This presentation was given at the LASCAVA conference in January 2012. The topic is starting Palmetto Technology Hub and working with volunteers.

1. When you have no money and
can’t see your volunteers.
Starting Palmetto Technology Hub
Tina Arnoldi
(843) 723-3635
Twitter: @TinaArnoldi
Blog: http://blog.tinaarnoldi.com
tina@coastalcommunityfoundation.org
www.palmettotechnologyhub.org
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2. Agenda
1. Overview of PATH and what it is so you
understand how it works.
2. Steps taken to get the program started.
3. Information about how we worked with PATH
volunteers.
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3. “Back in 2010, a couple of computer geeks saw a number of
nonprofits struggling with their technology and lacking the funds
to pay for support. Out of this need, the Palmetto Technology Hub
(PATH) was born. Our mission is to provide technology support and
resources to the South Carolina lowcountry not-for-profit
community. Through this web site, local nonprofits can submit a
request for tech support. Volunteers sign up through this site to
offer their expertise for free. Requests and expertise so far include
social media questions, hardware problems, and web site help.
This site is entirely volunteer run and we encourage you to
become involved by either giving help, or requesting some tech
support. ”
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4. What PATH is about
PATH’s mission is to
provide technology
support and resources
to the South Carolina
lowcountry not-for-
profit community.

5. How Can PATH Help?
• PATH provides a ticket system that local non-profits can use to
submit a request for tech support.
• Technical volunteers sign up at the PATH website to offer
their expertise.
• Volunteers also provide free training and webinars to nonprofits.
• All of this is accessible from PalmettoTechnologyHub.org
*** PATH is a web-based organization ***

6. Let’s take a look…

7. Nonprofit Do’s & Don’ts
• Be specific
• Separate tickets for each
issue
• No multiple submissions
• Remember – it’s a
volunteer service
• We can refer you to a
consultant for big projects

8. What Type of Help Does PATH Offer?
• Answering social media questions
• Hardware problems
• Web site help
• Printer repair
• CRM systems

9. PATH Success Stories
“We had a number of computer challenges at the Junior
Achievement Of Coastal SC office in North Charleston
earlier this year—so we placed a request for assistance
on the PATH website. Within 24 hours, we had several
offers from volunteers willing to assist with our
challenges.”

10. PATH Success Stories
“As a small organization without the help of a technical
team member, PATH has been a lifesaver! Each time we
have submitted a ticket for assistance, the response was
quick and the volunteers were very knowledgeable and
more than willing to help. I would recommend this
service without hesitation. Thank you for the foresight to
start this awesome service and thank you to the
volunteers who have assisted us.”

11. PATH Success Stories
“The Arts Business Civic Coalition (ABCC) is a
relatively new nonprofit who mission is to provide
Summerville/Dorchester County with a Civic Center.
With very little operating funds we have been trying
to get a website up and running…”

12. ABCC Summerville Website

13. Yoga Benefits Kids Website

14. Training
• PATH also keeps the nonprofit community
informed on the latest FREE technical training
offerings.
• PATH volunteers present workshops on timely
technical topics.

16. News Feed

17. PATH welcomes new volunteers

18. But you need to find them first…
• Craigslist
• Idealist
• VolunteerMatch
• United Way
• AllforGood
• Any others?
Always ask how they heard about you

19. And tell them what it’s about
• Mission/goals
• Level of commitment
• Not a training program
• Being responsive

20. Our Timeline
February 2010 October 2010
• Will this work? • Our first free training!
• Twitter
• Informal conversations January 2011
• Ask the recipient • Grant money
March/April 2010
• Name January 2012
• Website • Spin-off
• WordPress
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21. Getting Started
What is the need?
• Who are we serving? Only 501c3s or any community group?
• What is our service area? County? City?
• Talk to your target recipient
• Informal conversations
• Email thread
Is our idea the solution?
• Is someone already doing this?
• Is there another resource?
• Would a chapter in our location duplicate an existing service? (If that’s
a possibility, consider a partnership with a similar group.)
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22. Getting Started
Can we do this?
• Do we have the resources to run a program without a budget?
• Try it on a small scale
• Are the right people involved?
• What can go wrong?
What did we do
• Think big (statewide), start small (tri-county)
• Let it evolve
• Set flexible ground rules (ex. Number of tickets)
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23. Reach out to your existing – or a new - network
• General input
• Who will take an active role vs. offer great ideas
• Twitter
• Reach out on Twitter using the hashtag for your community to find people
with similar interests
• Create an unofficial Facebook page or group
• Send it to your network. This is a good way to determine interest in this
type of initiative.
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24. Spread the word
• E-mail list
• SCANPO
• Association for fundraising professionals
• Local community foundation
• Local United Way
• Chamber
• Social media
• Current network
• Local media
• Similar groups
• Other channels?
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25. Dear Nonprofits,
Thank you for responding to our technology survey………
Thanks to Palmettobug Digital, we have a web site up at www.scpath.org. Starting
Wednesday, the 17th, you’ll be able to submit your specific technology needs through
this site. After you submit a request, a volunteer will be able to select cases based on
what is a good match for them (location, skill level, etc).
We have a few requests for you as we get going.
Remember we are a work in progress…..
Please only submit current, defined needs once the helpdesk is up on the website…….
Please be patient! This is a volunteer run effort……
Tell us you love us! Seriously, if this is working for you as we move along, or you have
suggestions for improving the process, please let us know.
If you have any questions in the meantime, please feel free to email
PalmettoTechHub@gmail.com and someone will get back to you.
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26. Keep people informed of your progress
Sept 2010 update to nonprofits
Dear Nonprofits,
We’ve had some successes and some challenges. Help desk cases are being
closed and I’ve had some great feedback from nonprofits. However, there
have also been some that stay open for a while. Part of the problem is that
volunteers rotate in and out, and there are sometimes communication gaps
between the volunteers and nonprofits. If you have a case that’s open too
long & decide to go another route, please do close out the case. I am working
on getting an intern to help me manage this whole process to make it easier
on everyone.
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27. Stay connected with your volunteers
February 2011 update to volunteers
Training: Vicki is a new volunteer here at CCF and she is helping to coordinate
training…………………………
E-news: If you haven’t subscribed yet, you should! I’d definitely like your
feedback as we get it started because I absolutely am NOT an expert in all-
things-newsletters - http://scpath.org/newsletter-signup/.
Pizza lunch? I haven’t met many of you & would really like to. I know it’s
probably impossible for many of you to get away & come downtown during
the lunch hour. However, if you can, let me know & I’ll coordinate a time in
our conference room. It would be a casual meet-and-greet and brainstorming
session. I welcome any ideas, suggestions, comments, and constructive
criticism.
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28. Running smoothly
• Written description for leadership team
• Have a point person
• Web - Michael
• Training - Vicki
• Help desk cases - Tina
• Have a “complaint” person – Tina
• Shared email address = info@
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29. Running smoothly
• Document
• Help desk notes
• Google Voice
• Timelines
• Ex. “Every 7-10 days….”
• Collaboration tools
• Check-in – allow them to withdraw gracefully
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30. Volunteer recognition
• Have a sponsor pay for pizza in exchange for
recognition
• Offer opportunities – invite to NP training
• Thank you emails (personal)
• Showcase on website
• Bring them into your community
• Crash someone else’s event
• Promote their business
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31. Volunteer recognition
• Barter
• NP donated passes to their site in exchange for service
• Company support in exchange for logo display
• Point system
• Volunteer of the Month
• Reference letters
• Thank you note from service recipient
• Other ideas?
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32. Volunteer recognition
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33. Volunteer recognition - $
• Pizza out of pocket
• Thank you postcards
• Small tokens (keychain, mug)
• Gift cards
• Other ideas?
http://www.energizeinc.com/ideas/awards.html
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34. Volunteer recognition
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35. Volunteer (and nonprofit) recognition
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36. What we did right…
• Brainstorming sessions – email, phone, in-
person
• Being willing to shell out for minimal out-of-
pocket expenses
• Business cards (website & phone number)
• Pizza
• Asking the target audience
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37. What we did right…
• Using free tools
• Establishing a presence
• Basic website
• Social media
• Google Voice phone number
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38. What we could have done better….
• Clearly define roles
• Acknowledge birthdays
• Track time from the start
• Written signed policies
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39. What we could have done better….
• More one-to-one volunteer contact
• Getting mailing addresses from the start
• System for checking in once a month
• Asked nonprofit clients to promote us in their
materials
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40. Free Tools
• WordPress
• Community Corp
• FreeScreenSharing
• Google Docs
• Google Voice
• EventBrite
• Volunteer sites
• Facebook & Twitter (obviously)
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41. When you have no money and
can’t see your volunteers.
Tina Arnoldi
(843) 723-3635
Twitter: @TinaArnoldi
Blog: http://blog.tinaarnoldi.com
tina@coastalcommunityfoundation.org
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