A Vision for a Thriving Volunteer Community in New England
Vision Statement
A New England where helping is a habit.
Mission Statement
We partner with nonprofits and their supporters across New England to build effective volunteer programs, offering practical support to enhance impact, improve volunteer engagement, and ensure volunteers are prepared and equipped to serve their communities.
The Challenge
Many small-to-medium nonprofits across New England struggle to manage volunteers effectively, leading to low retention, inefficient onboarding, and missed opportunities for community impact. These challenges are compounded by limited resources, outdated technology, and difficulties collaborating with businesses on volunteer placements.
- Recruitment & Retention – High turnover and unclear roles make it difficult to keep volunteers engaged.
- Onboarding & Training – Many volunteers receive little preparation, leading to frustration and disengagement.
- Technology Gaps – Nonprofits lack efficient systems to track, communicate, and manage volunteers.
- Resource Constraints – Few organizations have the staff or funding to fully support volunteer programs.
- Corporate Partnerships – Mismatched expectations hinder effective business-nonprofit collaboration.
- Impact Measurement – Nonprofits struggle to track and communicate volunteer contributions.
- Diversity & Inclusion – Barriers exist in reaching underrepresented volunteer groups.
- Volunteer-Staff Integration – Lack of structure can cause friction between volunteers and paid staff.
Our Solution
NE Helps is transforming volunteer management across New England by providing practical tools, strategic guidance, and technology-driven solutions to help nonprofits overcome their biggest volunteer program challenges.
Our programs will:
- Streamline volunteer recruitment & onboarding – Making it easier for nonprofits to attract, train, and retain volunteers that make an impact.
- Equip nonprofits with the right tools & resources – From training materials to volunteer management systems, we aim to provide what organizations need to succeed.
- Enhance corporate-nonprofit partnerships – Helping businesses and nonprofits align expectations and maximize the impact of corporate volunteer programs.
- Support volunteer engagement & retention – Building networks and fostering a culture of ongoing community involvement.
By partnering with nonprofits, businesses, and volunteer networks, we create a seamless, sustainable volunteer ecosystem—ensuring volunteers are prepared, supported, and engaged, while nonprofits and corporate partners can maximize their impact in the communities they serve.
Creating a Culture Where Helping Isn’t Weird
One day, as a young adult, I was out driving when I saw my high school English teacher digging a ditch in his driveway. I pulled over and asked if he needed help. He only had one shovel, but he said yes, and I stayed. It wasn’t a big deal—I just offered help because that’s what people should do.
Later, I heard people thought it was “weird” that I stopped. But that’s what’s actually weird—that people think helping is unusual.
Years later, when I started my agency, I found myself in a situation where I needed help. I thought success meant doing everything myself, pushing through long hours, and carrying it all alone. But that wasn’t sustainable. Real progress happened when I let go, started delegating, and trusted people to build something with me. When I did, everything changed.
I created a workplace where people collaborated, supported each other, and brought ideas forward without ego. The best work happened not because of me, but because I built an environment where people wanted to contribute. When I eventually left, I realized that’s what people valued most—not just the work itself, but the shared sense of purpose.
That’s the same shift nonprofits need to make. Too many organizations are stuck trying to do everything alone. Directors and boards are overworked, trying to carry the weight themselves, when the real answer is asking for help, sharing the mission, and creating an environment where people naturally want to contribute.
And that’s why I started NE Helps.
Helping shouldn’t be weird. Working together shouldn’t be rare. The more we make it normal—through better systems, stronger communities, and real opportunities to contribute—the closer we get to a society where asking for help and offering help are second nature.
Why NE Helps?
Our approach begins with the nonprofits and extends to the local businesses and enterprises that support them. By equipping nonprofits with the tools, training, and systems they need to manage volunteers effectively, we ensure that volunteers are prepared, engaged, and supported—leading to more impactful and sustainable programs.
Beyond volunteer management, we focus on volunteer preparedness, helping individuals and organizations connect efficiently and work together seamlessly. From background checks to training and role placement, we ensure that volunteers step into opportunities ready to contribute, and nonprofits get the right people for the right roles.
This positive experience motivates volunteers to stay engaged, encourages businesses and community partners to deepen their involvement, and creates a ripple effect of stronger, more connected communities across New England.
Enhance Volunteer Experience
Ensure volunteers have the resources, training, and preparation they need to be effective and fulfilled in their roles.
Support Nonprofits
Provide practical tools and streamlined processes for volunteer screening, training, placement, and management, making it easier for nonprofits to engage volunteers successfully.
Empower Leadership
Enable boards and directors to focus on strategic growth by reducing the burden of day-to-day volunteer management.
Foster Community Engagement
Build a culture where helping isn’t the exception—it’s the norm, by making volunteering accessible, impactful, and rewarding for everyone.
Strengthen Connections
Facilitate better matchmaking between volunteers and nonprofits through skill-based placements, background checks, and structured onboarding, ensuring longer-lasting engagement and impact.
Join us in creating a New England where helping is a habit.
We believe that by enhancing the volunteer process for nonprofits and their supporters, we can inspire a culture of helping and community involvement across New England. This is not just about increasing the number of volunteers; it’s about creating meaningful, impactful experiences that motivate people to engage deeply and consistently. By working together—nonprofits, volunteers, local businesses, and community partners—we can build a stronger, more connected region.
Let’s foster a community where everyone feels empowered to give and receive help, where volunteering is second nature, and where nonprofits are equipped to make a lasting, positive impact.
Programs
Join us in creating a New England where helping is a habit. Let’s foster a community where everyone feels empowered to give and receive help, where volunteering is second nature, and where nonprofits are equipped to make a lasting, positive impact.NE Helps is dedicated to transforming the volunteer experience across New England by equipping small-to-medium nonprofits with the tools and support they need to effectively manage volunteers. Our programs are designed to streamline volunteer application processes, provide comprehensive training and resources, and foster a supportive community for both volunteers and the organizations that rely on them. By addressing common challenges faced by nonprofits—and by working closely with local businesses and community partners—we aim to enhance the volunteer experience, strengthen community support networks, and create a culture of mutual aid and collaboration across the region.
Volunteer Engine
Objective
Provide small-to-medium nonprofits with a fully managed volunteer recruitment and engagement system, streamlining the process of attracting, managing, and retaining volunteers. By offering a custom-branded volunteer hub, multi-platform opportunity syndication, and seamless VMS integration, nonprofits can focus on their mission while ensuring they have a steady flow of well-matched volunteers.
Components
- Custom Volunteer Hub – A professionally designed microsite featuring volunteer opportunities, role descriptions, onboarding resources, FAQs, and applications.
- Multi-Platform Opportunity Syndication – Listings are actively posted and managed on major platforms like VolunteerMatch, VolunteerNH, Idealist, and more.
- VMS Integration – Applications, scheduling, and volunteer tracking are streamlined through a partnered Volunteer Management System (VMS).
- Ongoing Management & Support – Continuous updates, listing management, analytics, and strategy guidance to optimize recruitment and retention.
Outcomes
- Higher volunteer engagement and retention through a structured, professional, and user-friendly recruitment process.
- Increased nonprofit visibility and improved volunteer conversion rates through multi-platform syndication.
- Reduced administrative burden by automating volunteer management and tracking.
- Stronger community impact, as nonprofits can efficiently recruit and mobilize volunteers to support their mission.
Volunteer Preparation Program
Objective
Develop a pre-vetted, pre-trained roster of volunteers who are ready to be placed in participating nonprofits. This program ensures that organizations receive reliable, background-checked, and properly trained volunteers, reducing onboarding time while improving volunteer quality and leadership capabilities.
Components
- Background Screening – Volunteers go through varying levels of screening to meet nonprofit requirements.
- Volunteer Training & Leadership Development – Participants complete standardized volunteer prep courses, with an option to advance into leadership training.
- Placement Services – Pre-trained volunteers are matched with key nonprofit roles, filling critical needs efficiently.
- Ongoing Support & Certification – Volunteers receive recognition, continued training, and placement tracking to encourage long-term engagement.
Outcomes
- Higher-quality volunteers, reducing turnover and training burdens for nonprofits.
- A more prepared and engaged volunteer base, leading to improved program effectiveness.
- Stronger nonprofit support, as organizations can quickly access a roster of skilled and screened volunteers.
- Potential for leadership development, allowing volunteers to grow into impactful roles that benefit the nonprofit sector.
Corporate Volunteer Partnership Program
Objective
Prepare nonprofits to successfully engage corporate volunteers while helping businesses develop structured volunteer programs as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) efforts. This program ensures that nonprofits and businesses are fully equipped for meaningful, long-term volunteer partnerships.
Components
- Corporate Readiness for Nonprofits – Train nonprofits to engage, manage, and retain corporate volunteers, including impact tracking and reporting best practices.
- CSR Development for Businesses – Help companies create or refine employee volunteer programs, providing toolkits, best practices, and structured engagement strategies.
- Nonprofit-Corporate Matchmaking – Connect mission-aligned nonprofits and businesses, facilitating corporate volunteer placements.
- Impact Reporting & Long-Term Engagement – Support both nonprofits and businesses in tracking, measuring, and communicating volunteer impact to sustain partnerships.
Outcomes
- More nonprofits and businesses fully prepared for corporate volunteer partnerships.
- Increased corporate participation in structured volunteer programs.
- Stronger, long-term relationships between businesses and nonprofits.
- More employees transitioning from corporate-sponsored to independent volunteerism.
Fractional Volunteer Management
Objective
Provide on-demand, professional volunteer coordination services for small to mid-sized nonprofits that lack the resources for a full-time volunteer coordinator. Through a fractional model, NE Helps’ trained coordinators support multiple organizations, ensuring they can effectively recruit, manage, and retain volunteers without the burden of hiring dedicated staff.
Components
- Flexible, On-Demand Support – Nonprofits receive customized volunteer coordination services based on their needs, whether for recruitment, scheduling, training, or engagement.
- Dedicated Fractional Volunteer Coordinators – NE Helps-employed coordinators serve multiple nonprofits, offering professional volunteer management without the overhead of a full-time hire.
- Multi-Nonprofit Support Model – Coordinators assist several small nonprofits at once, sharing expertise and best practices across organizations.
- Scalable & Cost-Effective Service – Nonprofits receive high-quality volunteer coordination at a fraction of the cost of an in-house hire.
- Ongoing Volunteer Engagement & Retention – Coordinators ensure volunteer satisfaction, engagement, and program effectiveness through structured management and support.
Outcomes
- Small nonprofits gain professional volunteer management without needing a full-time coordinator.
- Increased volunteer recruitment, engagement, and retention across participating organizations.
- More efficient nonprofit operations, allowing staff to focus on mission-driven work.
- A sustainable, scalable model for long-term nonprofit volunteer coordination.
Our Foundation
What Drives Us Forward
Explore the values and principles that shape everything we do. See how our operating system empowers us to innovate, collaborate, and make a lasting impact.