READY TO BE PART OF SOMETHING BIGGER?
If you're looking to share your expertise, take the next step.
SMALL BUSINESSES NEED US
Skill-based volunteerism for corporate partners.
Small businesses are the backbone of local communities; together we can help pave the way for a thriving economy. “Small Businesses Need Us” initiative is helping small businesses survive in the wake of the pandemic's economic impacts.
Volunteers play a vital role in IFEL’s ability to provide access to knowledge, capital, and networks necessary to help business owners to succeed. We offer a number of volunteer opportunities where your everyday skills will make a powerful impact on a business owner.
We feature a simple sign-up process and we offer opportunities lasting as little as two hours. Our volunteers work virtually via computer conferencing and live at our IFEL SBNU corporate partner events.
EXPLORE
Get to Know Us
Watch the video: Small Businesses Need Us
WHY VOLUNTEER?
What our volunteers have to say:
"Volunteering allows me to use my skills and knowledge to help small businesses thrive and grow. Knowing that I am making a difference in other people's lives gives me a great sense of fulfillment."
"I volunteer to make a difference in the lives of entrepreneurs, especially those who have been severely impacted by the pandemic. I really enjoy serving small business owners in a meaningful and impactful way, as well as supporting them to elevate their marketing, make sound organizational decisions, mitigate losses and drive profitability. "
CONNECT
Ways to Volunteer
Small businesses are the backbone of local communities; together we can help pave the way for a thriving economy. “Small Businesses Need Us” initiative is helping small businesses survive in the wake of the pandemic's economic impacts.
What's your expertise?
When you volunteer at IFEL, your efforts will have an impact on people’s lives – today and for generations to come. There are 4 main sectors and other countless ways you can work with peers to make change together.
We are seeking volunteer experts in many areas, including:
Competitive Analysis
Financial Projections
Social Media Marketing
Website Review/UX
Other Areas
of Expertise:
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App Building
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Bookkeeping
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Business Planning
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Email Marketing/CRM
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Fundraising
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Human Resources
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Legal
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Operations
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Pitch Preparation
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SEO
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Strategic Planning
For Corporate Partners
Share with Your Colleagues
Companies have a unique opportunity to help small businesses thrive while also
cultivating a sense of purpose for yourself and your company. Will you join us?
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Our corporate partner program enables your team to help small business owners thrive and pave the way for economic recovery.
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The good news is when you partner with us, your company wins too.
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Our corporate volunteers report that the employees who participate come back recharged with a sense of purpose and increased creativity in their own roles.
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It's easy to get involved. Our turnkey program includes everything you need so there is minimal preparation needed.
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Complete the form above and we will schedule a call for you to learn more.
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Find the right opportunities for your employees - whether they are team events or individual sessions. We will develop a program together that meets your targets for skills-based volunteerism, DEI initiatives, and social impact.
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Socialize the opportunity to mobilize your team to register.
And we will take it from there! Our team will ensure all volunteers are onboarded, prepped, and ready to go. Their impact will be tracked, giving you measurable metrics toward your goals.
I'M READY TO APPLY
Learn More About Getting Involved
SCROLL
DOWN
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1. What kind of time commitment is required?For 1:1 Reviews, the time commitment is listed on the sign up portal. You sign in before the event start, check that your camera and mic are working, and finish at the time listed on the event. For Success Circles, we schedule a kickoff event where you meet your business owner (this meeting lasts an hour). Then you and the business owner schedule your next few meetings to work on the deliverable. Usually the total commitment is 1-3 meetings over 2-3 weeks.
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2. How do I know if I have the right skill level to be a volunteer?After onboarding, we ask that you review the volunteer materials we provide. If the checklists and spreadsheets look familiar and easy, you are likely a great candidate to facilitate one of these sessions.
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3. None of the 1:1 review sessions scheduled works with my schedule. Is there another, more flexible volunteer commitment that I can make?Yes! We also host another volunteer opportunity called Success Circles. After a preliminary kickoff (that lasts an hour), you and your business owner set up a mutually amenable schedule over the next few weeks to work on the project together.
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4. What kind of businesses am I going to be helping?Business stage, industry, and profitability vary greatly. There are no restrictions on the types of business owners who may register for the program.
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5. How are projects assigned to volunteers?Each volunteer will select their project(s) before selecting their volunteer dates.
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6. What is the registration window?We ask that all volunteers register at least two weeks prior to each event. However, if there is availability remaining and the volunteer has completed their onboarding call, we can allow registration as late as one week prior to the event.
Try It Out For Yourself!
Volunteers play a vital role in IFEL’s ability to provide access to knowledge, capital, and networks necessary to help business owners to grow and succeed. We offer a number of volunteer opportunities where your everyday skills will make a powerful impact on a business owner.
We feature a simple sign-up process and we offer opportunities lasting as little as two hours. All volunteers work virtually via computer conferencing.