Dear Amy,

Cheers to a New Year of Service and Impact! The start of the new year is the perfect time to reflect on the incredible connections and impact we made in 2024 and look ahead to even greater opportunities to serve our communities. At HandsOn NWNC, we are excited to continue our efforts to support volunteers and nonprofits across the larger Triad community in the coming year.

For me personally, January marks a special milestone—my one-year anniversary of serving on the board of directors! This past year has been an incredible journey of learning, contributing, and witnessing the profound difference HandsOn makes every day. From volunteering and attending my first Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards ceremony to strategizing program goals and reviewing data at our annual board retreat, I’ve been inspired by the passion and dedication of our staff team and fellow board members.

It’s been an honor to lend my expertise to advance HandsOn’s mission and to grow through the collective efforts of this remarkable organization. I’m especially excited about contributing more intentionally to our strategic marketing committee and other initiatives in 2025.

As we look to the future, we must recognize the unique challenges our communities face in light of current events—from climate-related disasters to rising social and economic inequalities. Now, more than ever, the power of volunteering is vital. It brings people together, fosters resilience, and ensures that no one is left behind. Every act of service, big or small, creates ripples of hope and healing.

Let’s also take this time to celebrate the changemakers in our community. The nomination form for the Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards is now open! Take a moment to honor the extraordinary people in your life—whether it’s your neighbor, a fellow club member, your employer, or someone from your faith community. Nominations are open until February 15th, and we can’t wait to read their inspiring stories. Additionally, we welcome any level of sponsorship for this awesome event.

Here’s to making 2025 a year of even greater service and impact together!

Warm regards,

Alexa

Dr. Alexa Edwards

Associate Vice President of Planning & Strategic Innovation

Forsyth Technical Community College

Board Member, HandsOn NWNC

Editor's Note: We're currently booking guest columnists for 2025, so please let us know if you'd like to share your love of HandsOn in a future issue!

DATE: Thursday, January 16, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm

LOCATION: Intergenerational Center for Arts and Wellness, 114 W. 30th St., Room 209 (see map)

Our fifth session in our 2024-2025 Nonprofit Essentials series provides a strong introduction to the basics of working with small, grassroots organizations and neighborhood leaders. As the sector continues to be more focused on collective impact, place-based initiatives, and asset-based community development in general, these competencies will be crucial to all nonprofits in the future. Paula McCoy, our facilitator, is the current Director of the Partnership for Prosperity, which aims to empower low-income communities and individuals to achieve economic stability and opportunity. She has more than 30 years of experience in the non-profit sector.

Cost: $50 for Supporting Partners, $60 for all others. Register for the full series at any time and receive one class for free ($450 for Supporting Partners and $550 for all others.) Water and light refreshments will be provided. Questions about the class or Nonprofit Essentials program? Please contact Kathy.

Not sure if your organization is a Supporting Partner? Please check the list on the Join/Give Now page on our website or call 336-724-2866. If payment is a barrier to your organization's participation in this program, please contact Kathy. While we can't offer these classes entirely for free, we do want to ensure that small, grassroots organizations can benefit from these sessions.

NEW DATE: Thursday, January 23, 9:00 am to Noon

Please Note: if you were previously registered for the November date, you have automatically been enrolled for this new date.

LOCATION: Intergenerational Center for Arts and Wellness, 114 W. 30th St., Room 209 (see map)

After a last-minute cancellation in November, we're excited to offer this rescheduled session with Nicole Royer in partnership with Forsyth Tech's Small Business Center. This interactive workshop is designed to introduce nonprofit professionals to the transformative potential of Artificial Intelligence in fundraising. Participants will explore practical AI applications, from donor segmentation to predictive analytics, gaining insights into integrating these technologies into their fundraising efforts. This interactive session includes real-world examples, tool recommendations, and a Q&A segment, equipping attendees with the knowledge and resources to revolutionize their fundraising strategies with AI. Want to do a little background reading before the session? Here's a recent Forbes article on AI in fundraising.

COST: Just $10 for all! Water and light refreshments will be provided. 

For questions about this class or other training, contact Kathy.

DATE: Saturday, January 25,

10 am to Noon

LOCATION: Wake Forest University, Benson Center (see map)

The Martin Luther King, Jr. National Day of Service promotes Dr. King's ideals of service, equality, and non-violence. For more than a decade, we've honored this legacy with our annual "Read-In" event, co-planning the event alongside our partners and friends at Wake Forest University and Winston-Salem State University. We're excited to announce that this year's event will be hosted at Benson University Center on Wake Forest's campus, Saturday, January 25, from 10 am to Noon! (Yes, that's the Saturday immediately following the holiday weekend.)

This educational and "hands on" event pairs children from kindergarten to 5th grade with a "Reading Buddy" (typically, a college student) who will lead them through various activities related to Dr. King's legacy of service, literacy, self-sufficiency, and human and civil rights. At the event, each child will receive one new civil rights-themed book to take home. Thanks to generous financial support this year from Honda Aerospace, participants will also enjoy healthy snacks, and transportation reimbursement to/from the event, allowing them to build connections and enjoy the experience of being on a college campus.

If you're interested in having the youth in your orbit participate, you can learn more here. Volunteer registration is also now open; please note that you will have to pass a basic background check and spaces are extremely limited. We look forward to seeing you on January 25th!

DATE: Wednesday, February 12, 11:30 am to 1:00 pm

LOCATION: Piedmont Triad Regional Council, 1398 Carrollton Crossing Dr, Kernersville, NC 27284, Boardroom (see map)

Alongside our friends at Forsyth Tech's Small Business Center, the Guilford Nonprofit Consortium and two of our Consulting Partners, Lambert Architecture and Interiors and CapDev, we invite you to join us for an engaging and informative lunch & learn seminar designed to equip nonprofit leaders with the tools and knowledge to plan for future expansion and facility needs. Whether your organization is considering a move, renovation, or new construction in the future, the more you know about the building planning process and the funding to make it possible, the better! This seminar will provide valuable insights and strategies to ensure your plans align with your mission and maximizes your resources. Attendees will also be led through key planning considerations using engaging activities and a panel discussion to help your nonprofit get prepared for its next big step.

The seminar features guest panelists Stuart McCormick and Allan Burrows. Stuart is the President of LAMBERT Architecture + Interiors and will share best practices for planning facilities that support organizational goals and enhance functionality within budget constraints. Allan is the CEO of Capital Development Services and will provide a tool for assessing your campaign readiness and discuss how to align your campaign and philanthropic strategies with your vision for expansion and growth.  

Who should attend? Executive directors, board members, operations managers, and development professionals in the nonprofit sector who are planning for or interested in understanding the process of facility development, growth, and funding.

COST: FREE and lunch is provided by Lambert and CapDev. Registration is required by Friday, Feb. 7th to attend. The seminar will not be recorded. For questions about this class or other training, contact Kathy.

As announced back in November, the nomination forms for the 2024-2025 Forsyth County Governor's Volunteer Service Awards are now open! Each year, HandsOn NWNC honors the "best of the best" volunteers from across the county for the efforts they make to improve the lives of our neighbors and the wider community. But we can't share these inspirational stories of service unless we hear them from you! Nominating a volunteer for these awards is a great way to not only honor their contributions and recognize their efforts, but it's also a wonderful opportunity to highlight your organization and the impact of your mission within the wider community.

This year, our recognition event will be a dessert reception held at the Intergenerational Center for Arts and Wellness on May 7, 2025--save the date or secure your ticket or sponsorship now! Last year, a partner shared that they ended up recruiting two new board members and raising $5,000 as a result of their participation in GVSA--and it all started with a nomination! Please remember that EVERY nominee gets to attend the awards reception for FREE! That's due to our generous sponsors--and we're currently accepting new sponsors now as well. Sponsorships start at just $300, and are a great way to support a wide variety of causes and mission areas with just a single gift!

If you'd like some guidance on how best to craft your compelling nomination for these meaningful and competitive awards, please don't hesitate to reach out to Casey for a one-on-one session. You can learn more about this program on our website. 

Note--TWO LEVELS AVAILABLE!

Basics: Thursday, February 20, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Advanced: Thursday, February 27, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm

Location for Both Sessions: Intergenerational Center for Arts and Wellness, 114 W. 30th St., Room 209 (see map)

We've again split our sixth topic in the Nonprofit Essentials series into two different sessions, based on the experience of participants. The "Basics" course on February 20th is designed to meet the real-world needs and challenges nonprofit organizations face every day related to fundraising. The course is taught in an active learning style and includes case studies and a take-away project, making the learning experience both substantive and enjoyable. This session offers a complete overview of development functions, featuring the most current information and techniques, and will provide an overview of skills, strategies, and program components for individuals with zero to four years of fundraising experience.

The "Advanced Fund Development" class on February 27th will focus on current and prospective donor research strategies and techniques, securing the gift, and relationship development. Prior to class, participants will be asked to share at least two samples from their organization of the following: case for support, direct mail appeal package, major gift proposal, stewardship and cultivation plan, communications plan, gift acceptance policy, newsletter/impact reports, annual report, your job description, volunteer and or board member job description. Please note: If you do not know about, or do not have the above examples readily available to share, you should probably take the Basics class instead.

Both sessions will be led by Michelle Speas who brings over 20 years’ experience in Japan, Africa and the United States to her current role as Chief Operating Officer and Executive Director of the Family Services Foundation. Family Services, a HandsOn Supporting Partner, is one of the Triad’s largest nonprofit organizations and an anchor agency in Forsyth County. They are committed to strengthening the safety, security, and well-being of women, children and families in our community. For the majority of her career, Michelle has worked as a development officer and has been a Certified Fundraising Executive (CFRE) for over 15 years.

Nonprofit Essentials is a series of ten courses designed to strengthen the knowledge and skills of nonprofit board members, staff, and volunteers or those pursuing careers in the nonprofit sector. Offered in partnership with Wake Forest University’s Office of Civic and Community Engagement, Nonprofit Essentials classes cover a range of topics essential to the governance, management, and operation of nonprofits and are taught primarily by WFU faculty, staff or alums. Classes are held for a half-day once a month from September to June of the following year. You can sign up for the entire series or register for just individual classes. 

Cost: $50 for Supporting Partners, $60 for all others.

At the close of 2024, we were honored to manage two different service projects for employees at Honda manufacturing facilities. One, here in Greensboro for Honda Aerospace, and one for the employees at their mobility manufacturing plant in Timmonsville, SC.

In Greensboro, more than 2 dozen employees created hundreds of meal kits for Backpack Beginnings (image, top.) Volunteers also got the chance to color and draw, creating motivational cards and bookmarks with inspiring messages that will also be distributed. In Timmonsville, (image, right), employees created nearly 500 feminine hygiene kits that will be distributed to those impacted by Hurricane Helene to our west. Both projects were well received by management and volunteers, as well as the recipient nonprofit organizations.

As always, we share these stories of service and engagement to not only celebrate these volunteers, but in hopes it will inspire you to participate in a similar project. Whether that means submitting a service project idea, signing up for Speed Dating, or mobilizing your employees or other group to work with us to manage a customized service project, your participation is crucial in making sure that everyone in our community can serve in ways that are appropriate and impactful. Please don't hesitate to reach out to Casey to learn more!

Kicking off the New Year as a Vendor/Consulting Partner can be a great way to get your for-profit business in front of HandsOn's non-profit network! Already in our nonprofit network but have a favorite vendor or consultant you work with and would recommend to others? Please let us know so that we can reach out to them and encourage them to become part of our network as well.

The cost to become a Vendor/Consulting Partner is *still* just $100/year! Prices will go up later this year, so we don't want anyone to miss out. We're in the process of planning networking events that will provide opportunities for our for-profit *and* nonprofit partners to mix and mingle, in addition to our other Partner benefits for vendors and consultants. Have questions or the name of someone you'd like to recommend? Don't hesitate to reach out to Casey.

Mileage Reimbursement Rate Raised for 2025!

Right before Christmas, the IRS issued a notice raising the standard business mileage rate to 70 cents per mile for 2025 (up from 67 cents per mile for 2024). Many nonprofits use this rate when reimbursing their employees for work-related driving. The volunteer mileage rate remains at 14 cents/mile since it can only be raised through an act of Congress. Many thanks to our friends at the NC Center for Nonprofits for the heads-up and for their advocacy work to increase the volunteer mileage rate.

Child Care Resource Center Launches New Child Care Search Portal!

In December, Child Care Resource Center launched its new Find Child Care NC portal, making it easier for the thousands of families to learn about child care options throughout Alleghany, Ashe, Davidson, Davie, Forsyth, Stokes, Surry, Wilkes and Stokes counties to find and choose child care.  The new portal will enable families to view and consider the features of more than 800 child care programs in this region and filter their preferences based on the criteria that matter most to them. Families will also be able to connect directly the programs that most interest them.

Not only could this be a valuable resource to nonprofits in general--some of the largest employers in our region--as well as to the clients they serve, but also to those nonprofits directly offering child care services. CCRC is encouraging child care providers to set up a free account to ensure that the information in the portal is as comprehensive and up-to-date as possible.

If you have questions or would like assistance, please do not hesitate to contact them directly:

Annalisa DeLaRosa 336-245-4900 ext. 1009

Donna Bell 336-245-4900 ext. 1004

Traci Ross Announces Departure from Family Services!

In mid-December, Traci announced that she is leaving Family Services, a HandsOn Supporting Partner and co-tenant in the Intergenerational Center for Arts and Wellness as of the end of this month. Stating a need to be closer to aging family in upstate NY, she shared her tough decision to leave the position that she's held for the past three years in an email to community stakeholders.

The board has appointed Sheila McClelland, vice president of finance and administration, as Acting Chief Executive Officer starting February 1st. An executive search will commence with the goal of having a new leader in place by June. We will keep our network informed as we learn more about this leadership transition for one of Winston-Salem's oldest and largest nonprofits.

a/perture Welcomes New Executive Director!

Last month, the Board of Directors of a/perture Cinema, a HandsOn Supporting Partner since its founding, announced Leigh Dyer as its new Executive Director. Dyer brings over a decade of experience in nonprofit management roles to help ensure a smooth transition for our local nonprofit cinema. Leigh has led teams at both The Mint Museum in Charlotte and most recently at GreenHill Center for NC Art in Greensboro, where she was Executive Director for close to two years. A graduate of Duke University, she also worked for several years at The Winston-Salem Journal and has also traveled widely to film festivals to report on film for print publications.

Leigh succeeds founding director Lawren Desai, an alum of HandsOn's Women's Emerging Leaders program, who left in November to pursue other opportunities. You can read more in the full Yes! Weekly article about the transition. We are excited to continue to work with a/perture as Leigh leads them into a new chapter!

New Professional Shakespeare Company Founded in

Winston-Salem!

The newly-formed nonprofit Piedmont Shakespeare Company announced last month that it will offer live professional Shakespearean theatre at various outdoor venues in the Piedmont Triad beginning in the summer of 2025. Founded by veteran theater professionals and faculty members at UNC School of the Arts and Elon University, the new company will provide performances at no cost to audiences to make Shakespeare accessible to all.

The relatively recent closures of other nonprofit live theatre companies such as the North Carolina Shakespeare Festival and Triad Stage have left a gap for both audiences and local professional artists. The new Company is committed to offering original productions of Shakespeare’s plays in all their complexity and playing a key role in the local performing arts ecosystem. A key mission of the Company is its commitment to connecting communities across the Triad—with an initial focus on performances in Alamance, Guilford and Forsyth Counties.

Although performances will be free, Piedmont Shakespeare Company will ask for voluntary contributions from attendees. The Company will announce dates, venues, and additional details about its summer 2025 production in early 2025. For more information, please visit their website. We here at HandsOn look forward to working with this new organization!

HandsOnNWNC.org

114 W. 30th St, Suite 600, Winston-Salem, NC 27105

phone: 336.724.2866

STAY CONNECTED!