Volunteerism and charity work have become integral parts of the daily lives of many business leaders today. But juggling job and family demands can create a host of challenges. So while taking care to plan well, it is important to remember the rewards that volunteering can provide you.
Businessespeople and others seeking to become involved in nonprofit activities and make their contributions most effective may benefit from the following three primary guidelines:
Choose a cause about which you are passionate.
Only when you enjoy what you’re doing will you be most effective. For instance, about 14 years ago, a client asked me if I would like to get involved with the Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra. As a longtime lover of classical music, I agreed to join the board.
Although I knew nothing about the inner workings of an orchestra, I was excited to become involved and was thrust into the position of chairing an artistic advisory committee. I participated in and helped guide the search for the present music director, Larry Rachleff, and a new executive director.
Over the ensuing years, after serving on a number of board committees, I was asked to serve as board president. In this capacity I helped found the Rush Hour Series with the generous support of Fidelity Investments. I also helped with the merger of The Music School with the Philharmonic. Both of these initiatives have proved to be enormously successful and beneficial for the institution.
The success of each endeavor made me eager to throw myself into the next project, including a recent one regarding the acquisition and renovation of a new headquarters and Music School building in East Providence.
Working on the board has fulfilled all the expectations I had when I accepted that offer to volunteer my services more than a decade ago.
Treat your volunteer and pro bono work like any other work.
Because nonprofits rely on the contribution of services from a wide range of professionals, it is critical to match the needs of the organization that you are helping with your skills and interests so that you can be most effective. Most people start by offering the skills they have honed in the workplace, whether legal, financial, public relations, fundraising, design, IT or some other expertise. Then, with demonstrated commitment and enthusiasm for the organization, they may be asked to serve in a leadership role, or may be offered the opportunity to test their skills in entirely new areas.
A few years ago, I worked with a group of fellow parents to form a youth sporting organization oriented toward helping children become more competitive sailors on national and international levels.
As a startup, our needs were significant and varied. And so was our board, composed of a doctor, a lawyer, a boat manufacturer, a software executive and a power industry consultant.
Some of the board members dealt with the financial aspects, some with marketing and communications, others with logistical needs of the organization such as acquiring and repairing coach boats. Those with deep connections to youth sailing identified and hired the appropriate coaches. In my case, among other things, I have handled the legal aspects of the organization, including preparing the filing for tax-exempt status with the IRS.
Our skills were varied, but we all shared a passion for our cause and met the needs of the organization as committed professionals. And this commitment yielded results.
Last year, the organization, FAST Sailing Foundation Inc., conducted more than 1,000 sailor days of top-level coaching. It has become a significant resource to aspiring young sailors within the southeastern New England youth sailing community.
Work hard to maintain a balance between your professional, nonprofit and personal lives.
It is extremely difficult to predict the exact number of hours that you will be required to spend once you get involved in a nonprofit activity. Like a customer or client, the needs are significant and often unpredictable. This is particularly true if you are in a leadership position.
Once the commitment is made, others depend on you to organize resources and solve problems. When you follow through with the same professional standards that you apply to your “day job,” the time commitment can be significant, but so are the rewards. The key is to start with something manageable, so that you can give 100 percent and your best effort.
Begin by serving on a committee or as a member of the board without immediately accepting a leadership position until you understand the mission and dynamics of the organization, and the scope of its needs. Your volunteer commitments should be philanthropic, but also fun. Too much, even of a good thing, can become overwhelming until the burden of responsibility outweighs the sense of satisfaction.
As you enter the world of volunteering, you will meet a cross-section of wonderful people who share your passion and whom you otherwise might not have met. Most importantly, as you work to make a small corner of the world better, you will have the personal satisfaction of knowing that your efforts have made a difference.
If you have not been to a performance of the Rhode Island Philharmonic lately, take in a Rush Hour concert some Thursday night – you’ll know what I mean.
John “Jay” Gowell is a partner in the law firm Burns & Levinson LLP. He serves on the boards of GrowSmart Rhode Island, WaterFire Providence, The University Club, the Rhode Island State Yachting Committee and the Rhode Island Sailing Foundation, among others.
