Skills Link
The Heart of Illinois United Way Skills Link network helps match nonprofits with professionals who want to share their specific skills and expertise. Volunteers have the skills, nonprofits need the talent, and we offer an easy way to connect.
Why Support
Skills-Based Volunteering?
Volunteers are always looking for meaningful opportunities to share their time and special talents. Skills-based volunteering enables nonprofits to leverage specific skillsets to support their work and it engages individual volunteers in the opportunity to create lasting community-wide change.
“Skills-based volunteering is the fastest growing form of corporate giving, with nearly 50% of companies reporting having a skills-based volunteer program in place.” – Common Impact
How Skills Link Works:
Volunteers can assist nonprofits in finding new talent by applying for skills-based volunteer opportunities and showcasing their skills, availability, and experience in their profiles.
Nonprofits can post various opportunities, including board or committee positions, consultations, projects, and speaker requests. They can also use the membership directory to search for volunteer profiles or communicate their ongoing skills-based needs.
Membership allows volunteers and nonprofits to connect with each other, learn more about skills-based volunteering, and participate in special educational and networking events.
What Are the Benefits of Joining Skills Link?
Volunteers:
- quick and easy process to join
- share your skills, special interests, and hobbies
- apply for nonprofit skills-based volunteer opportunities
- connect with nonprofits for a meaningful volunteer experience
Nonprofits:
- easily expand your volunteer network
- search for volunteers with the specific skills you need or seek speakers to enhance your programs or events
- post skills-based volunteer opportunities for one-time projects or committee and board members
Volunteer Highlights:
Results
Illinois Central College
Hi! I work at ICC with TRiO Talent Search and I'm looking for opportunities for my students and I to get involved in the community
Caterpillar
I am a hard worker with lots of muscle. I love helping people so would like that opportunity. I can carry loads, do yard work, help people. I have a driver’s license and can drive a forklift and heavy equipment. I can paint. I am bilingual.
Looking for work
I love working outside helping with gardening or landscaping, and I also love working with computers and organizing information.
Request a Skills Link Presentation for Your Team:
The Heart of Illinois United Way offers a 30-minute presentation about our Skills Link network. It’s a great way to introduce employees at companies or nonprofits, members of service clubs, and participants in employee resource groups to skills-based volunteering along with a quick tour of our networking site.
