IBM helping to increase volunteer impact in schools
Nonprofit grant recipient is transforming districts with innovative technology
DALLAS, Jan. 8, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- VolunteerNow received IBM's Strategic Planning Impact Grant for a second time, valued at $56,500, and the technology nonprofit worked alongside IBM consultants to develop a five-year plan to connect communities with local schools through VOLY.org, VolunteerNow's proprietary platform.
For several weeks, IBM leaders and VolunteerNow staff members collaborated to refine and enhance this sophisticated and user-friendly volunteer recruitment and management tool, and created a plan to bring VOLY.org to districts nationwide to increase volunteer impact and involvement.
"IBM's corporate citizenship strategy includes the sharing of our best resource – IBMers and an innovative package of IBM business tools designed to help nonprofits build capacity," said Sandy Dochen, IBM Manager of Corporate Citizenship and Corporate Affairs. "VolunteerNow is a longtime IBM community partner, and we were please to donate IBM experts' time to help VolunteerNow update its strategic plan."
VOLY.org, powered by VolunteerNow, is currently being utilized in seven urban school districts, supporting more than 320,000 students with tens of thousands of volunteers directly addressing classroom needs. VOLY.org serves as a cost-saving one-stop-shop that allows districts to harness community engagement and stretch limited resources. It also connects 90,000 volunteers to 2,700 nonprofits annually.
"VolunteerNow is dedicated to transforming lives through volunteers, and how we accomplish that mission is always evolving," VolunteerNow CEO Tammy Richards said. "For 46 years, we have been at the forefront of innovation in the way citizens connect with their communities at large. VOLY.org is a powerful tool for school districts, and we're proud to develop this game-changing technology to better educate children. IBM has been a great partner and support of VolunteerNow, and now VOLY.org, as we expand into a national brand and help children, school districts and communities across the country."
About VolunteerNow
VolunteerNow serves as the hub of volunteerism in North Texas. Last year, VolunteerNow mobilized 70,000 volunteers who gave 1.3 million hours to 2,700 local nonprofits, driving a $32 million economic impact for the region. VOLY.org, powered by VolunteerNow, is the 24/7 connection between volunteers and local service opportunities. As a national thought leader in volunteerism and one of the largest volunteer centers in the country, VolunteerNow provides a wide range of programs and services that build capacity for nonprofits. www.volnow.org
SOURCE VolunteerNow
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