Foundation Volunteer Opportunities

Please click the check box beside the volunteer opportunity or opportunities in which you are interested.

ONGOING OPPORTUNITIES

Join the Board of Directors
Description: To advance the mission of the Foundation, the Board of Directors as a whole is responsible for identifying goals and approving and monitoring performance of revenue generating strategies. As an individual, each board member must do something to help implement those strategies. Board members work closely with the Foundation Executive Director, the Library Director and fellow board members to generate support for the library.
Qualifications: Willingness to engage in aspects of fundraising. Ability to: listen, analyze, think clearly and creatively, work well with people individually and in a group. Possess or develop certain skills such as to: cultivate supporters and solicit funds, cultivate and recruit board members and other volunteers, read and understand financial statements, learn more about the substantive program areas of the library. Prior fundraising experience and/or board service a plus, but not required.
Commitment: Ongoing. Approx. 8-10 hours per month.

Develop and implement public relations and marketing strategies
Description: Working as a volunteer consultant, help the library craft strategies to promote services, increase awareness and build good will.
Qualifications: Must have professional experience in public relations or marketing and be knowledgeable about the community.
Commitment: Ongoing. Approx. 5 hours per week.

Join the Donor Relations Committee
Description: Help brainstorm and implement innovative ways to thank, recognize and expand relationships with Foundation donors.
Qualifications: Combination of creativity and ability to follow through on ideas.
Commitment: Monthly. Approx. 2-3 hours per month (1-1½ for meeting, 1-1½ for assignments). First meeting date TBD.

Write and edit articles for quarterly newsletter
Description: The Library Connection is a joint publication of three organizations: the Tompkins County Public Library, the Tompkins County Public Library Foundation and the Friends of the Library. Through this piece we share news about our activities and seek to strengthen relationships with patrons, donors, volunteers and Friends. A volunteer is sought to work with library staff and others to write feature articles and to edit submissions. Our goal is an interesting, punchy, "must-read" newsletter.
Qualifications: Excellent writing and editing skills. Experience with newsletters or other promotional publications.
Commitment: Four times a year (Jan-Feb for April issue, April-May for July issue, Jun-Jul for September issue and Oct-Nov for January issue), 8-10 hours per issue.

Administrative/clerical assistance
Description: Work with Foundation Director and Administrative Assistant on filing, data entry, photocopying, word processing, mailings and other related activities.
Qualifications: Computer proficient-knowledgeable of MS Word and Excel, able to learn enough about Paradigm database to execute tasks. Attentive to detail.
Commitment: Weekly, minimum of three hours per week.

Internship - Development & Marketing Assistant
Description: This is an unpaid position available immediately. Can be done for college credit if desired. The Development & Marketing Assistant will work with the Executive Director and other Library and Foundation staff to identify, cultivate and solicit sources of support and to market and promote the Library's programs and services. Responsibilities include but are not limited to the following: Conduct prospect research utilizing online databases and other sources and compile research profiles and other data on individuals, foundations and corporations. Write reports, proposals, online content, press releases, marketing materials and other correspondence. Assist in the development and production of targeted mailings, and research and enter direct mail lists into database. Light administrative and other tasks as required.
Qualifications: Excellent communication and writing skills. Excellent research skills, including solid knowledge of web engines. PC skills include: Word and some database knowledge. Knowledge of Excel a plus. Interest in learning about and participating in all aspects of development and nonprofit management.
Commitment: 10-15 hours per week. Some work can be done off-site, at home or elsewhere.

OCCASIONAL, ONE-TIME AND PROJECT-BASED OPPORTUNITIES

Serve as Table Captain for annual fundraising event
Description: The Foundation will host a free one-hour lunch in May 2004 at which guests will learn about the library and will be asked to consider making a gift. Table Captains ensure the success of the event by putting together a table of ten people, including him/herself.
Qualifications: Willingness to extend word-of-mouth invitations to your personal contacts on the library's behalf.
Commitment: Seasonal (February-May 2004). Approx. 6-8 hours (1 hour to attend kickoff breakfast, 3-5 hours to invite guests and 2 hours to attend lunch).

Host an event in your home to spread the word about the library
Description: Like the library tour, this event would serve as an opportunity to introduce the library to your friends and colleagues in a personal, social manner.
Qualifications: Willingness to extend word-of-mouth invitations to your personal contacts on the library's behalf. Should enjoy hosting social gatherings.
Commitment: One-time during August through December 2003. Approx. 8 hours to invite guests and set up and host event.

Serve as "Library Journalists"
The Foundation is interested in gathering patrons' stories and documenting the library experience. "Library Journalists" interview patrons then capture their stories through written articles, video, photography or a combination of these methods.
Qualifications: Must be outgoing and knowledgeable about the fundamentals of journalism.
Commitment: During September through December 2003. Amount of time TBD.

Host a library tour for friends and colleagues
Description: The Library Director and Foundation Executive Director lead one-hour tours twice a month to offer a behind-the-scenes look at the library and to spread the word in the community about the library's work. Volunteers can "host" a tour by inviting friends and colleagues then by serving as the greeter for their guests (maximum: 15) on the day of the tour. Regularly scheduled tours are held Friday mornings (either a.m. or a.m.) but we would be delighted to add another date and time if you have a large enough group to attend.
Qualifications: Willingness to extend word-of-mouth invitations to your personal contacts on the library's behalf.
Commitment: One-time during August through December 2003. Approx. 2-3 hours per tour.

Participate in a "donor thankathon"
Description: Rather than a traditional phonathon through which funds are solicited, the Foundation will occasionally implement a weeklong effort to thank and get to know individuals who have given a gift in the past 1-2 years.
Qualifications: Must be passionate about the library, outgoing, like talking on the telephone and willing and able to record details of conversations.
Commitment: One-time. Approx. 3 hours per thankathon (1 hour for training and 2 hours for calling). Date of next thankathon TBD.

Develop Foundation website and online presence
Description: We are seeking to revamp the Foundation's web presence and to ensure maximum online visibility via search engines and links and info on other sites.
Qualifications: Must be a self-starter. Must have expertise in website design, navigation and content and online navigation and content.
Commitment: One-time. Amount of time TBD.

Set up online system for information-sharing
Description: We seek to set up two online entities:
1) a password-accessible site where board members can access documents (i.e. board meeting minutes, bylaws, etc.);
2) a mechanism for board members, committee members and others to post and view lists of names and to converse with each other.
Qualifications: Experience and ability to design and implement these systems.
Commitment: One-time. Amount of time TBD.

Send handwritten thank you notes
Description: Volunteers are sought to write personal handwritten notes of thanks to donors.
Qualifications: Must be a library user able to state honestly that he or she has benefited from the library. Legible handwriting, please!
Commitment: Either ongoing (monthly) or seasonal (November 2003 through January 2004). Amount of time will vary according to the number of notes.

Share your library story
Description: Write a personal testimonial or letter of support for public use or agree to be quoted as to why you support the library.
Qualifications: Creative, articulate writer able to convey the impact of the library on an individual or family.
Commitment: One-time. Approx. 1-2 hours.

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Interested? Please complete the above form or contact Suzanne Smith Jablonski at
101 East Green Street, Ithaca NY 14850.
Phone 607-272-4557 ext 231 or email ssmithjablonski@tcpl.org.