Our organisation: Evolve at Typo Station (Evolve)

My responsibilities: Marketing and Development Manager

Our team: We have 20 full and part time staff, with the support of up to 30 volunteers at any one time.

Our greatest challenge: Securing sustainable funding!

The main difference between the NFP and private sectors:

· The end users and the cause

· The availability of resources (you have to be an all rounder!)

· The constant battle for funding

· The satisfaction of making a difference

What inspired you to get involved in your organisation?

I was looking move into the not-for-profit sector, having actively volunteered with the Australian Red Cross, Starlight Children’s Foundation and Soup Van (Collingwood) for some years. I was also looking for a challenging Marketing role, and wanted to make a difference to the lives of disadvantaged young people and their families. In 2008, I completed a 5-week secondment with Noel Pearson's Cape York Institute, assisting in the rollout of Welfare Reform. This experience cemented my passion for the sector, and I found Evolve…

How have you utilized goodcompany?

· Annual Report volunteer project – Evolve is fortunate enough to have the assistance of a wonderful graphic designer from Darwin to design and layout our 2007-08 Annual Report. Working patiently with me for up to two months, the finished product look very professional and allowed Evolve to share with its the wonderful work we had been doing over the past year.

· Good Company also had a ‘Speed Dating’ networking event, with the objective of partnering with resource poor community groups and skilled volunteers in late 2008. Three of Evolve staff attended and met some very generous and skilled individuals who wanted to help!

Tips for Community Groups working with skilled volunteers:

· Develop a tight brief to a strict working framework, timelines and requirements.

· Explain what your organisation’s mandate is and what difference their contribution is making.

· Agree best communication styles and feedback mechanisms.

· Acknowledge and reward upon job completion (letter of thanks, etc).

Tips for Volunteers working with community groups in skilled volunteering:

• Engage in a project you are interested in and will enjoy

• Be honest on your capacity to deliver, on your strengths and weaknesses

• Seek recognition for your professional or personal CV – your work should not go unrewarded!