For Nonprofit Organizations

Volunteer-Matching Website: http://www.capecodvolunteers.org/

Open to everyone, the site allows nonprofits to post agency profiles, an unlimited number of volunteer opportunities, Board openings, and request in-kind donations on your agency’s “wish list.” You can verify volunteers’ hours and request that your upcoming event be highlighted on the CCV homepage in a Community Spotlight. Click here to register your nonprofit organization on the Cape Cod Volunteers website.

Once your organization’s information is posted, hundreds of potential volunteers will have access to your information: The site allows individuals to conduct a simple search on volunteer opportunities or to create a “volunteer profile” to record their interests, skills, location, and availability so that they can receive automatic email notifications whenever an opportunity that matches their profile information is posted. Volunteers can find your phone number and mailing address right on our website, or they can click on a link to email you.

Training and Technical Assistance, Volunteer Leadership Network, and Other Resources

Cape Cod Volunteers is committed to working with you to build and strengthen your volunteer program by offering training and networking opportunities and resources. Through our research, experience, and conversations with nonprofit representatives, we know that most organizations understand the importance of effective volunteer programs, but they do not always have the resources and experience to develop a strong program. Cape Cod Volunteers is helping to address this issue through technical assistance activities, such as one-on-one meetings for more specialized assistance, and an “Ask the Expert” feature on our website. Click on the “Ask the Expert” tab above to send your question to our team of experts. You’ll receive an answer directly, and we’ll post it to our website to help others with similar questions. Cape Cod Volunteers also provides training on various volunteer-related topics; we are currently developing peer-learning, training, and networking opportunities to meet the needs of those who work with volunteers. If you have an idea for a training topic, let us know! 

Save the Date!  The Effective Volunteer Management Workshop will be held Wednesdays, May 16 and 23 in Harwich.  More information to come.  Check out the “Training and Events” section of our website for the most up-to-date information.

Be sure to sign up for email updates in the box to the right and check out the Resources section of our website to learn more about the program support Cape Cod Volunteers can offer your organization.

Cape Cod Volunteer Opportunity Centers

Cape Cod Volunteers is happy to announce that our pilot Opportunity Center is NOW OPEN at the Harwich Community Center (100 Oak Street), Thursday mornings from 9:30 a.m.-12 Noon. 

Housed in locations such as libraries and community centers, our Volunteer Opportunity Centers are staffed by our volunteer consultants who can assist people in exploring their interests, skills, and experiences to help them find a volunteer opportunity which is meaningful to them. If you have the chance, stop in to introduce yourself to our volunteer consultants and tell them about your organization’s volunteer needs. Connecting with the CCV volunteer consultants at the Opportunity Center will help them know about your organization when they talk with potential volunteers.

Promotion of Volunteerism as a Means of Building a Stronger Community

Promotion of the idea of volunteerism, and the contributions of community members to build a strong community, has always been a goal of Cape Cod Volunteers. We have done this and will continue to, through volunteer stories in newspapers, magazines, and radio, and on our website. For more information on how to request being highlighted on the Cape Cod Volunteers website, or to submit an idea for a volunteer story, contact u by email or by phone at (508) 362-0242.

We are also developing a calendar of annual volunteer events to make it easy for people to connect with the one-time volunteer opportunities around Cape Cod. If you have an annual volunteer event, click here to send us information about it.

Frequently Asked Questions

• Our nonprofit already has a volunteer group. Why should we register our organization with the Cape Cod Volunteers website?

  Even if you have a great volunteer roster, reaching out to more people will help keep your organization dynamic and in touch with your community. We think you’ll find that Cape Cod Volunteers is an excellent channel for volunteer recruitment. When you register your organization with our website, you’ll create an agency profile, post your volunteer opportunities, and specify things like what kind of volunteers you need and when. Our website receives about 1,000 visitors every month and continues to receive more attention from community members every day. We also have a growing number of individuals who have created volunteer profiles, allowing them to log their hours, save their searches, and receive automatic updates about volunteer opportunities which might be of interest to them.

  Furthermore, in a 2007 community assessment, the Cape Cod Foundation found that a few things stopped people from volunteering: They didn’t know where to go to find volunteer opportunities, and they didn’t want to walk through the process alone. By removing these barriers to service, we expect more community members to get involved in volunteering, expanding your potential recruitment pool.

  Our top priority is to match volunteers with meaningful volunteer opportunities. By taking the time to get to know prospective volunteers and by working with them to find appropriate placements, we’ll point volunteers to places where their talents and interests will have the most impact. When you register with us, we learn about your services, and later, when the right volunteers come along, we will know where to send them. This will help strengthen your corps of volunteers, saving you resources and ultimately building your capacity to further your mission.

• How long will it take me to register my organization? I’m already strapped for time.
  It typically takes 15-45 minutes to register depending on how detailed you decide to make your agency profile and opportunity listing(s). Under “Sign Up” you’ll see a list of the items you’ll need to register. Gathering this information in advance can save a lot of time. If you run into problems, don’t hesitate to email us or call (508) 362-0242. We welcome any feedback you may have about your registration experience, positive or negative.
• What else can Cape Cod Volunteers offer me?
  In addition to providing a place to list your volunteer opportunities, the Cape Cod Volunteers website offers a forum for listing your board openings and for requesting in-kind donations. We are more than a website. Specifically, Cape Cod Volunteers also provides networking, training, and technical assistance opportunities. Click on the “Our Services” tab above to learn more about what we offer. We are here to serve you and to focus on strengthening your volunteer program so that you can recruit and retain more volunteers.
• Is there a fee for using Cape Cod Volunteers services?
  Our website is a free service; however, to continue to provide the highest quality services to organizations like yours and the rest of the community, we may have to charge for the additional services we provide in the future. Donations are always welcome and will help us continue to promote volunteering to the Cape Cod community. If you have had a good experience with Cape Cod Volunteers, please consider making a contribution today by clicking on the “Donate Now” button to the right.

Do you have a question about managing volunteers? Or maybe you have a question about your relationship with a specific volunteer? Whatever it is, send your question to our team of experts. You’ll receive an answer directly, and we’ll post an anonymous version of your question and our response to our website to help others with similar questions.

Check back soon to see our experts’ answers to your questions! To learn more or to submit a question to our team of experts, select the “Ask the Expert” tab above.