Nonprofit Connects Volunteers Through New Web Design

Six volunteer recruiters from area nonprofit organizations learned how to use a new web portal to reach volunteers Wednesday. They are the first group to complete the training at The Volunteer Center of Northwest Suburban Chicago, based in Arlington Heights.

The new web portal, HandsOn Connect, is part of a major re-branding for The Volunteer Center. The nonprofit, volunteer-connector organization will assume a new identity Friday as HandsOn Suburban Chicago, part of the national HandsOn Network.

Chris Smith, chief operating officer at The Volunteer Center, told the training session attendees they were trendsetters.

“Basically you’re cutting-edge with a brand new system, and we’re so excited,” Smith said.

Smith said she wanted them to get the basics, take it back to their offices with the manual, and have the capability to do things they weren’t previously able to do, such as generate different types of reports.

The volunteer recruiters have been utilizing another website, 1-800-Volunteer.org, for receiving volunteer referrals from The Volunteer Center. HandsOn Connect reflects a complete overall with a refreshed look, more clearly organized information, and additional functionality for both volunteer recruiters and the volunteers themselves.

Judy Guggenheim, manager of volunteer services at Odyssey Hospice in Arlington Heights, said they recruit dozens of volunteers each year for administrative support, patient care, companionship and support to patients and their families.

Guggenheim said HandsOn Connect was another tool among many she uses to connect with volunteers, and hopes it works.

“I think more and more people are using the Internet to efficiently find meaning through community service,” Guggenheim said. “It’s an easy way to access opportunities for community service.”

Nancy Kukankos, supervisor of prevention and volunteer services at The Bridge in Palatine, said as a member at The Volunteer Center, her organization, which runs programs to help youth and families, received a number of benefits including the opportunity to recognize volunteers at an annual award ceremony.

Kukankos said the look of HandsOn Connect is very professional, though because it's new, she’s not sure yet if it will be effective for her organization, but she’s hopeful it will be and she trusts The Volunteer Center’s expertise.

“If this is something that they feel is going to enhance volunteer recruitment I’m interested in that,” Kukankos said. “I take their word for it; they’re the pros at this.”

In a separate interview Smith said The Volunteer Center had been members of the HandsOn Network for years. The change now will be a full brand adoption.

Smith said The Volunteer Center would benefit from the change in a number of ways including additional resources, the ability to offer new services and become more visible in the community.

Smith said her organization would be able to manage or help manage projects.

“We weren’t able to show that or manage the groups through the system before having HandsOn Connect,” Smith said. “So it all ties together with the technology.”

Smith said she wanted to make sure her organization was getting more community support. She said they’ve been doing things all along to help the community, but they are going to be more visible now.

“Because we’re a connector organization, now with this new brand we’ll be able to make more connections,” Smith added.