WomenOnCall.org Makes Volunteering Easy For Busy Professional Women Nationwide Provides Non-Profits With Access To Thousands OfVolunteers Eager To Use Their Professional Skills To Give Back every true as we expand to connect woman’s schedule is different, one women and non-profits across the thing’s for sure: Womenare busy. country.” (NAPSA)—While Balancing work, family and per- Launched in 2006 in Chicago, sonal responsibilities can often makefinding time to volunteer seem impossible. Women want to give back, but may need assistance identifying appropriate waysto do so. “WomenOnCall.org makes it easy to get involved with issues and organizations that I believe in,” said member Laura-Ashley WomenOnCall.org has thousands of members and hundreds of participating non-profits—and this now-national network continues to grow. Barnes, who has volunteered her graphic design skills to a number of non-profits. “The website has madeit possible for me to fit volunteering into my busy schedule and give back to the community.” WomenOnCall.org is a free online network that connects nonprofits that have specific volunteer opportunities with women who want to share their professional skills and expertise with non-profits. The website makesit simple for women to find meaningful volunteer opportunities nationwide. Retaining professionals, such as a lawyer or accountant, can be costly, especially with rates often exceeding $200 per hour. Yet, there are occasions when nonprofits can leverage these highly skilled professionals for short, high-impact volunteer opportunities. For example, through WomenOnCall.org, a lawyer could review and provide feedback for a memorandum of understanding, a graphic designer could develop a brochure, or a writer could edit a monthly newsletter. The win-win experience pro- vides non-profits access to needed professional assistance. At the y cos : . Many busy women have found a special, simple way to help their communities. same time, women, whether work- ing, in between jobs, stay-at-home moms or retired, can keep their skills sharp and utilize their professional skills while networking with wonderful organizations. “There are so many things to do when starting a non-profit,” said Elizabeth Leibovitz of Childreach International USA. “WomenOnCall.org provided me with fantastic professional resources that I would not have otherwise had access to if this community of volunteers did not exist.” “WomenOnCall.org was founded because we recognize that time is a premium for professional women and that given the right match of volunteer skills and opportunity, just one hour of service a week has the potential to positively impact people’s lives,” said WomenOn Call.org Founder Margot Pritzker. “This thinking continues to ring Here’s how it works. Volunteers register on the site and provide details about their skills and experience and their preferred time commitment, including if they are willing to volunteer virtually. Nonprofits are able to view volunteer profiles and initiate a connection through a secure e-mail system. Volunteers can then accept or decline an opportunity, at which time volunteers can communicate directly with the non-profit. WomenOnCall.org does not provide non-profits with volunteers’ personal contact information. “More and more, we’re seeing virtual connections being made, which allow busy women to volunteer while traveling or from home in the evening,” said Pritzker. “Virtual volunteering allows our non-profit members to engage our nationwide network of skilled volunteers.” For more information on WomenOnCall.org, connect online at www.WomenOnCall.org, Facebook (www.facebook.com/Women OnCall), Twitter (@WomenOnCall) and through its group on LinkedIn. Non-profits interested in learning more about WomenOnCall. org can call (800) 531-3543 to schedule a conference call with WomenOnCall.org staff and to brainstorm specific areas in which their organization can use volunteers with professional skills.
