Blog

Posted Thursday, October 19th, 2017 by Sterling Volunteers Staff

There’s a great deal of pressure put on nonprofits and their volunteer managers. What kind of pressure are we talking about? Well, there’s pressure to better the communities they serve. Then there’s the constant stress of recruiting, training and retaining volunteers. And to top it all off, there’s the need to show tangible data to...

Posted Thursday, October 12th, 2017 by Sterling Volunteers Staff

It’s easy to make assumptions when it comes to volunteer background screening, especially if you are someone who has worked in the nonprofit world for some time. If you deal with volunteers day in and day out, recruiting, onboarding and screening volunteer candidates, you may think you know all there is to know. But even...

Posted Thursday, October 5th, 2017 by Sterling Volunteers Staff

What do we mean when we say, “I want to make a difference?” In an age where many people seek out emotional fulfillment from both their work and personal lives, what does it mean to want to influence change in the world – and can it really be done? One of Emily Dickinson’s most famous...

Posted Thursday, September 28th, 2017 by Sterling Volunteers Staff

With the passing of the Autumn Equinox last week it’s officially autumn! Or fall, if that’s how you prefer to refer to this beautiful time of year that has us taking sweaters out from storage and dusting off holiday cookbooks. With the temperatures cooling off and people beginning to spend more times indoors it may...

Posted Thursday, September 21st, 2017 by Sterling Volunteers Staff

Participating in sports is a hallmark of many American childhoods–from baseball to basketball, sports offer youth the opportunity to come together and have fun while learning important life lessons like good sportsmanship and teamwork. In order for youth sports to be a safe, enriching experience for all involved, volunteer background screening for coaching (and other)...

Posted Thursday, September 14th, 2017 by Sterling Volunteers Staff

The majority of nonprofit organizations around the country background screen at least some of their volunteers, and more and more nonprofits are starting to screen every day. One of the sectors we are seeing realize most rapidly the need to screen volunteers? Faith-based organizations. That’s right – the faith-based community’s utilization of background checks as...

Posted Thursday, September 7th, 2017 by Sterling Volunteers Staff

Next Monday, September 11, marks the 16th anniversary of a defining moment in the history of the United States: the terrorist attacks on the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and United Flight 93 that crashed in Pennsylvania. For many around the USA and the world, remembering this devastating day recalls painful memories of fear, sadness...

Posted Thursday, August 31st, 2017 by Sterling Volunteers Staff

Headquartered in Urbana, Ill., The Carle Foundation is the nonprofit parent company of an integrated network of hospital and healthcare services, including the only Level I Trauma Center as well as Level III perinatal services in east central Illinois. For Carle, the majority of its hospital volunteers are comprised of pre-med and medical students at the...

Posted Thursday, August 24th, 2017 by Sterling Volunteers Staff

When it comes to the nonprofit landscape, “one can never recruit too early, too often, or too well.” For many organizations, there can never be too many volunteers to help fuel your missions and make more changes in the lives of the communities you serve. A strong, passionate group of volunteers empowers you and your...

Posted Thursday, August 17th, 2017 by Sterling Volunteers Staff

The act of volunteering makes volunteers feel great — simply because they are giving back and helping others. Still, volunteer recognition blogs continue to be some of Sterling Volunteers’ most popular posts with volunteer managers. Why? Volunteers (and staff) are the backbone of nonprofit organizations and their hard work and dedication can never be recognized...