New online platform offers innovative way to get involved

As we enjoy the season of giving thanks and giving back, the old adage of giving your “time, talent, and treasure” still rings true. 
 
One resource we all have available to give is time, however, it can be hard for individuals to know where to start and how to connect with the causes and organizations they care about – a challenge that the United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County set their sights to solve through their new online platform, VolunteerLNK.org. 
   
The user-friendly platform which debuted in April 2024, simplifies the process of finding meaningful volunteer possibilities and is tailored to each user’s unique interests, skills and availability.  
 
“Our hope is to empower individuals to take an active role in building a stronger, more vibrant community,” said Meagan Liesveld, executive director for United Way of Lincoln and Lancaster County. “We want the community to know that the time is right to step back in if they haven’t already.”
   
Within the first several months of the platform, there were more than 750 volunteers registered to fill the nearly 90 agencies’ posted positions. Volunteer opportunities can be filled by individuals, families, church groups, companies, retirees. The site also offers options for high school and college students to get involved. 
 
Andrew Brown, assistant director of community engagement at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, shared how students can easily find upcoming volunteer opportunities and document their impact through the new platform. 
 
“VolunteerLNK has enabled students to come together with nonprofits in the Lincoln area to leverage their collective capacity and make change in our community,” said Andrew. 
 
Additionally, UNL has utilized VolunteerLNK.org to support their Engage Lincoln program which connects more than 100 students to five different nonprofits each month. The Student Leadership, Involvement, and Community Engagement team sources data from Lincoln Vital Signs to identify community needs, then uses information hosted on VolunteerLNK.org to locate nonprofit partners and connect students to their volunteer opportunities. 
 
The centralized platform also benefits the organizations with their search for volunteers. Some opportunities are for a specific day and time, while others are ongoing, such as being a tutor for Lincoln Literacy or a CASA volunteer advocate. The goal is to help volunteers and organizations find each other through commonalities. 
 
“VolunteerLNK.org is making it faster and easier than ever to connect donors to the needs and opportunities in our community,” said Michelle Paulk, LCF’s vice president of grantmaking and community outreach. “LCF is proud to support this important platform through our Open Door Grant program and we hope it inspires folks to take the next steps to get involved.” 
   
Are you looking for ways to give back and create positive change in our community? Visit VolunteerLNK.org and learn more.