Each year, about 64 million Americans - one-fourth of the adult population - are invited to volunteer. For many, volunteerism is a source of great joy and satisfaction. In fact, the National Institutes of Health has found improved mental and physical health in folks who volunteer. April is National Volunteer Month, and nonprofit organizations across the US are celebrating their volunteers and asking more people to get involved with their causes. If you’ve found volunteering less joyful than you’d hoped, or even just an obligation, I’d like to have a word with you this month.
Four years ago, I could never have predicted that we’d have 65 deserving nonprofits growing today in sustainability and innovation through our incubator. Three years ago, I wouldn’t have guessed we’d have awarded $375,000 to deserving nonprofits by mid-2021. Two years ago, I couldn’t have known that our volunteer ranks would continue to swell, helping so many altruistic people contribute to world-changing nonprofit movements. And one year ago, as the pandemic raged, I would never have guessed that the forced migration to virtual competition pitch and incubation would push us to unimaginable tenfold growth in our first four years.
When FuelEd founder Megan Marcus created a 10 person pilot program to test her theory that elements of therapist training would help teachers to build positive relationships at school, she could not have foreseen that seven short years later the program would have expanded to reach over 10,000 educators. Listen to our first “Founder Story” audio interview to learn more about how she and the FuelEd team are helping to put relationships at the center of schools across the country.
If you’re reading this article, it’s a safe bet that you’ve been planning or doing good work in your community and you’re trying to figure out the best way to organize or formalize that work. Starting a nonprofit is a big commitment. If government forms are not your jam you may be open to other avenues.
