Volume 18, Issue 2| February 2025 | |
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Dear Amy,
2025 marks my fifth year as a board member of HandsOn NWNC, and I am now proud to introduce myself, Shantele F. Williams, as the new Board Chair. With over 23 years of experience in Human Services, I bring my wealth of knowledge, leadership, and passion for community engagement to the organization. As a Women's Emerging Leaders alum and current WEL co-facilitator--in addition to my role on the board--I am clearly committed to HandsOn's work and impact in our community.
To give you some background, I currently serve as the Division Director for Economic Services at Forsyth County Department of Social Services, where I have played a vital role in process improvement, training and development, and servant leadership. Throughout my career, I have been committed to building strong partnerships, increasing community involvement, and creating opportunities for individuals to thrive. It is an honor to leverage this experience as HandsOn's Board Chair and I am excited to work alongside our dedicated board and staff team, nonprofit partners, and volunteers to strengthen our community through service and engagement.
This month, HandsOn is calling on the community to share their nominations for the 2025 Forsyth County Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards as part of its mission to mobilize volunteers and organizations that inspire community change. These awards recognize outstanding individuals and groups who have made a lasting impact through volunteerism. Nominations close NEXT WEEK--on February 15th--and community members are encouraged to support and celebrate the incredible work of local volunteers. Additionally, we welcome any level of sponsorship for the dessert reception for our nominees and winners on May 7th. I look forward to seeing you there!
Want to learn more about volunteer opportunities in general or other ways that you can get involved with HandsOn? I encourage you to visit their website to see all of the many different programs and services they offer.
Best wishes,
Shantele
Shantele F. Williams
Economic Services Division Director
Forsyth County Department of Social Services
Board Chair, 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!
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Don't Forget!
Nominate an Amazing Volunteer for a Governor's Award by February 15th!
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Make sure the amazing volunteer in your life is honored this May by nominating them for the 2024-2025 Forsyth County Governor's Volunteer Service Awards! Each year, we partner with United Way, Salem College, and other community sponsors to recognize "best of the best" volunteers from across the county for the efforts they make to improve the lives of our neighbors. 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 the impact of nonprofits. You can nominate a friend, colleague, or co-worker---they can't be a family member!
This year, our recognition event will be a dessert reception held at the Intergenerational Center for Arts and Wellness on May 7, 2025--secure your ticket or sponsorship now! We do anticipate selling out! 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--which start at just $300! Sponsoring the reception is a great way to show your support for 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--but don't delay! Nominations close on February 15th!
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2024-2025 Nonprofit Essentials:
Fund Development
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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. Before 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 of 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. 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 snacks 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.
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NEW SESSION!
Top Five HR Priorities for Nonprofits
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DATE: Thursday, March 6, 9:00 am to 10:00 am
LOCATION: Intergenerational Center for Arts and Wellness, 114 W. 30th St., Room 209 (see map)
This interactive workshop is designed to help nonprofit leaders and HR professionals strengthen their organizations by focusing on the top five HR priorities essential for building high-performing teams and achieving mission sustainability.
Participants will explore actionable strategies to:
- Attract Top Talent
- Foster Employee Engagement
- Develop Leadership Capacity
- Ensure Legal Compliance
- Prioritize Employee Well-being
This session is brought to you by Leslie Speas, the Principal and Founder of InfluenceHR, a HandsOn Consulting/Vendor Partner. Leslie is a seasoned HR executive with over 30 years of expertise in HR and organizational development and is passionate about helping individuals meet their God-given potential and helping organizations create cultures where employees stay and thrive.
COST: FREE! but registration is required. Water and light refreshments will be provided. For questions about this class or other training, contact Kathy.
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2024-2025 Nonprofit Essentials:
Collaboration
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DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 19, 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm
LOCATION: Intergenerational Center for Arts and Wellness, 114 W. 30th St., Room 209 (see map)
Come join us for an exciting and highly interactive session that will set you up for success in creating true and deep collaborative efforts! Our sixth session in our 2024-2025 Nonprofit Essentials series will help you move from talk to action, to measurable results. In this energetic, informative, and--dare we say--FUN! workshop, you will get the opportunity to explore and practice specific skills and tools that will help you create and sustain powerful, effective partnerships. Our facilitator, Dr. Sharee Fowler, is an Associate Professor and Director of the Nonprofit Management & Community Leadership program at Salem College. She has more than 25 years of experience working in collaborations with local nonprofits, including through previous staff roles with Forsyth Promise, United Way of Forsyth County, and Family Services, Inc, before entering academia.
Cost: $50 for Supporting Partners, $60 for all others.
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Volunteer Project Spotlight:
Honda Aerospace and MLK Day Read-In
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An enthusiastic crew of Honda Aerospace volunteers hosted an activity station during our annual MLK Day of Service Read-In event on Saturday, January 25th at Wake Forest University. (image, top.)
Since 2010, our MLK Day of Service Read-In, which rotates between our partners at Wake Forest University and Winston-Salem State University, has promoted Dr. King's ideals of service, literacy, self-sufficiency, and human and civil rights. This year, 60 children and 80 community volunteers participated, and each child was able to take home an age-appropriate, civil-rights-themed book. Honda Aerospace joined as a financial sponsor and volunteer supporter of this event in Winston-Salem for the first time, ensuring that we had plenty of books, healthy snacks, activity supplies, and gas cards to help with families' transportation costs. This was in addition to their volunteer commitment to creating an interactive and engaging activity station. Their volunteers enthusiastically shared STEM and aerospace-themed activities that were popular with adults and kids alike!
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 groups 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!
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Let Us Know About Your Summer Internships! | |
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We'll be sending our quarterly Volunteer Connection newsletter out to all of the volunteers in our database later this month. We plan to highlight summer internship possibilities, both paid and volunteer, as now is the time for college and high school students to start finalizing their summer plans.
The Volunteer Connection will go out to nearly 10,000 volunteers across our service area and will include Guilford County volunteers for the first time. While we won't be able to highlight every internship possibility in this issue, we want to include a few. We'll also include a live link to relevant internships that you've uploaded in GetConnected. Please reach out to Casey by February 12th if you are planning on hosting and recruiting summer interns and to make sure that they are included on our portal. We look forward to mobilizing great candidates in your direction!
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"Feel Good About Giving Difficult Feedback," a NC Center for Nonprofits webinar, Thursday, February 20th, 10 am to 11:30 am, FREE for members, $35 for all others! The secret to feeling good about giving feedback is doing it well! When it is time to look another human being in the eye to deliver constructive criticism, otherwise competent managers become paralyzed. But giving quality feedback is vital as it cultivates employee agency, job satisfaction, and ultimately drives your organization forward. This session is for those who value their employees but recognize they are not giving them the timely, compassionate, and constructive feedback they need. At this session you will learn a simple formula to use when navigating feedback conversations and watch an interactive demonstration on giving difficult feedback. Register online. | "Data-Driven Success: Leveraging Analytics & AI to Thrive," a NC Center for Nonprofits webinar, Tuesday, March 4th, 1 pm to 2 pm, FREE for members; $30 for all others. Are you ready to transform your nonprofit’s data into powerful insights to drive mission success? Whether you’re pedaling uphill through fragmented systems and spreadsheets, coasting along using centralized databases and campaigns, or aspiring to lead with cutting-edge data analytics, this webinar is your gateway to harnessing data for strategic impact. More details and registration is on their website. | "Charting the Course to Campaign," a new CapDev workshop series based on their Compass Report, March 20th, 9 am to 4 pm, Raleigh, $159. The first in this new series, this inspirational campaign planning workshop is facilitated by the expert team at CapDev, a HandsOn Consulting Partner. Designed for both staff and board, this one-day workshop guides you through key elements of building philanthropy and tackling major campaign initiatives. They will share proven and creative approaches to navigating campaigns, and you will gain tangible takeaways for crafting your own campaign. Join them for a full day of campaign planning insights, resources, and tools to equip you for successful campaigns on site of one of their most recent campaign successes: the Marbles Kids Museum in downtown Raleigh. Seating is very limited and their is a max of two people per organization. This workshop always sells out in days so we strongly recommend registering ASAP! | Nominate A Community Project for a Lowe's Hometowns Grant! As part of Lowe’s Hometowns, the company’s five-year, $100 million community revitalization program, Lowe’s will award $10 million in grants to fund 100 renovation projects and complete an additional 1,700 improvement projects selected by its associates this year. Nonprofits and neighbors across our service area--where both the founding and corporate HQ of Lowe's are located--are encouraged to nominate a project to benefit their community. The nomination process is quick and straightforward, but eligible project must benefit a wide swath of a community, be hosted by a community nonprofit or local government or school (not a private individual or for-profit business.) Last year, projects included expanding a community of safe homes for veterans in Sioux Falls, South Dakota; building a new bunkhouse and renovate the kitchen for a volunteer fire department in Scotland, Connecticut; and extending a nonprofit boxing club’s space to offer more services to area youth in Highlands, California. Nominate a project today! The deadline is February 18 at 11:59 pm! | Don't Forget to Submit for the Weston Award! The Joel A. and Claudette B. Weston Award for Excellence in Nonprofit Management is a bi-annual award of $50,000 presented to a deserving Forsyth County nonprofit. The award recognizes and supports the best-managed nonprofits in the County, promoting leadership, innovation, and effectiveness to build a stronger community and improve the quality of life for all. This year, the application is online and due by 5 pm on February 21st. For more information about the award, contact Noelle Stevenson. | P&G Fund Funds Efforts to Create Clean and Healthy Habits! The P&G Fund is focused on making a difference where they can uniquely add value. For example, P&G is particularly interested in efforts aligned with infant development, feminine hygiene, hand washing, oral care, and programs designed to promote clean and healthy places to live. They have a very competitive process, and grants are typically provided to areas that have a P&G presence, which includes Greensboro, where they have a large manufacturing facility. The deadline for the current cycle that opened December 1 is February 28th! | Newest Grant Funding Focus Guide is Now Available! The BCBS Foundation of NC has worked with Innovative Funding Partners to create a monthly curated collection of federal, state, and private grant funding opportunities that fall within the Foundation's current areas of focus. If you are interested in receiving the guide, you can subscribe yourself. You can check out the January guide here! | Nominate a Nonprofit Leader for a Two-Night Restorative Retreat! Don't we all know a nonprofit leader in need of rest and a mini-retreat this year? Well of Mercy, in Hamtonville, NC, is generously offering a 2-night gift certificate to a nonprofit leader in the community. Grounded in the spirit of hospitality, Well of Mercy provides quiet sanctuary and time in nature for reflection, rest, and renewal. Please consider nominating a person on your staff deserving of a retreat Nominations must be received by February 10th! | |  |
Piedmont Environmental Alliance, Green Economy Program Coordinator Piedmont Environmental Alliance, a HandsOn Supporting Partner, is seeking a Green Economy Program Coordinator--an effective communicator and project leader who can help make our local economy more just, resilient, and sustainable. Through research, event planning, and community outreach, the Coorindator will collaborate with a growing team that is at the forefront of our community’s green economic transition. They need a passionate relationship builder who is adept at translating complex policy into everyday language. This newly-created position will directly support PEA’s Inflation Reduction Act Technical Assistance and their Triad Green Jobs Center programming. This is a Winston-Salem based position that is hybrid-flexible with a salary range of $40-$44K, commensurate with experience. Benefits include a monthly wellness stipend and paid time off. To apply, submit--as a single .pdf--a resume and a thoughtful cover letter that speaks to your interest in this role via email by Friday, February 14th. Please include “Green Economy Program Coordinator” in the subject line. No phone calls please. For more details, please visit their website. | Communities in Schools High Point, Executie Director Founded in 1988, Communities in Schools of High Point has a proven history of meeting its mission to “surround students with a community of support, empowering them to stay in school and achieve in life.” In collaboration with Guilford County Public Schools and other aligned partners, CISHP works to support 9 schools and over 400 students every day. The ED, in partnership with the Board, is responsible for the overall success of the organization. Together, they assure CISHP’s relevance, the accomplishment of the mission and vision, fiscal responsibility, and the accountability of the organization to its diverse constituents, partners and funders.CISHP offers a competitive and comprehensive benefits package, with a salary range of $60K - $75K, commensurate with qualifications and experience. For more information and to apply, please visit their LinkedIn listing. | United Way of Forsyth County, Major Gifts Officer The Director of Major Gifts at the United Way of Forsyth County is a leader responsible for the identification, qualification, cultivation, solicitation, and stewardship of their Individual Giving Program. Responsible for a portfolio of major donors ($10,000+) and planned gifts. The Director will be donor-centered, data-driven, innovative, and results oriented to meet fundraising goals and targets that lead to sustainable growth. Salary range is $55K-$80K, with a full health benefit package, with 12 paid holidays, wellness days, PTO, 401K match and a defined contribution plan. To view the full position description, and to apply, please visit their website. | NC Counts Coalition, Development Specialist Our friends at NC Counts Coalition, of which HandsOn is a member, is looking for a Development Specialist who will work closely with their communications and leadership team in the areas of fundraising, public relations, and donor management to create and operationalize a development strategy. They are looking for a strategic and creative development professional to help them translate their recently developed strategic framework into measurable goals, objectives, and outcomes. The Development Specialist will provide leadership and vision for outreach activities, leverage fundraising skills, and foster relationships with donors. Salary range is $65,000 - $85,000 based on experience. View the position description for more details. | |
Piedmont Triad Regional Council, Multiple Positions! At the Piedmont Triad Regional Council (PTRC), they work to implement creative regional solutions to improve the lives of the community. Located just off I-40 in Kernersville, the organization has seven core departments; Area Agency on Aging, Criminal Justice, Economic Development, Community Development Services, Management Services, Regional Planning, and Workforce Development. They currently have multiple open positions.
They are seeking a detail-oriented and organized individual to serve as an Office Assistant for Community Development on a temporary, part-time basis, performing general office support duties and clerical support. The ideal candidate will be responsible for accurately inputting and updating data into their systems, maintaining data integrity, and ensuring timely and efficient data management. Salary is $15.12/hr for no more than 24 hours per week and not to exceed 1,000 hours annually.
The same department is also looking for someone with exceptional administrative skills and communication skills to serve in Community Development Program Intake. They will play a crucial role in assessing client needs, coordinating services, and ensuring a smooth intake process. This position requires excellent communication skills, empathy, and the ability to work effectively in a fast-paced environment. Providing technical assistance and maintaining databases for program participants is an aspect of work. Problem solving while managing intake applications and providing information in a diplomatic manner is a priority for the person in this position. Salary is $38,043.20, including excellent benefits.
Meanwhile, the Planning department is looking for someone who wants to be a part of a transformative initiative that will catalyze green infrastructure, resiliency, and sustainability across the region. They are seeking a Grants Analyst professional to help administer a mix of federal, state, and foundation funds related to projects across multiple areas. Experience with each federal or state funder is not required, but experience with 2 CFR 200 Uniform Guidance and the State’s General Statutes for contracting and procurement is preferred. The work calls for a leader who can bring together a diverse group to make decisions collaboratively amongst vague or cross-cutting guidelines. This position will also lead and/or support grant-seeking efforts based on needs and opportunities in member communities. A Bachelor's degree related to political science, planning, finance, accounting or a related field with some experience in publicly-funded projects is preferred.
Starting salary $56,201.60 and is dependent upon credentials and experience.
If you are passionate about serving the public and desire to grow and expand your skillset, the PTRC could be an excellent fit for you!
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HANDSON NWNC IN THE NEWS! | | |
HandsOn NWNC Executive Director Interviewed Live on WFMY!
On January 15, Amy had the opportunity to be interviewed live via Zoom on WFMY's evening news about current volunteer opportunities in our community, as well as our MLK Day of Service Read-In event. The seven minute interview was a great chance to highlight the importance of connecting our neighbors to causes they care about, and ways to leverage the Dr. King Day of Service to increase engagement. Check it out here!
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Keep Track of the Impact of Recent Executive Orders!
There's been *a lot* coming at the nonprofit sector over the past few weeks, and it's hard to understand the current status of Executive Actions with so many twists and turns happening so quickly. Luckily, the NC Center for Nonprofits and the National Council of Nonprofits have our backs! On Monday, our friends at the NC Center held an informative webinar on the most recent actions, court rulings, and other legislative issues, both nationally and statewide, likely to impact our sector. Listening in is 90 minutes you won't regret--we've even embedded it below, because we think it's that important.
In addition, the National Council of Nonprofits, the national network of which the NC Center is a part, is regularly updating its website on current Executive Actions.
Going forward, the NC Center would like to hear from you--so that they can know what public policy webinar topics would be most helpful. Please take this one-minute survey today--whether you are a Center member or not! Remember, we're all in this together, so don't hesitate to reach out to Amy if there is anything we here at HandsOn can do to be supportive during this time.
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Become a Champion for Volunteer Month in April!
Global Volunteer Month celebrates volunteers worldwide while also increasing and encouraging more individuals to volunteer. Throughout the month of April, including during National Volunteer Week from April 20-26, HandsOn NWNC in partnership with other Points of Light Global Affiliates and hundreds of other nonprofits globally, are urging every person to take action, as every act of service contributes to a more connected world.
We all know that nonprofits rely on volunteers to deliver urgent community needs. Yet based on recent research by Points of Light, nearly 50 percent of volunteer opportunities go unfilled. Even as the rate of volunteering increases, it is not back to pre-pandemic levels. There has never been a more important time to recognize the impact that volunteers have on individuals, communities and society, and increase the rate of people volunteering.
We encourage all of our partners to join us in becoming a Global Volunteer Month Champion--and it's easy to do! You can be part of the Social Surge on April 1st, order a Global Volunteer Month t-shirt, share a message in your newsletter, and more. A full toolkit is available for both GVM and NVW on the Points of Light website. Together, we can mobilize more people to engage in their communities this year!
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NEWS FROM AROUND OUR NETWORK! | | |
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Daisy Rodriguez Retires from Forsyth Backpack Program!
Last month, Forsyth Backpack Program, a HandsOn Supporting Partner, announced that Daisy Rodriguez, a founding and current member of HandsOn NWNC's board, has decided to retire. Her last day was Friday, January 31st.
Daisy expertly led FBP as Executive Director for two years, as part of her "second act," strengthening the program that now regularly serves more than 750 students in 12 Winston-Salem Forsyth County Schools as well as 4 food pantries.
After a long career in a variety of roles and organizations within our local nonprofit sector, we're hopeful that her retirement this time will "stick," even as Daisy continues to share her expertise and deep community knowledge with HandsOn in her board member role. And we look forward to working with the next ED of FBP after their search is completed this month!
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HandsOnNWNC.org
114 W. 30th St, Suite 600, Winston-Salem, NC 27105
phone: 336.724.2866
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