company is looking for a non-profit organization to partner with. A company can be supporting one or more non-profits at the same time. How can you be sure that these partnerships are working and that your company is still gaining even when it gives much? Here are a couple of things to consider before signing a deal. 

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Alignment 

Are your company’s core values and the organization’s values aligned with each other? Make sure that they are. An effective partnership springs from having one mind and vision for the future. When a company decides to engage in philanthropy and charity, its leaders must consider if this will make the business grow, if the partnership will benefit both parties. Working with non-profit partners can result in employee retention, increased sales, and greater brand. 

Engagement 

Partnering with a non-profit organization can engage employees in staying with the company as they feel more valued and appreciated by it. The efforts they make can have an impact both in their work and in the cause they support. Employees become volunteers; volunteers become donors. This tells great stories about their company, as donors become regular supporters. Companies must create programs, strategies, and opportunities for their employees to ‘say yes’ to the cause. 

An effective partnership is one that greatly benefits both parties. It’s great and important to know how both would be of help to each and how greatly it would affect volunteerism in the company.

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Larry Polhill is a consultant for non-profit organizations. His years as a volunteer has shaped his being and this has led him to help others in finding the right corporate and non-profit partners. For more information, visit this blog.

Can Goran Dragic Lead The Heat To The Next Nba Playoffs?

Nothing much happened in terms of off-season player movement for the Miami Heat. It’s essentially the same team coming into the 2017-18 NBA season, with minor additions in big men Kelly Olynyk from Boston and towering rookie Bam Adebayo.

What’s more interesting is the extra work that veteran guard Goran Dragic is doing in the off season. While the rest of the Heat players are enjoying their break, Dragic has led the Slovenian national team to the FIBA EuroBasket championships, a key contributor in both points and assists as Slovenia beat champion Spain in the semifinals.

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We’ve already seen Dragic doing solid work as Coach Spoelstra’s go-to point guard, and with Dion Waiters and James Johnson on the rise as accurate three-point threats, there’s a good chance that the Heat might perform better than most NBA analysts expect. Of course, this is premised on the players sticking with Spoelstra’s system. After all, Miami already did a great job last year with its semi-ragtag bunch, winning 30 of its last 41 regular season games.

It’s been a while since Miami had the big three of Lebron, Wade, and Bosch. And it will take a while before such star power is seen in Florida professional basketball. But the Heat has the advantage of better gelling, better teamwork. As long as Hassan Whiteside remains healthy, and Dragic brings his stellar FIBA game to the NBA, it shouldn’t be a problem for the team to reach the playoffs. It’s unlikely that they can get past the star-studded Cleveland and Boston teams, but the Heat will surely give them a run for their money.

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My name’sLarry Polhill, a graduate of the university of Florida. My volunteer work in several nonprofit organizations usually keeps me busy, but I’m into sports like basketball as well. For more on my hobbies and advocacy work, do subscribe to myTwitter

page.

Reducing Poverty In Your Community

People who can best help a community are the ones who are part of it. They know what their needs are, and in some cases, they find ways to meet them. Help from other communities are only reinforcements of what your community is already doing to alleviate poverty within its zone.

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If you’re already aware of your community’s situation, it is for you to let others become aware of it, too. Form a group of people who can help in leading the community in identifying the causes of poverty in your area. Ones the causes have been identified, arrange meetings to discuss about what actions to take and who to get help from. Making your community aware of the problems you’re facing and presenting possible solutions may encourage them to do the same.

The family is the basic unit of the society; educate them. Adults and children both have roles to play in reducing poverty in the community. Teach the kids and the youth to set goals and initiate action among their peers.

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Conducting fundraiser events will give community members a chance to do what they’re passionate about while giving back. Volunteering lets everyone become responsible for the growth of many. If you’re good at handling finances, give back by helping members in making the right financial decisions that will benefit them and the community in the near future. If you’re an artist, give back by offering your time in teaching kids and youths about being creative and how it may help in many ways.

Hi there. I’m Larry Polhill, and I’m a proud volunteer and alumnus of the University of Florida. Follow my blog to know more about how you can help in reducing poverty in your community.

How Students Can Benefit From Volunteering

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It is every student’s duty to do well academically. But that does not mean they should refrain from participating in extracurricular activities, particularly volunteering or helping in charities. In fact, students can reap various benefits from volunteering. Examples are the following:

Skills development

Research shows that more than 80 percent of students who engage in volunteering want to make a difference or impact their community, but at the same time, gain skills and work experience. In the same study, it is stated that around 51 percent of recent graduates under 30 years old noted that volunteering was instrumental in their job search.

Discovery of new interests

Because volunteering provides an avenue for students to be involved in a wide range of activities, they could discover new things that pique their interests. Some professionals found out that they want to work with children or in the education field after volunteering with youths in their community.

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Networking opportunities

Volunteering creates a myriad of opportunities for students to meet new people and gain friendships that could help them later in their life. According to the Institute for Volunteering Research, about three in four volunteer students experienced a wider range of friendships after participating in charities or events.

Hello, my name is Larry Polhill, a young philanthropist a volunteer for several nonprofit organizations. My parents were also active philanthropists, which enabled me to join community programs while I was still in my teens. Follow me on Facebook for more articles on volunteering.

Three Reasons Supporting Charity Is Good For Business

We all know big companies are successful because of their products and their excellent employees.But these companies aren’t just all about making money and providing products to consumers, they’re also about making a difference.

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Many companies are now starting to reach out to their communities and to establish corporate giving programs. Here are the reasons why your company should do the same:

1. Positive branding

Getting your company involved in various charity organizations distinguishes you from your competitors.It also shows that you are concerned about the well-being of your community and the world, and that you’re not only focused on making money. And many people give a company their patronage just because they reach out to their community.

Boost employee morale

If a company chooses to make a corporate donation, the company takes an active interest in their own communities,thus leading to a boost in employee morale. There was a study in 2016 stating that on volunteering, millennials were “twice as likely to rate their corporate culture as very positive” if their company gets involved in workplace volunteer activities.

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Tax deduction

You might not be able to see immediately the other benefits of volunteer work but you may instantly notice the tax savings. Of course, this should not be the sole reason you’re doing volunteer work.There are financial rewards for helping a charity in need, provided you follow the rules and comply with all tax requirements.

Hi there, I’m Larry Polhill. I’m a computer science graduate from the University of Florida. I am an active member of various volunteer groups. Follow me on Twitter if you’re interested in signing up in some of these.

What People Often Get Wrong About Nonprofits

There are thousands upon thousands of nonprofit organizations in the world that employ millions of people. Some of these nonprofits are more famous than others. However, even with all we know about them, some myths persist. Here are a few of the prevailing misconceptions on nonprofits.

Nonprofits have zero income.

This is probably the most popular myth surrounding nonprofits. Nonprofits do make money, although every penny they make goes into helping their cause. In fact, money is vital to nonprofits since most of their programs and activities depend on money to function. Without money, the nonprofit would have zero impact on the world.

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People who join nonprofits can’t get jobs anywhere else.

One of the more unfair generalizations is that nonprofits employ people who can’t make it elsewhere. People believe that certain college degrees are suited for nonprofits and nonprofits only. This is not true. People join nonprofits and grow their career because they truly believe in the cause.

All nonprofits have the same function.

People think all nonprofits do is campaign for social change, educate those who can’t afford education, and help clean up the environment. In reality, however, nonprofits improve the world in a variety of ways. Whether through technology, medical research, or even assistance in war-torn areas, the nonprofit universe is pretty diverse.

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Hi there! My name is Larry Polhill, a volunteer for a number of nonprofits. If you want to learn more on how you can make a change, click here.

Charity For Children: Putting The FUN In Fundraisers

Charities for children will always get a lot of attention, which is a great thing. It will never lose the support of people. Now, wouldn’t it be amazing if the children who’ll be receiving these donations and help were present as well? And wouldn’t it also be amazing if the fundraisers being set up were prepared for these kids, rather than the adults? After all, there are a few things more precious than a happy child.

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Kids aren’t at all that difficult to please, especially those who’ve been cooped up in hospitals or homes for extended periods of time. They’re amazed by many things. Take for instance animals. Kids would squeal at the chance to be near cute, cuddly animals. This is the reason putting up a petting zoo could be a golden idea. And don’t stop there. Along with a petting zoo, you could always add in a pet show, and stalls that showcase dogs and other animals that can help sick children. Pet shops all over town, even your local zoo will jump at that chance to both help out and market their establishment.

Do you know what else children love aside from animals? They love vehicles. Boat rides are wonderful ways to get these kids around so they can feel closer to nature, and have a sense of adventure. Fundraisers can also be held in go-kart establishments, and have kids drive their own karts. As long as there are rides to be ridden, you can expect it to be a hit with the kids.

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Hi there! My name is Larry Polhill, a recent graduate of University of Florida and does volunteer work for several nonprofit organizations. I love to give back and I have a lot of fun doing it. Find out more about me and the work I do by checking out this LinkedIn profile.