Volunteer Center Managed Projects

Building Capacity with Volunteer Center Managed Projects

The United Way Volunteer Center makes it easy for individuals and groups to make a difference in the community by offering a variety of convenient, flexible, low-commitment volunteer opportunities to support various Portage County nonprofits. These projects are the core of our program and are called "Volunteer Center Managed Projects".

What are Volunteer Center Managed Projects?

Recurring volunteer projects that address specific needs and help build capacity at various local nonprofit organizations.
Volunteer projects that are coordinated by a trained volunteer Project Coordinator (PC) in collaboration with the United Way Volunteer Center and the nonprofit agency where the project occurs.
Projects that can accommodate a group of at least 4 volunteers without requiring them to make a long-term commitment. Projects may not require pre-screening or separate training sessions for volunteers.
Volunteer Center Managed Projects generally last 2-4 hours and often occur on evenings or weekends (longer projects or projects that occur during week days can also be considered).

How is a Volunteer Center Managed Project Coordinated?

The Partner Nonprofit Agency Contact has overall responsibility for managing the project: she/he will arrange to have all necessary tools or supplies, will provide a brief orientation and/or training to volunteers at the beginning of the project, and will be available during the entire project.

The Volunteer Center Managed Project Coordinator (PC) is responsible for managing the volunteers: communicating scheduling information between the agency and Volunteer Center Managed Projects staff, managing project sign-ups, and working with the agency contact to oversee the event. PC's are United Way Volunteer Center volunteers, not staff, who have been trained to lead projects. The PC is screened and trained by the United Way Volunteer Center and he/she makes a six month commitment to lead the same project.

Process for Getting a Volunteer Center Managed Project Started:

Complete the attached Project Request Form and submit by email to swinn@unitedwaypoco.org.
The United Way Volunteer Center will work to recruit a volunteer PC to help manage the project. If you have a trusted volunteer who might be willing to take on this role, please let us know. Potential PC's complete an application with the United Way Volunteer Center, undergo a background check and provide two personal or professional references prior to being matched with a project. (The host agency also has the right to interview the PC prior to placement if they wish.)
Once a PC is recruited and screened, the United Way Volunteer Center staff will train him/her on the specifics of leading a successful volunteer project and on using the United Way Volunteer Center database to manage volunteer sign-ups. The host agency has the opportunity to provide additional training to the PC prior to the initial project.
A site visit will be scheduled with the agency contact, PC, and United Way Volunteer Center staff member to discuss the logistics of the project and tour the project site.
Following the site visit, the first project will be scheduled. United Way Volunteer Center staff makes every attempt to attend the first project with the PC to ensure that the project goes smoothly.
Future project dates are scheduled between the PC and the agency contact and communicated to United Way Volunteer Center for inclusion on the monthly newsletter.

** It generally takes several months to get a new Volunteer Center Managed Project started. We appreciated your interest and your patience!

Resource Documents:

Managed Project Program Details

Project Request Form

Project Request Form- PDF Fillable

Volunteer Release

Project Coordinator Position Description

Coordinator Application