The Board of Directors of a nonprofit organization is tasked with the responsibility of considering, discussing, and voting on the affairs, actions, and decisions of the nonprofit. Being a member of the board can allow you to have some say in how money is spent, where resources are allocated, which steps the nonprofit will take next, and much more. If you are particularly interested in or dedicated to the work being done by the nonprofit, working on the board can allow you to make an impact on a cause you care about. 

While some nonprofits are desperate for board members, and will happily take volunteers that are willing to dedicate their time and energy, others are more selective and require potential board members to prove themselves before being considered for a slot at the table. If you have found a nonprofit that you feel passionate about, and want to become more involved by joining their board of directors, here are a few pieces of advice to keep in mind: 

• Start as a volunteer, then work your way up to applying for the board. One of the easiest ways to become involved with an organization that you care about is by volunteering with them since most charitable and nonprofit organizations are always accepting new volunteers. Volunteering will get you better acquainted with the work being done and will help to make you more recognizable to the people running the nonprofit.
  
  
  
• Take on leadership roles as they are offered to you, and show your commitment and enthusiasm for the work. If you become a regular volunteer, you will naturally become more involved in the organization as other members begin to rely on you. Taking on leadership roles within the volunteer structure of the organization is a good stepping stone for taking on leadership roles higher up, and will show your commitment to the cause. Examples of volunteer leadership roles include: chairing a fundraising committee, managing an event, or promoting a service or program.
  
  
  
• Share your time and talents generously to show just what an asset you can be. Nonprofits are constantly in need of extra help, and if you have something to offer, they will gladly accept. You are more than just a person with a body to take up space, you are an asset with a set of skills that you can use to make yourself more valuable to the organization. Offer to use your professional skills, knowledge, and energy to make the organization better, and you’ll soon be in the running for a position on the board. 

 

• Be prepared to donate or ask others you know to donate to the organization. As passionate as you are about the mission of the organization, it will not exist at all without funding. Board members are responsible for finding ways to strengthen cash flow security within an organization. Many times, you can contribute by donating some of your own funding but if you cannot do that, you should be willing to ask others (friends, colleague, the company you work for) to be generous with their pocketbooks.  

Want more tips, tricks, and advice on living a philanthropic life? Visit Blackbird Philanthropy Advisors today, and be sure to visit our blog for more information. ​

​Creating a thriving and efficient work environment isn’t always about what happens in the office - sometimes, it’s the time you encourage your employees to take off that makes the biggest difference. Offering your employees volunteer time off is an amazing way to get them engaged in the community, can help boost the image of your company, and can help further the mission of your business. 


What is VTO?

Like paid time off, volunteer time off (VTO) policies offer employees the chance to take a day off with pay. Rather than going on vacation or taking sick leave, VTO is for volunteering. Offering paid days off to your employees encourages them to take advantage of the opportunity, and can even help boost employee morale. 

Most companies that offer VTO offer somewhere between 8 and 80 hours per year, with some even offering employees the chance to take paid sabbaticals to dedicate themselves purely to volunteering. An organization offering VTO can choose just how much time they will allow, and can even dictate which organizations employees should volunteer with to qualify. By requiring employees to volunteer for specific causes and organizations, you’ll be able to direct time, energy, and effort toward a cause that matters to you and your business. 

Some companies require employees to take at least 8 hours of VTO throughout the year, implementing mandatory minimum volunteer hours for all members of staff. Other companies leave the choice entirely up to the employee, allowing them to request as much or as little VTO as they want. Approving employees for VTO is a relatively straightforward process, and requires little more than a simple scheduling protocol for employees to submit requests for VTO with reasonable advanced notice.


What Are the Advantages of a VTO Policy?

Some business owners might frown at the idea of paying their workforce to ‘work’ elsewhere for a day, but despite the lost working hours, there are plenty of advantages to implementing a VTO policy in your organization. 

• Reputation & Image: Consumers across the board favor companies and organizations that participate in their communities and show conscious effort towards making the world a better place. The impact on your bottom line is clear. Reputation Institute found that consumers are 350% more likely to buy from companies they hold in high regard. Encouraging employees to volunteer and offering VTO is just one of the ways you can prove to your consumer base that your company truly cares, and puts its money towards creating real change and making a real impact. 

 

• Recruitment & Retention: Studies show that Millennials are more likely to accept positions at companies that show commitments to social investment. When employees feel like they are able to make a difference on the job, they’re more likely to stick around. Research by SurePayroll shows that there’s a 28% reduction in absenteeism in companies with strong engagement compared to those that do not.

 

• Employee Satisfaction: Employees working for an organization that emphasizes doing good tend to be more satisfied in their positions, and will speak more highly of their employers. Chances are that your employees probably have similar values to you, and are interested in things that would impact your company or the community in which it exists. Having a mutual interest and goal is an incredible unifying factor, which is why volunteering can create happier, more satisfied teams. In addition to making a difference in the community, VTO can be a super fun experience, bonding the team and creating a more positive atmosphere back at the office. 

 

• Leadership Development: Volunteering can give employees opportunities to improve and strengthen skills in a way they are unable to in their day to day work assignments. This fosters growth and encourages employees to develop new leadership skills that can be adapted to workplace scenarios and lead to promotions and reduced voluntary turnover.
  
  
• Foster a Healthier Community: Wherever you have set up shop (or office, or warehouse, etc.), it is important to become part of your community and to support it in a meaningful way. Community success becomes a personal success, and by working together, many businesses and organizations have helped to make significant change in neighborhoods and communities in need of support. Lending your employee hours to the community can help you to cement your organization as a member, and can help to create a better, more prosperous community for all. 

Companies that Offer VTO

If you decide to begin offering your employees VTO, you’ll be joining the more than 65% of companies that already have these programs in place. Some of the biggest, most well-known corporations are also those with the most generous VTO policies, and more and more professionals are beginning to expect their employers to dedicate a portion of their resources to community and social programs. Here are just a few of the companies that offer VTO to their employees: 

• Allstate: 16 VTO Hours, Required. ​
• Build-A-Bear Workshop: 4 VTO Hours
• PNC Bank: 40 VTO Hours
• Capital One: Maximum of 32 VTO Hours
• Google: Maximum of 20 VTO Hours
• Verizon: 50 hrs. VTO Hours, Required

How You Can Create a VTO Policy

If you haven’t already, now is the time to begin offering your employees paid volunteer time off. Creating a basic VTO policy is fairly simple, and if you already have a PTO policy in place, you will be able to follow its basic framework. Some important details for your VTO policy to include are: 

• Minimum or maximum number of hours required/allowed
• Information regarding placing requests for VTO in advance
• Regulations to ensure that VTO won’t conflict with peak hours or busy seasons
• Approved organizations for VTO
• Eligibility information (full-time employees only, all employees, etc.)
• Performance requirements

Ready to take it to the next level? 

These are companies who are going above and beyond and offering an even greater depth to their community service programs:

• NuStart Energy (Texas): Loan Executive Program offers 3-5 months paid; this is a competitive program offered to just one employee each quarter.
• Gibson (Indiana): Offers unlimited Paid Time Off for volunteer service.
• Johnson and Johnson (New Jersey): Extended Volunteer Leave Policy allows employees to take up to 2 weeks each year for volunteer trips, 40 hours of which is paid. That’s not all, Johnson and Johnson also offers specials programs like competitive Global Pro Bono and Secondment Program which off sabbaticals up to six-months to work on-assignment in service to organizations in developing countries or high-need causes. 
• DeLoitte (London): Pro Bono support encourages employees a chance to make a long term commitment to a specific nonprofit or cause. Employee in their stepup program use modules and a formal training program to learn how to provide value and leadership in communities in addition to providing pro bono services to organizations. 

Want to learn more about making a difference in your community? Visit Blackbird Philanthropy Advisors insights blog to discover much more. ​

Some people give simply because they know they should, and offer up charitable donations out of some kind of moral obligation. While it is true that we should all do our best to give back, this sentiment of obligatory philanthropy is readily going out of style. 

The next generation of philanthropists, the 20-somethings, are giving to those causes they feel personal connections to, rather than giving simply for the sake of giving. Young people like to engage personally with the causes they support, and are building philanthropy plans that reflect their interests and values. 

If you are a 20-something and have been wondering whether it is time you create a philanthropy plan, the answer is: it’s never too early to start giving! Building the habit of generosity and learning support causes that impact you and your community from an early age will help you to feel more connected to your community, and will help you to build patterns of empathy. 

Many younger people with charitable sensibilities shy away from engaging in philanthropy because they believe that they need to have tons of expendable income to make an impact. In truth, young philanthropists can contribute to nonprofit and community organizations in many ways, including but not limited to financially. 

How You Can Give Back Without Having Money

While even the smallest financial donation is appreciated by nonprofit organizers, not all young philanthropists can afford to donate money. Instead, try donating something else, like your time. Volunteer, serve on boards or committees, offer professional pro-bono services, or find some other creative way of donating your time. 

Many nonprofits often need additional volunteers to help with basic administrative tasks, to help organize or clean their facilities, or to simply spread the word about their cause. Donating your time is just as rewarding - if not more - than donating your money, and the sooner you begin contributing to causes you care about, the sooner you will feel the benefits of generosity. 

Once you start giving back, we know you won’t want to stop, which is why we encourage you to keep changing your philanthropy plan as often as necessary. As you, your career, and your life grow, you will find new ways to contribute to the causes that mean the most to you. Creating a basic philanthropy plan in your 20s is just the first step. 

Learn more about philanthropy and how you can make a difference when you visit Blackbird Philanthropy Advisors. We offer more information like this on our blog, where you can discover tips, tricks, and advice for volunteering, corporate giving, fundraising, and much more. ​

• DO: Think about how you will merge your giving strategy and goals with your corporate strategy and goals. Are there any charities who share a similar vision or mission? For example, if you’re a financial advisor – you may want to look into teaming up with a nonprofit like Junior Achievement who teaches youth about making smart money decisions. Do you run a construction company? You may consider finding some nonprofits or schools who teach trades to low-income adults.

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• DON’T underestimate the power of relationships you will build through partnerships with nonprofits. If you take the partnerships seriously, you will gain valuable contacts through staff and board member interactions. This is an investment that could impact your bottom line.

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• DO: Ask your employees what their passion is. Imagine spending all your time rallying your employees to support your favorite animal shelter only to find out not a single person you work with is passionate about animal rights. If you find out their passions don’t align with your corporate strategy for giving, consider offering them a matching gift grant to encourage giving to nonprofit of their choice. On average, major corporations match employee gifts up to about $1,000. Match any amount, even $100, will go a long way to show your team that it’s crucial for the team to be engaged in philanthropy.

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• DON’T forget to provide time for volunteering opportunities to your employees. The estimated national value of an employee hour is $25.43. Even if you’re a small business and can’t afford a big corporate giving program, you can probably afford to offer group volunteering and optional volunteer time off hours for your employees to give back their time. If you organize a time for employees to take the day off to volunteer at a food pantry for the day, that amounts to a $1,000 donation to a charity.

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• DO: Track every penny you spend on charitable giving. These donations are 100% tax-deductible. Think strategically with every gift -- ask yourself why questions and how it will add value to your company and the people who make up your company. You should be tracking corporate philanthropy just the same as you would monitor any other performance metric in your company. As we say at Blackbird Philanthropy Advisors, anything worth doing is worth doing well.

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• DO: Take the time to get to know the nonprofits you support. You could even organize nonprofit tours and interviews for your employees to help choose the best spot to invest your corporate cash and time. This process should be taken seriously just as any other endeavor you undertake in your business.

Our brains are hardwired to serve. Here is why businesses and their employees benefit from embracing meaningful causes.
By Susan SteinbrecherCEO, Steinbrecher and Associates@SteinbrecherInc
​Published by Inc. Magazine, May 31, 2019

At a recent celebration for Harvard Business School's Class Day, speaker Michael R. Bloomberg, extolled the value of graduates aligning themselves with companies that were deeply committed to philanthropic efforts, stating that at Bloomberg, "...philanthropy gives us a competitive advantage in recruiting and retaining talent -- and it's as good for the bottom line as anything a company can do."

Literally translated, the word philanthropy means "love of humanity." By very definition, philanthropy is only philanthropy when it stems from giving without personal gain. It begins and ends with a selfless motive -- that of helping one's fellow man without seeking recognition or reward.

Most of us know that charity is its own reward. The true wealth of charity is measured by good deeds, not ego and material gain. That's why many affirm that they get back far more than they give. In other words, what they receive is the joy of love in action, the manifestation of their gift of time or money in such a way as to make a visible difference.

Interestingly, good people doing good work experience benefits that go beyond just their contentment in the knowledge that they are advancing the well-being of humanity. A well-known study examined the brain activity of a group of people, each of whom was given money ($128) and asked to make choices about whether to keep the money for themselves or to give some or all of it to charity anonymously. The outcome was fascinating. The participants who gave the money to charity experienced an extremely high level of pleasure. The researchers concluded that, "The warm glow that many donors get from giving to charity involves the same brain mechanisms that evoke pleasurable sensations after sex, eating good food, and using heroin or other drugs."

Companies that embrace philanthropic efforts enjoy significant advantages that contribute to the mutual benefit of both management and employees on every level such as:

Loyalty and morale rise.
This occurs in direct correlation to the enhanced sense of personal engagement and connectedness of the employees since they are proud to be associated with a company that cares and does good for others.

Employees experience an increased sense of personal satisfaction.
The reward that goes with being part of a meaningful community effort is something bigger than themselves that makes a difference in the lives of others.

Team building.
This happens at a higher level since all employees are working side by side together towards a common goal.

A sense of accomplishment.
The collective group can work together to achieve something for the community while serving as a profound team-building event for the employees.

We've been taught since we were children that it is better to give than to receive. This Chinese proverb illustrates the intrinsic worth of charitable works:

"If you want happiness for an hour, take a nap. 
If you want happiness for a day, go fishing. 
If you want happiness for a year, inherit a fortune. 
If you want happiness for a lifetime, help somebody." 

Many people wonder if their volunteer time at a charity completing professional tasks can be deducted on their taxes. You cannot deduct the value of services rendered in volunteer service to a nonprofit. You can, however, deduct the expenses you incurred while volunteering or traveling to and from the volunteer assignment.

• Gas mileage (at the rate of $.14/mile), public transportation costs, and airfare or train travel to farther volunteer destinations or conferences can all be deducted. Meals and lodging for longer distance volunteer assignments may also be deducted.
• If you’re required to wear certain type of shoes or outfit, the purchase of those items may be deducted.
• Out of pocket expenses (ie. books, materials, copies, supplies, etc.) can also be deducted as charitable contributions.
• Save your receipts and ask the charity to verify the expenses as an in-kind donation if the total adds up to $250 or more for the year, otherwise you're able to claim in-kind donations up to $250 as a tax deduction.

Example 1 - The Artist:

An artist who paints a mural on the wall of her local local Boys & Girls Club can deduct the cost of paint, paint brushes, and other supplies needed to complete the mural. She can also deduct the gas mileage it took to get to and from the charity to complete the volunteer service. She cannot deduct for the time it spent her. 

Example 2 - The Nurse:

A Red Cross volunteer who is a Registered Nurse travels to Florida to help with hurricane disaster relief recovery. He can save the receipts for his airfare, lodging, and meals while on assignment. He cannot calculate the hours he spent working as a nurse for Red Cross and deduct the pay he would have been paid in his workplace.

Always consult with your tax advisor to be certain.