It's that time of year again! We're less than a week away from ringing in a new year. It's the time of year for a personal inventory, a year-in-review. You ask yourself: What did I accomplish this year? Where did my priorities lie? Did I live this year the best...

Thanksgiving marks the official start of the holiday season, although no doubt we've all seen decorations lining the aisles at our favorite stores for some time now. Regardless of when the signs arrive in stores, the beginning of December is the time of year people get serious about their gift-giving...

"Sweetest Day" is just around the corner -- October 16th -- and while people may not always know or agree on the origin of this calendar mention, the day does provide an opportunity to recognize the people whose helpfulness and kindness have made a difference in our lives.

Mention of...

I consider myself a life-long volunteer. I've always been committed to giving of myself where and how I can. Through my own experiences with volunteering I've noticed that now, more than ever, there is a growing number of young professionals -- Generation Y and beyond -- taking time to volunteer...

It's no secret that retaining professionals, such as a lawyer or accountant for example, can be costly, especially with rates often exceeding $200 per hour. Yet, while their skills are often needed by nonprofits for long-term, ongoing projects, there are occasions when nonprofits can leverage these highly-skilled professionals as volunteers.

Speed dating, I am told, is inefficient and not conducive to making friendships, let alone romantic partnerships. Of course, fast-paced games can be quite amusing and offer an evening of laughs, though not without some frustration and perhaps a feeling that nothing really was achieved.

There...

What happens when leaders and managers of more than 60 different non-profits from Chicagoland get together? Best practices are shared. New ideas come forth. And solutions are found. One of those solutions is a smart investment - in the 'right' volunteers.

WomenOnCall.org recently hosted our annual non-profit workshop, aimed at...

The term "non-profit" does a disservice to itself

Fiction: Non-profits are places where a lot is discussed, but not much gets done. There's a lack of accountability and long-term strategic thinking. The charitable work non-profits do is critical, but the sector doesn't represent the epitome of efficiency or professionalism.

Fact:...

This week, President Obama announced a new summer service initiative: United We Serve. He is calling on all people - young, old, from across the country - to volunteer this summer, from June 22 to September 11. He states that the changes cannot come solely from Washington, but we need...

For thousands of Chicagoans being laid off from what once were steady jobs, it's the first time they've had to update their resume or remember decades-old interviewing tips they learned from their college career counselor. Job clubs have become popular, but when you suddenly find yourself at home, unemployed, spending...

While the government unleashes what the New York Times called its $789 billion of "fiscal firepower" in response to the nation's recession, women in Chicago last week unleashed their own firepower, in the form of a commitment to thousands of potential hours of volunteer service to area non-profits.

"I'm 67...

As the financial crisis continues without end in sight, many non-profits, especially those that provide social services, find they are being squeezed to breaking point. There's barely enough budget to continue providing regular services, much less hire more employees or expand services.

What many non-profits don't realize is there is...