Leverage Using Strategic Partnerships

Depending on the organization's needs and whether they serve the community, set up recurring relationship-based donations for some items. Food and clothing are good choices. Many grocers will donate food to foodbanks, feeding programs, after school programs and for special events.



Donated Goods at UMCOR



Last August a team member volunteered for a week in an UMCOR disaster warehouse and watched donations come in from manufactures by the semi truckload. Churches aslo sent donations, assembled disaster kits and sent them to the warehouse with groups coming to serve. The donated goods are assembled as seven disaster kits and are distributed to those affected by disaster.



Completed Layette Kits at UMCOR



The operation had two full time warehouse employees, and was staffed all year long with volunteer work teams from around the country. Most came from churches, some of different faiths, and boy scout groups. During our week of service, our group assembled birth kits, layettes and school kits. The assignments depend on available supplies in the warehouse and current or anticipated need. During our stay clean up kits were sent to an Indian reservation affected by wildfire. Birth kits were sent to the country of Georgia.

The mission was well supported. In fact, when the group leader tried scheduling a trip the same week in August 2013, he had to settle for the next week, because the calendar was filled by groups scheduled to serve all year.

Volunteers are the backbone of many charitable organizations. Count volunteer hours and convert them to a dollar value. Communicate that value to the community and to supporters to leverage additional support, or to obtain grant dollars to expand operations or set up new locations.

We have also seen volunteers in a for profit setting where the motivation was social change or doing good. Many for profit organizations also have a philantropy program where volunteers may be an excellent resource.

Check out Tech Soup to see if your organization qualifies for other types of donations. Find a membership that sells surplus goods for the cost of shipping and handling only.