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When you have no money and can’t see your volunteers.Starting Palmetto Technology Hub

Tina Arnoldi

(843) 723-3635Twitter: @TinaArnoldi

Blog: http://blog.tinaarnoldi.comtina@coastalcommunityfoundation.org

www.palmettotechnologyhub.org

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Agenda

1. Overview of PATH and what it is so you

understand how it works.

2. Steps taken to get the program started.

3. Information about how we worked with PATH

volunteers.

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“Back in 2010, a couple of computer geeks saw a number of nonprofits struggling with their technology and lacking the funds to pay for support. Out of this need, the Palmetto Technology Hub (PATH) was born. Our mission is to provide technology support and resources to the South Carolina lowcountry not-for-profit community. Through this web site, local nonprofits can submit a request for tech support. Volunteers sign up through this site to offer their expertise for free. Requests and expertise so far include social media questions, hardware problems, and web site help. This site is entirely volunteer run and we encourage you to become involved by either giving help, or requesting some tech support. ”

What PATH is about

PATH’s mission is to provide technology support and resources to the South Carolina lowcountry not-for-profit community.

How Can PATH Help?• PATH provides a ticket system that local non-profits can use to

submit a request for tech support.

• Technical volunteers sign up at the PATH website to offer their expertise.

• Volunteers also provide free training and webinars to nonprofits.

• All of this is accessible from PalmettoTechnologyHub.org

*** PATH is a web-based organization ***

Let’s take a look…

Nonprofit Do’s & Don’ts• Be specific

• Separate tickets for each issue

• No multiple submissions

• Remember – it’s a volunteer service

• We can refer you to a consultant for big projects

What Type of Help Does PATH Offer?

• Answering social media questions

• Hardware problems

• Web site help

• Printer repair

• CRM systems

PATH Success Stories

“We had a number of computer challenges at the Junior Achievement Of Coastal SC office in North Charleston earlier this year—so we placed a request for assistance on the PATH website. Within 24 hours, we had several offers from volunteers willing to assist with our challenges.”

PATH Success Stories

“As a small organization without the help of a technical team member, PATH has been a lifesaver! Each time we have submitted a ticket for assistance, the response was quick and the volunteers were very knowledgeable and more than willing to help. I would recommend this service without hesitation. Thank you for the foresight to start this awesome service and thank you to the volunteers who have assisted us.”

PATH Success Stories

“The Arts Business Civic Coalition (ABCC) is a relatively new nonprofit who mission is to provide Summerville/Dorchester County with a Civic Center. With very little operating funds we have been trying to get a website up and running…”

ABCC Summerville Website

Yoga Benefits Kids Website

Training• PATH also keeps the nonprofit community

informed on the latest FREE technical training offerings.

• PATH volunteers present workshops on timely technical topics.

News Feed

PATH welcomes new volunteers

But you need to find them first…

• Craigslist• Idealist• VolunteerMatch• United Way• AllforGood• Any others?

Always ask how they heard about you

And tell them what it’s about

• Mission/goals

• Level of commitment

• Not a training program

• Being responsive

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February 2010• Will this work?

• Twitter• Informal conversations

• Ask the recipient

March/April 2010 • Name• Website• WordPress

Our Timeline

October 2010 • Our first free training!

January 2011• Grant money

January 2012 • Spin-off

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Getting StartedWhat is the need?

• Who are we serving? Only 501c3s or any community group?• What is our service area? County? City?• Talk to your target recipient• Informal conversations• Email thread

Is our idea the solution?

• Is someone already doing this?• Is there another resource?• Would a chapter in our location duplicate an existing service? (If that’s

a possibility, consider a partnership with a similar group.)

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Getting Started

Can we do this?

• Do we have the resources to run a program without a budget?• Try it on a small scale• Are the right people involved?• What can go wrong?

What did we do

• Think big (statewide), start small (tri-county)• Let it evolve• Set flexible ground rules (ex. Number of tickets)

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Reach out to your existing – or a new - network

• General input• Who will take an active role vs. offer great ideas

• Twitter • Reach out on Twitter using the hashtag for your community to find people

with similar interests

• Create an unofficial Facebook page or group • Send it to your network. This is a good way to determine interest in this

type of initiative.

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Spread the word

• E-mail list• SCANPO

• Association for fundraising professionals

• Local community foundation

• Local United Way

• Chamber

• Social media• Current network• Local media• Similar groups• Other channels?

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Dear Nonprofits, Thank you for responding to our technology survey……… Thanks to Palmettobug Digital, we have a web site up at www.scpath.org. Starting Wednesday, the 17th, you’ll be able to submit your specific technology needs through this site. After you submit a request, a volunteer will be able to select cases based on what is a good match for them (location, skill level, etc). We have a few requests for you as we get going. Remember we are a work in progress….. Please only submit current, defined needs once the helpdesk is up on the website……. Please be patient! This is a volunteer run effort…… Tell us you love us! Seriously, if this is working for you as we move along, or you have suggestions for improving the process, please let us know. If you have any questions in the meantime, please feel free to email PalmettoTechHub@gmail.com and someone will get back to you.

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Sept 2010 update to nonprofits

Dear Nonprofits,

We’ve had some successes and some challenges. Help desk cases are being closed and I’ve had some great feedback from nonprofits. However, there have also been some that stay open for a while. Part of the problem is that volunteers rotate in and out, and there are sometimes communication gaps between the volunteers and nonprofits. If you have a case that’s open too long & decide to go another route, please do close out the case. I am working on getting an intern to help me manage this whole process to make it easier on everyone.

Keep people informed of your progress

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February 2011 update to volunteers

Training: Vicki is a new volunteer here at CCF and she is helping to coordinate training………………………… E-news: If you haven’t subscribed yet, you should! I’d definitely like your feedback as we get it started because I absolutely am NOT an expert in all-things-newsletters - http://scpath.org/newsletter-signup/. Pizza lunch? I haven’t met many of you & would really like to. I know it’s probably impossible for many of you to get away & come downtown during the lunch hour. However, if you can, let me know & I’ll coordinate a time in our conference room. It would be a casual meet-and-greet and brainstorming session. I welcome any ideas, suggestions, comments, and constructive criticism.

Stay connected with your volunteers

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• Written description for leadership team

• Have a point person

• Web - Michael

• Training - Vicki

• Help desk cases - Tina

• Have a “complaint” person – Tina

• Shared email address = info@

Running smoothly

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• Document

• Help desk notes

• Google Voice

• Timelines

• Ex. “Every 7-10 days….”

• Collaboration tools

• Check-in – allow them to withdraw gracefully

Running smoothly

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• Have a sponsor pay for pizza in exchange for

recognition

• Offer opportunities – invite to NP training

• Thank you emails (personal)

• Showcase on website

• Bring them into your community

• Crash someone else’s event

• Promote their business

Volunteer recognition

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• Barter • NP donated passes to their site in exchange for service

• Company support in exchange for logo display

• Point system

• Volunteer of the Month

• Reference letters

• Thank you note from service recipient

• Other ideas?

• http://www.energizeinc.com/ideas/awards.html

Volunteer recognition

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Volunteer recognition

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• Pizza out of pocket

• Thank you postcards

• Small tokens (keychain, mug)

• Gift cards

• Other ideas?

http://www.energizeinc.com/ideas/awards.html

Volunteer recognition - $

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Volunteer recognition

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Volunteer (and nonprofit) recognition

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• Brainstorming sessions – email, phone, in-person• Being willing to shell out for minimal out-of-

pocket expenses• Business cards (website & phone number)• Pizza

• Asking the target audience

What we did right…

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• Using free tools• Establishing a presence• Basic website• Social media• Google Voice phone number

What we did right…

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• Clearly define roles• Acknowledge birthdays• Track time from the start• Written signed policies

What we could have done better….

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• More one-to-one volunteer contact• Getting mailing addresses from the start• System for checking in once a month• Asked nonprofit clients to promote us in their

materials

What we could have done better….

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• WordPress

• Community Corp

• FreeScreenSharing

• Google Docs

• Google Voice

• EventBrite

• Volunteer sites

• Facebook & Twitter (obviously)

Free Tools

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When you have no money and can’t see your volunteers.

Tina Arnoldi

(843) 723-3635Twitter: @TinaArnoldi

Blog: http://blog.tinaarnoldi.comtina@coastalcommunityfoundation.org