When I look back, the biggest theme running through my work is looking for opportunities where what I am doing is creating an environment for others to identify what they really care about so that they can give back.
The changing paradigm of business requires a changing mandate for leaders across all sectors. It has become increasingly important for leaders to develop cross-sector skills around building teams, solving problems and creating impact.
[Skills-based volunteering] has really allowed us to move forward in ways I didn’t dream possible. I’ll say particularly in areas related to technology… It has been essential in where we are currently at in our history.
Every time I think about the statistics, the pure math of the problem, I always think about that if you take one third of the food that is going to waste and bring it to people who are food insecure, that is enough nutrition to eliminate food insecurity.
We’re not building these charities, we’re not solving the problems that they are solving, we’re bringing them up to do it more effectively, to grow faster. And the feedback I get that says that we have done that is certainly one of the most, if not the most rewarding part of my job.
This week we celebrate Veteran’s Day and as a tribute to the people who serve in our military, we are showcasing a skills-based volunteer project that supports veteran-owned small businesses.
I think there is more engagement, more folks joining boards, more folks wanting to volunteer, there are more folks wanting to work for social impact companies, whose business models are to give back.
Skills for Cities 2018 delivered an estimated $80,000 in pro bono service to Boston nonprofits helping to advance the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Later, looking back I realized I was kind of raised to be aware of the environment, sustainability, volunteerism, giving your skills – that philanthropy is something that really is for everyone. I didn’t realize that was the path until I was able to look back on it.
The Knitting Factor explains how skills-based volunteering knits together the expertise from the corporate and nonprofit sectors to create sustainable solutions that don’t come undone when partners part ways.
