#10 – Ep14 What a 501c3 Website Must Have to Build Trust
There are 6 elements a 501c3 orgs website must have to build trust and give a clear picture of the impact of the organization. Listen to this episode for the list
Kimberly Ofilas, Healthcare Partnerships Communications Manager at Direct Relief joins us to talk about the must-haves for a non-profit organization’s website to build trust and credibility, as well as clarity of the organization’s mission. Kim’s experience with non-profits and many segments stretches back to when Binky Patrol started. Her current position with Direct Relief has allowed her heart to be full. Direct Relief works to equip health professionals in resource-poor communities to meet the challenges of diagnosing and caring for people in need.
List includes a privacy policy, about page with actual directors and officers listed, clearly state what you do first thing on the home page, your 501c3 number, links to charity review sites such as Guide Star, stories showing what you do to have impact.
#9 – 236 Hours – A Community Service Story
When Ben Tewes called panicked, he had two months to complete 236 court-ordered community service hours. We quickly calmed him down and assured him, he could do this! We came up with a plan, outlined here – https://binkypatrol.org/article.cfm?id=510. And he took it a step further. His probation officer wanted to be assured that BEN was actually making the blankets. He came up with the idea to set up his phone in timelapse mode and record his work. He won them over, they rooted for him to make his deadline, 236 kids are receiving blankets in Colorado because of him, and I think he’s hooked. Hear his story in this episode of All-Volunteer, All Heart from Binky Patrol, “236 Hours – A Community Service Story.”
#8 – Ep 18 Misconceptions About the Homeless in Portland
Will and Liam from Dinner and a Movie see it on television every day. Reporters assure the homeless their story will be told and when it ends up on television it’s been changed, twisted, and doesn’t tell the truth. They know because they spend most days in Southeast Portland trying to give respite from the hell of being homeless. There are many misconceptions. This is part one of a two-part episode that shares some beautiful stories, some science and aha moments. Building tiny houses isn’t the solution. Being homeless isn’t the same as being houseless. A house isn’t the full solution. It delays what the more difficult problem is to solve. 60% or more have experienced neglect or sexual abuse. 6 out of 5 are addicted to drugs or alcohol, or as you’ll hear in the story of Raven, addicted to reading. Tune in for this episode.
Learn more about Dinner and a Movie on DinnerAndAMoviePDX.com You can help them bring ice cold water, hot soup, and so much more without a huge effort and make a huge impact.
#7 – Ep 20 How to Find Partners for Your Event
Having events is a great way to expand your audience, donors, volunteers, and build goodwill in the community. Since Binky Patrol is all-volunteer, we rely on partnering with sponsors and hosting organizations that are looking for a fun event to offer their volunteers, employees, members. This episode walks you through some ideas, and a list of what you need to know before you have an event.
If you want to have an event, find partners. For Binky Patrol, we partner with United Way, HandsOn Portland, Comcast, quilt guilds, girl scouts and schools. Local coffee companies like Dutch Bros, sandwich companies like Subway help keep our volunteers fed and energized. You also need a partner to help you at the end of your event. We have our delivery team that will take all of the blankets made that day to deliver them. We have a clean up crew that will take everything to put it away until the next event. You need to plan it from start to finish, before promotions and after thank you notes.
#6 – Ep 21 Coast to Coast Bink-A-Thon Oct. 8
We are having two Bink-a-Thons October 8. One in Monroe, Connecticut, and one in Beaverton, Oregon. A little friendly competition never hurts, right? I really want to win. Jeanne Malgioglio usually wins. But really who wins? The kids who will get the binkies we are all making that day. This is a fun opportunity to connect multiple chapters. This is a great idea for other hands-on charities that have multiple locations. We will most likely be broadcasting live that day on Facebook and YouTube. This is a short episode just for fun and a little spunky. You can sign up for the Beaverton, OR event here.
A Bink-A-Thon is an event where we gather as many people as possible to make as many blankets as possible within 4 to 6 hours. Blankets can be sewn or tied. We usually have a couple of dozen people on sewing machines, many people helping with pinning, cutting, tying, bagging. There is something for everyone to do. We’ve been doing these since our first year in 1996 and they end up being more like a reunion for the volunteers who attend every one of them. We’ve more than 25 here in Oregon since we moved here 17 years ago.
#5 – Ep22 Create Signage to Direct Them To Your Event
We’ve invited people and they signed up! That’s great. But, they need to be able to easily find you from the parking lot. Sometimes non-profits have events at libraries, community centers, schools, and churches. Their campuses can be large and confusing. Having directional signage can help prevent volunteers from being frustrated before they walk in the door. Jordan Castellanos (J.C.) is our guest today from FastSigns in Beaverton, Oregon. We talk about how teaming up with a signage professional can save you money and add to your event success.
Resources: FastSigns Beaverton https://fastsigns.com/beaverton-or
Get ideas from their social media channels:
https://www.instagram.com/fastsigns46/?hl=en
https://www.facebook.com/fastsigns.beaverton/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/fastsignsbeaverton/
Adobe’s free banner design tool https://www.adobe.com/express/create/banner/event
#4 – Ep17: How a Local Businesses Can Easily Host a Charity Event
Wade Perry joined Susan after his first annual Coventry Summer Jam in Littleton, Colorado. He goes through the expense and return of this event. The expense is all under marketing, the return is beyond what he had hoped. This event benefitted the School of Rock in Littleton. They raised enough for ten scholarships. Seeing and hearing everyone enjoying this event in their local park was the best gift. Listen to this to hear how a small business or two can align with a charity to give so much to a community overall, and directly to a charity. It wasn’t that hard. They are already talking about next year.
Wade offered to talk to anyone who wants more information on how they can host a similar event in their community. Susan Finch is also available to anyone who wants to brainstorm events. Wade can be reached wade@perrypropertiesgroup.com.
Here are the steps Wade recommends.
- Find a local quality band that has a danceable set.
- Local food trucks.
- Partners who may be willing to share the expense.
- A local charity you are truly attached to – you have to be all in.
- Charity is always the focus. You are in the background.
- Best to keep it a smaller community event under 500 people.
- Pull permits.
Plan this starting at least six months out.
#3 – Ep23: Gain Job Skills by Volunteering
When you volunteer you have an opportunity to help others, and better yourself. Our chapter leaders are not paid. No one is at Binky Patrol, but they are learning marketable skills. Binky Patrol chapter leaders – Area Coordinators – learn how to lead a group, speak publicly, do PR, coordinate events, do basic accounting and more. We give recommendations to up to 10 people a year who are seeking a job – sometimes for the first time. They have all of these skills they’ve learned while volunteering. Now they can get a better job. They have confidence, too. Listen to this short episode to be inspired to do more when you volunteer rather than simply show up.
If you need more ideas on ways to help, visit BinkyPatrol.org and click on the dropdown at the top – Ways to Help
#2 – Ep24: Connecting Like Hearts to Grow Your Organization
Amy Smart is the founder of Diary of a Quilter. Her newsletter is inspiring, her website is filled with resources. Amy now knows about Binky Patrol. Binky Patrol volunteers have all been introduced to Amy Smart and Diary of a Quilter. This is how it works.
Susan suggests that you seek out companies, individuals, and influencers in your space that have active social media presence, but who also have newsletters. There is a great opportunity for both them and you to expand your lists and introduce each others’ audiences to your respective companies. It’s easy to do and doesn’t cost anyone money. Listen to Amy’s story and their ideas in this episode of All-Volunteer, All Heart – Connecting Like Hearts to Grow Your Organization.
#1 – Great Holiday Team Event for Remote Teams and Families
Have you ever known the family was coming over, but because of the weather, and varying ages, you didn’t quite know what to do with everyone after the meal? What about when your office and workload are lighter due to the upcoming holidays, end-of-year vacations, and more? A great way to bring these groups of people together is to make blankets. It’s a chance to lift some of the annual awkwardness, stay busy for those fidgety people, and change lives. Make blankets. We sometimes forget to talk about the overall mission of Binky Patrol. Binky Patrol makes blankets and gives them away to children and teens in need of comfort. Those invisible kids who need a reminder that they matter, they are not forgotten, and that someone cares about them. We do this through handmade blankets – they can be sewn, quilted, crocheted, knitted, or tied – just so they come from your heart and are washable, they are perfect. Please listen to this 7-minute episode.
This podcast is sponsored by Impact4Good.com Connecting companies, organizations, and communities.
What difference will you make today?
Impact 4 Good is the one source for bringing community service to your next event! Exciting and engaging team-building activities are just part of what we offer. Let us identify the best cause/beneficiary to support, manage the donation logistics and bring the spirit of community service to your group. From your initial request through the day of your event, Impact 4 Good handles all the details.
