Web Links

Points of Light Foundation
The Foundation's mission is to engage more people more effectively in volunteer community service to help solve serious social problems. We work with Volunteer Centers around the country and provide a number of resources and awards to all local communities.

Corporation for National Service
The Corporation for National and Community Service was formed to engage Americans of all ages and backgrounds in service to meet community needs through the programs Senior Corps, AmeriCorps, and Learn and Serve America.

City Year
City Year seeks to demonstrate, improve and promote the concept of national service as a means for building a stronger democracy. City Year works toward the full realization of this vision through three core activities:

• Running a full-time youth service corps
• Engaging citizens in service through large-scale, high-impact community events
• Leading discussion and development of national service policies and initiatives

MENTOR/National Mentoring Partnership
MENTOR believes that, with the help and guidance of an adult mentor, each child can discover how to unlock and achieve his or her potential. MENTOR is widely acknowledged as the nation's premier advocate and resource for the expansion of mentoring initiatives nationwide. As such, MENTOR works with a strong network of State and Local Mentoring Partnerships to leverage resources and provide the support and tools that mentoring organizations need to effectively serve young people in their communities.

Youth Service America
YOUTH SERVICE AMERICA (YSA) is a resource center that partners with thousands of organizations committed to increasing the quality and quantity of volunteer opportunities for young people, ages 5-25, to serve locally, nationally, and globally. Founded in 1986, YSA's mission is to strengthen the effectiveness, sustainability, and scale of the youth service and service-learning fields. A strong youth service movement will create healthy communities and foster citizenship, knowledge, and the personal development of young people. YSA envisions a powerful network of organizations committed to making service and service-learning the common expectation and common experience of all young people.

Alliance for NonProfit Management
The Alliance for Nonprofit Management is the professional association of individuals and organizations devoted to improving the management and governance capacity of nonprofits - to assist nonprofits in fulfilling their mission.  

The Alliance is a learning community that promotes quality in nonprofit capacity building.  The Alliance convenes a major annual conference, networks colleagues year-round online, and provides member discounts on books and other publications.  The Alliance provides visibility to its members in the online “Find a Consultant or Service Provider” directory, the People of Color Roster, and the print membership directory.

www.project.org
Project America, founded in 1993 by three college students, believes in the power of individuals to make an impact in their communities. Project America works with corporations, large member organizations, national and local nonprofits, and communities to design collaborative service initiatives that involve people of all ages in volunteer efforts. However diverse the programming, Project America initiatives always:

• target a community in need,
• focus on the education and leadership development of all participants, and
• create connections among people to impact communities and increase social awareness.

www.energizeinc.com
Energize, Inc. is an international training, consulting and publishing firm specializing in volunteerism. If these words are in your vocabulary--community service, membership development, auxiliary, community organizing, service-learning, lay ministry, pro bono work, supporter, friends group, political activist, service club-- we can help!! Founded in 1977, Energize has assisted organizations of all types with their volunteer efforts--whether they are health and human service organizations, cultural arts groups, professional associations, or schools.

www.volunteertoday.com
Volunteer Today is an e-newsletter for those who manage the work of volunteers in nonprofit, government or corporate programs. Its aim is two-fold: 1) build the capacity of individuals to organize effective volunteer programs; 2) enhance the profession of volunteer management.

Idealist.org
Idealist is a project of Action Without Borders, which connects people, organizations, and resources to help build a world where all people can live free and dignified lives.  The project is guided by the common desire of members and supporters to find practical solutions to social and environmental problems, in a spirit of generosity and mutual respect.  The idealist.org website is a network of over 57,000 nonprofit and community organizations in 165 countries.  Users can search for volunteer opportunities and nonprofit careers all over the world, and agencies can post job openings and volunteer opportunities as well as search for volunteers with relevant interests and experience.

Charity Channel
The CharityChannel community is comprised of nonprofit sector professionals from around the world who volunteer their time, advice, information, tips and articles for the benefit of the community.

CharityChannel directs (or "channels") this information through our vast network, approves, edits and/or packages it up, and directs it back out to you by way of: Forum discussion lists, enewsletters, updated news links, book reviews, interviews, job postings, consultants listings and product/service listings.

Tech Soup
The technology place for non-profits: discounts on hardware and software, discussions about technology in non-profits in an easy to understand format, how-to information, news and views on new technologies, and a database of service providers in all areas of the US to help your non-profit with its’ technology needs.

BoardSource
BoardSource is the premier resource for practical information, tools and best practices, training, and leadership development for board members of nonprofit organizations worldwide. Through our highly acclaimed programs and services, BoardSource enables organizations to fulfill their missions by helping build strong and effective nonprofit boards.

BoardSource provides

• Resources to nonprofit leaders through workshops, training, and an extensive Web-based database.
• Governance consultants who work directly with nonprofit leaders to design specialized solutions to meet an organization's needs.
• The most comprehensive selection of material on nonprofit governance, including a large selection of booklets, books, videotapes, and audiotapes.
• An biennial conference that brings together approximately 700 board members and chief executives of nonprofit organizations from around the world.

United Way of Rhode Island
"Mobilizing the caring power of the community to improve the lives of people in need."

The Rhode Island Foundation
The Foundation pursues its mission of connecting private philanthropy to the public good guided by certain principles or core values: Permanence, Integrity, Vision, Accessibility, Partnerships.

Association of Fundraising Professionals
AFP, an association of professionals throughout the world, advances philanthropy by enabling people and organizations to practice effective and ethical fundraising. The core activities through which AFP fulfills this mission include education, training, mentoring, research, credentialing, and advocacy.

Executive Service Corps of New England
ESC works with nonprofit organizations to improve their effectiveness by providing affordable management consulting and related services.

We can help your organization in the following areas:

Service Learning Resources

• National Service-Learning Clearinghouse
  The National Service-Learning Clearinghouse (NSLC), a program of Learn and Serve America, operates America's premier website supporting the service-learning efforts of schools, higher education institutions, communities, and tribal nations. We offer timely information and relevant resources, thousands of free online resources, the nation's largest library of service-learning materials, national service-learning listservs, and reference and technical assistance services.
  • National Service-Learning Partnership

  The Partnership, founded in 2001, is a national network of members dedicated to advancing service-learning as a core part of every young person’s education. Service-learning is a teaching method that engages young people in solving problems within their schools and communities as part of their academic studies or other type of intentional learning activity.

  • Learning to Give

  Teaching the importance of voluntary action for the common good in a democratic society.This website offers lesson plans, activities, and resources to educate youth about the power of philanthropy (sharing time, talent and treasure).Empower young people to make a difference in their school, their community and their world!

  • National Youth Leadership Council

  Increasing the capacity of schools and communities to engage young people in active learning and service.Many programs, services, awards and a resource library to support the service-learning community.

  • Students in Service to America

  Engaging students in a lifelong habit of service. Videos, guidebooks and a variety of other tools and resources available.

  Family Volunteering Resources

  • Parent Link RI.org

  Have a pre-teen or teen? Want to build your parenting skills? Looking for activities and services for kids and families in Rhode Island?

  If you are a parent with a pre-teen or teen - or if you serve families in Rhode Island - this website will link you with local programs like:

  • Workshops on family communication,
  • Recreational activities for your teen or your whole family,
  • Counseling services,
  • After-school programs and activities,
  • Educational services for your teen,
  • Services for kids with special health care needs,
  • And more…

  While there, check out the Tips article by VCRI entitled Lets "Talk About... Community Service and Family Volunteering"

  • Kids Care Club

  Kids Care Clubs is a program of the Points of Light Foundation. Their mission is to develop compassion and the spirit of service and philanthropy in elementary and middle school aged youth. Find out how to start a Club in your school or community.

  • Family Cares Program

  No matter how you define "family," volunteering together benefits your family, community, and the nation at large. The FamilyCares program, an initiative of the Points of Light Foundation, helps to promote compassion through hands-on family projects that help others in need.

  • Alliance for Children & Families

  The Alliance for Children and Families provides services to nonprofit child and family serving and economic empowerment organizations.  Motivated by a vision of a healthy society and strong communities, we work to strengthen America’s nonprofit sector and through advocacy assure the sector’s continued independence

  • National Family Volunteer Day

  National Family Volunteer Day is designed to showcase the benefits of families working together, to introduce community service, and encourage those who haven't yet made the commitment to volunteer as a family. National Family Volunteer Day is held the Saturday before Thanksgiving and kicks off National Family Week.