William Penn Life, 2008 (43. évfolyam, 1-12. szám)
2008-07-01 / 7. szám
Charitable Ideas Action Without Borders Helping volunteers turn good intentions into action O ne of the truly remarkable characteristics about WPA members, and indeed all true fratemalists, is their desire to make a difference in their communities and our world. But, sometimes, we need help finding an outlet for that desire, finding a group or organization where our special talents and abilities would be put to the most productive use. Fortunately, there is an organization that can help match eager volunteers with the charitable groups that would optimize their contributions to their communities: Action Without Borders. Action Without Borders (AWB) is nonprofit organization founded in New York City in 1995. Its mission is to connect people, organizations and resources to help build a world where all people can lead free and dignified lives. AWB was founded by Ami Dar, an Israeli ex-software manager turned social entrepreneur. At the outset, AWB tried to build a network of "contact centers" that would provide a one-stop spot where people could find opportunities for meaningful engagement in their communities. However, noting the growing popularity of the internet and the way in which the web could exponentially increase its ability to foster connections, AWB refocused its efforts toward building a website that could serve as a hub for people and nonprofits that work on the betterment of communities. The result, launched in 1996, was Idealist.org. Idealist quickly became one of the leading nonprofit sites on the web, receiving tens of thousands of visits per day and facilitating many thousands of connections all around the world The site works by allowing nonprofits to create self-managed profiles where they can list their missions, contact information, services, programs, events, opportunities (jobs, volunteer positions, and internships) and needs. These listings are searchable by anyone visiting the site, and individuals can opt to sign up to receive email notifications of new listings meeting their preferences. By 2006, almost 400,000 people had signed up for these customized mailings. In addition to its database and directory, Idealist also features specialist resource centers on such topics as nonprofit careers, volunteerism, civic engagement, and nonprofit human resources. Almost all of its services are free of charge. A WB also runs a number of onthe-ground programs that help it fulfill its mission. These include career fairs and graduate school fairs that focus on work and studies that promote the public good, and an annual campus conference that brings together 1,500 student activists, faculty members, and nonprofit organizations. AWB also works with a range of partners—universities, corporations, specialist associations and nonprofit networks—to increase its reach, enhance its effectiveness, and create more and better opportunities for connections to take place. During 2003 and 2004, three strategic partnerships helped AWB Charity Links For more information on Action Without Borders and how it and its website—ldealist.org—can assist you, your family and your WPA branch in serving your community, log onto: 3 www.ldealist.org expand its activities and scope. Through a merger with the Campus Outreach Opportunity League, AWB was able to diversify its programs on college and university campuses, at first in the United States and increasingly on campuses around the world. In 2004, AWB began a strategic partnership with Res Non Verba, an Argentine organization focused on promoting volunteerism and civic engagement, which has given AWB increased depth in its work and enabled it to make its Spanishlanguage site, Idealistas.org, a more vibrant resource for the social sector. And in late 2004, Idealist's online resource centers were augmented by its adoption of The Nonprofit FAQ, a longstanding compendium of nonprofit-related frequently asked questions and expertly researched answers. These mergers, and AWB's parallel growth in staff size and capacity, have brought it to a new level in terms of scope and influence, allowing it to reach more users and facilitate more connections than ever before. AWB is a globally oriented organization with users from over 180 countries. At present, it has three offices in the United States-in New York, Portland, Ore., and Washington, D.C.—another in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and staff in Seattle and Geneva, Switzerland. It has websites in English, French and Spanish, and is currently developing new sites in more languages. For anyone looking to turn their good intentions into action, then Action Without Borders' Idealist.org may be the first place you should visit. (c) 1995-2008. Action Without Borders. William Penn Life, July 2008 7
