Volunteer Your Tech & Consulting Skills
HandsOn Tech is a program of 501 Commons sponsored by Google, HandsOn Network, and the Corporation for National and Community Service. The program’s focus is to increase the capacity of the nonprofit sector. We do this by enabling nonprofits to use technology to extend their reach, run better programs and raise more money.
Use Your Tech Skills For Good
The HandsOn Tech Team is looking for volunteers who have a broad understanding of business technology, training experience, and technology planning for small companies and organizations. Volunteers will lead training sessions and support local Seattle nonprofits in partnership with the HandsOn Tech Team. Volunteers must be comfortable communicating about technology with people with a range of skill levels. Experience with nonprofits is a plus.
The HandsOn Tech Team is seeking volunteers for the following opportunities:
About the Deep Dive Program
The Deep Dive Program offers training and technology consulting services to cohorts of about 15 small nonprofits serving low-income populations. You will help an organization assess its current use of technology and develop a plan for using technology to help them deliver their mission. The program has two phases: assessment and planning, and implementation. In addition, trainings are offered to Deep Dive participants and to other nonprofits throughout the year.
Planning Consultant
Put Your tech skills to use and Help a Nonprofit Develop a Technology Plan
Serve as a Pro Bono Planning Consultant in the Deep Dive Cohort Program
Efficient technology is essential for nonprofits to increase their impact on the community. Unfortunately, many nonprofits face technological challenges and needs that do not allow them to adequately use technology to address their missions.
We are seeking volunteers with diverse tech skills and a broad understanding of business technology to support nonprofits throughout the planning phases of the Deep Dive program. Deep Dive is a new 501 Commons’ program designed for organizations with low budgets and little to no technology staff. Volunteers are matched to work in pairs with a nonprofit organization. Each pair will follow a highly structured process to facilitate an assessment of their organization's current technology systems, help identify key issues and opportunities for improvement.
As a Technology Planning Consultant, you will have the opportunity to:
- Apply your knowledge of business technology in this high-impact volunteer role
- Learn about strategic planning and decision making processes
- Increase an organization's understanding of their technology needs
- Make a difference in the nonprofit community's ability to utilize technology to their advantage
Volunteers will serve approximately 10-12 hours per month for four months. Through this experience, volunteers will work with a nonprofit in a structured and high-impact volunteer role.
Interested? Please view the full position description and apply online. For questions or more information, please email vistatech@501commons.org.
Implementation Consultant
Time Commitment: 12 to 15 hours per month
Dates of Service: Ongoing projects starting in August (includes service during regular work hours)
Implementation consultants will help a nonprofit implement 1-2 projects based on its strategic plan. A focus will be on providing assistance that assures the nonprofit can maintain the solution after the volunteer is no longer engaged. Planning Consultants may choose to continue working with their nonprofit client or with other Deep Dive clients as long as they have the skills needed for implementation projects.
Are you a good fit?
Volunteers who are a good fit as an Implementation Consultant will have the following:
- Experience with and strong knowledge of a wide range of technological tools and applications suitable for an organization with a small budget (less than $500,000) and no technology staff.
- Project management and coaching skills that allow you to build trust with the participants.
- Ability to communicate well with representatives from diverse client organizations and people without technical skills.
- Professional and volunteer experience with nonprofits or willingness to learn about nonprofits so you can provide appropriate advice and consultation.
- The ability to define and complete 1-2 specific projects from the organization’s tech plan and to coach a nontechnical staff person on one or more of the following:
- Microsoft Office programs
- Google Apps
- Google Analytics and Adword campaigns
- Low-cost, online survey tools, file storage systems, timesheets, project management aids, collaboration software, visualization tools, non-complex Wordpress or similar websites, etc.
- Social media applications, including blogs, LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter, Hootsuite, Google+, etc.
- While the organization’s plan may include new or improved databases, computer networks, server installations or complex websites, these projects will not be included in the implementation stage.
Ready to apply? Complete the Form
Technology Trainer
Teach Nonprofits How to Best Utilize Technology Tools for their Organization
Serve as a Pro Bono Technology Trainer
Time Commitment: 8 to 15 hours per month
Dates of Service: 1-2 months once position is offered
The 501 Commons' HandsOn Tech Team is providing pro bono technology training to Deep Dive participants and other nonprofits in the King County area throughout the year. We need volunteer trainers to supplement the skills of HandsOn Tech members. We are especially interested in trainings regarding low-cost, sustainable technology tools and solutions that are easily implemented in the busy nonprofit sector. Volunteers will work with the HandsOn Tech Team to develop a training plan that translates their skills for nonprofits that lack technology staff and have limited budgets for technology.
HandsOn Tech will be responsible for promoting events lead by Technology Trainers. This includes locating training space, and reviewing related content and visuals that will be used by the trainer. If you wish, HandsOn Tech will provide recognition of your organization in promotional advertising and social media.
Specific topics to be included in these trainings will be based on the needs that nonprofits identify during the assessment and planning phase. Examples of possible trainings are:
- Using Social Media to Increase Donors
- Setting Up Good Data Management
- Using Surveys to Measure Impact
- Everyone on the Same Page: Using Collaboration Tools
- Using Google Apps
- Microsoft Office 2013: New Tools and Tips
- Managing Facebook
- Going to the Cloud
Are you a good fit?
Volunteers who are a good fit as a Technology Trainer will have the following:
- Technology training experience applicable to an organization with a small budget (less than $500,000) and diverse staff who do not have a technology background. Generally experience with consumer training or training of clerical, service, or administrative staff will be most applicable.
- A strong knowledge of a tool or application that is appropriate for small nonprofits. The ability to develop and deliver a 45-90 minute training session in the King County area that will advance the organization’s ability to use technology effectively.
- Training skills that allow you to build trust with the participants.
- Professional and volunteer experience with nonprofits or willingness to learn about nonprofits so you can provide appropriate advice and consultation.
Interested? Please email vistatech@501commons.org for more information.
Your Commitment and Benefits of Volunteering
Volunteering with the Deep Dive Program will give you experience working with nonprofits in a structured and high-impact volunteer role. If you have a business background, you will have the challenge of cross-walking your tech skills into very small and low-budget organizations that are working to make our communities stronger. If you have a nonprofit background, this is an opportunity for you to share your tech skills and your knowledge of nonprofits with the Deep Dive participants and with other volunteers.
Volunteering builds your professional experience and network. 501 Commons volunteers enjoy the challenge of applying their knowledge and experience in a new context. Program staff provide support and supervision throughout the project so you always have assistance available if needed.
Volunteer to help a nonprofit make better use of technology today!
