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What is The Volunteer Center (TVC)?
The Volunteer Center of Northwest Suburban Chicago (TVC) is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. We help to recruit and refer volunteers to other member non-profits needing assistance. The Volunteer Center also provides training and professional development in volunteer management and other related non-profit support. The Volunteer Center further works to promote and recognize volunteerism, as well as manages its own direct service volunteer initiatives.
Where do you get your funding?
The Volunteer Center receives funding from a wide variety of sources: foundations, corporations, individuals, membership fees, federal, state, and local governments, as well as from the United Way.
How do volunteers learn about The Volunteer Center?
Our website: www.volunteerinfo.net provides a complete list of our current volunteer opportunities; click the Get Involved link on this page to connect to the list. In addition, since 1977, The Volunteer Center has had a column in the Daily Herald, "Get Involved," that lists selected opportunities and invites readers to call or go online to learn more. The column runs Thursdays and Saturdays in the "Neighbor" section and is also distributed to area schools, corporations, and service groups. The Volunteer Center speakers' bureau also educates the public about volunteerism through outreach presentations at community venues.
I want to volunteer, but I'm not sure how to start. How can The Volunteer Center help me?
A prospective volunteer contacts one of The Volunteer Center's volunteer services coordinators via our website or by phone. The volunteer coordinator helps match the time, talent, and interest of the volunteer to a specific opportunity. The coordinator then shares the volunteer's information with the relevant agency, which contacts the volunteer independently. The Volunteer Center follows up with the agency and the volunteer to verify that a successful match occurred.
What is a referral?
A referral is the matching of a volunteer to an opportunity. We "refer" the volunteer to the agency that is offering the opportunity. The Volunteer Center typically refers over 10,000 volunteers a year.
What are the ages that The Volunteer Center works with?
Our Volunteer Connections works with teens, students, adults of all ages, and groups – including corporations, churches, and schools. We also have occasional family volunteer opportunities for those with young children.
Our Retired and Senior Volunteer Program is a special program that encourages people ages 55 and better to share their skills and talents.
What is the Volunteer Connections Program?
The Volunteer Connections Program is the main volunteer matching program of The Volunteer Center. We help individuals and groups of all ages find the perfect volunteer opportunity with one of 140+ non-profit agencies.
What is the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP)?
The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program is a national network of more than 450,000 Americans who are age 55 and better and provide volunteer service to their communities through local organizations. RSVP involves seniors in community service that matches their personal interests and makes use of skills and life experiences to address priority needs in over 1,500 counties across the Nation.
What is RSVP's relationship to The Volunteer Center?
The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program of Northern Cook and Northern DuPage Counties is one of the two largest programs administered by The Volunteer Center. Although it receives some different funding (from the Corporation for National & Community Service and the Illinois Department on Aging), RSVP is not a separate body but is rather an integral part of The Volunteer Center.
Why do people volunteer?
Most people start volunteering for a simple reason: someone asked them. Consider the volunteer opportunities link on this page as our invitation to you!
Benefits of volunteerism include...
- Enjoying better mental and physical health, as shown by scientific studies
- Exploring possible career options for youth, parents returning to the workplace, adults considering a career change, or retirees looking to stay active and share their skills and talents
- Meeting new people
- Acquiring skills and knowledge
- Giving back to society
- Achieving moral and personal fulfillment
- Having fun!
What are the benefits to an agency of partnership with The Volunteer Center?
Our affordable annual membership fee entitles the partner organization to unlimited volunteer opportunity listings and pre-screened referrals. Partner agencies may send one staff person to a maximum of three professional development workshops at no additional charge. The Volunteer Center staff also provide individualized consultation related to volunteer management to agencies upon request. Agencies interested in joining are invited to contact The Volunteer Center for a membership form and more information.
What are the benefits of a corporate partnership with The Volunteer Center?
Companies both large and small are interested in being good corporate citizens and many individuals prefer to do business with socially responsible organizations. The Volunteer Center can connect your employee volunteer program with opportunities that are both fun and meaningful and will help you build a greater relationship with your community.
Contact info:
2121 S. Goebbert Rd.
Arlington Heights, IL 60005.
| Phone: | 847-228-1320 | General |
| | 847-228-1006 | Retired and Senior Volunteer Program |
| | 847-228-1327 | Fax |
Website: www.volunteerinfo.net
Email:
General: volunteer@volunteerinfo.net
Retired and Senior Volunteer Program: rsvp@volunteerinfo.net
Year founded: 1969
Operating budget for FY 2007-2008: $433,600
Full-time staff: 2
Part-time staff: 8
AmeriCorps VISTA: 1
Board of Directors membership: 13 (4 officers + 9 members at large)
Companies represented on Board: American Airlines, Corn Products Intl., Motorola, Zurich, and more
Active in-house volunteers: over 30 people
Partner agencies, schools and libraries: 140
Service area: 46 towns; total population 1.6 million
Volunteers referred in FY 06/07 to partner agencies: 15,018
Volunteer hours contributed in 2006 by our RSVP volunteers: 120,000 hours
National affiliations: The Points of Light Foundation/Volunteer Center National Network (www.polf.org) and Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (www.seniorcorps.org)
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