At HOTC, we work to inspire, equip, and mobilize a movement of people to make a positive difference through community engagement and service. We connect people to volunteer opportunities that align with their skills and interests. We help nonprofits and community partners find, develop, and retain volunteers, and we assist companies in delivering their corporate social responsibility goals and employee engagement strategies. Our website hosts thousands of volunteer opportunities and allows individuals and teams to easily customize their search by interest area, cause, geography, and a variety of other filters. Today the opportunities database has more than 23,000 registered users who leverage our platform.

We provide educational resources to volunteers and in the last year launched our podcast “Redefining Volunteerism,” continued Bold Conversations about volunteerism and equity, and featured highlights of our partners that help contextualize the volunteer experience, along with the continued offering of 1 City, 2 Realities, the virtual reality exhibit that highlights systemic inequities here in our community.

HOTC partners with more than 800 nonprofit/community organizations through our website, programming, and nonprofit membership program. As a member, nonprofits receive promotion of their volunteer needs, training and resources to enhance volunteer programs, the ability to network with leaders in the volunteer management field, individualized support, and HOTC works as a connector for on and offsite projects with groups and corporate volunteers.

HOTC helps corporate groups strengthen communities and impact social change. We partner with more than 150 companies of all sizes to engage employees in volunteer community service based on each group’s priorities. Matching the unique community goals of local companies with our massive network of community partners, our staff finds the greatest needs in the community and then creates the highest quality volunteer experience for employees. HOTC volunteer events and programs target important community issues such as hunger and homelessness, youth development, the environment, the digital divide, and more. We coordinate planning, supplies, logistics, and provide leadership for all volunteer events. Hands-on volunteerism has gone through so much innovation during the past year as the pandemic continues to provide unique challenges for our community partners and corporate volunteers.

In 2024, HandsOn Twin Cities celebrates our 105-year anniversary as the oldest surviving volunteer center in the country. We know that volunteerism and community engagement represent a powerful force in addressing systemic inequities in our community.

In August 2021, HOTC began a partnership with Creative Catalysts to embark on a Vision to Action Roadmap to refresh our mission, vision, values, identify strategic priorities, and build an implementation plan with key measures and actions.

This process was highly collaborative and led by a core planning committee made up of HandsOn Twin Cities board and staff members. There was feedback from stakeholders that included nonprofit partners, BIPOC-led small businesses involved in our pro bono programming, corporate partners, and other community leaders, including our partners at The Woke Coach.

In the next three years, we will achieve the following strategic priorities and goals to achieve our vision:

1. Demonstrate Leadership Through Equity & Anti-Racism: Accelerate systemic change by advancing equity and anti-racism work throughout the volunteerism ecosystem.

2. Strengthen the Volunteer Experience: Increase the number of people who engage in volunteerism that is equitably beneficial and co-created.

3. Expand Partnerships & Collaborations: Increase connection and leverage collective resources.

4. Improve Effectiveness Through Internal Capacity-Building: Create and sustain the necessary infrastructure to deliver the mission and vision.

Board members are the fiduciaries who steer the organization towards a sustainable future by adopting sound, ethical, and legal governance and financial management policies, as well as by making sure we have adequate resources to advance its mission. Key responsibilities include:

• Serving as a trusted advisor to the Executive in development of a new HOTC strategic plan

• Reviewing outcomes and metrics created by HOTC for evaluating its impact, and regularly measuring its performance and effectiveness using those metrics; reviewing agenda and supporting materials prior to board and committee meetings

• Approving HOTC’s annual budget, audit reports, and material business decisions; being informed of, and meeting all, legal and fiduciary responsibilities

• Contributing to an annual performance evaluation of the Executive Director

• Assisting the Executive Director and board chair in identifying and recruiting other Board Members

• Partnering with the Executive Director and other board members to ensure that board resolutions are carried out

• Serving on committees, task forces or taking on special assignments

• Representing HOTC to stakeholders; acting as an ambassador for the organization and connecting HOTC to new partners

• Ensuring HOTC’s commitment to a diverse board and staff that reflects the communities HOTC serves

Board Members will consider HOTC a philanthropic priority and make annual gifts that reflect that priority. So that we can credibly solicit contributions from foundations, organizations, and individuals, HOTC encourages Board Members to make an annual contribution that is commensurate with their capacity to give. There is no required give/get expectation.

HOTC Board Members will serve a two-year term. Board meetings will be held six times per year (beginning in February) on the fourth Wednesday of the month remotely using Zoom or at the HandsOn Twin Cities’ location (672 Transfer Road, Saint Paul, MN 55114) from 5:30 – 7 pm. Committee meetings will be held in coordination with full board meetings. All board members will be asked to participate in quarterly From Ally To Accomplice sessions, led by The Woke Coach, consisting of two hour sessions with 2-5 hours of homework between sessions.

This is an extraordinary opportunity for an individual who is passionate about HOTC’s mission and has a track record of board leadership. Ideal candidates will have the following qualifications:

• Personal values that align with the organizational values of integrity, community, respect, inclusion, progress, and being actively anti-racist.

• A commitment to and understanding of HOTC’s partners, preferably based on experience 

• Savvy diplomatic skills and a natural affinity for cultivating relationships and persuading, convening, facilitating, and building consensus among diverse individuals 

Service on HOTC’s Board of Directors is without remuneration, except for administrative support, travel, and accommodation costs in relation to Board Members’ duties.