VolunteerConnect Secures Funding From Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce and Janssen Pharmaceuticals

Princeton, NJ (November 21, 2013) – VolunteerConnect, the region’s only skills-based volunteer organization supporting local nonprofits, today announced it has received new funding for two mission-critical programs. VolunteerConnect’s mission is to expand the reach, impact and capacity of community organizations through effective volunteerism, thereby enriching the lives of Central New Jersey residents.

The two new grants were awarded by the Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce and Janssen Pharmaceuticals.

According to Amy Klein, Executive Director of VolunteerConnect, “These generous grants are critical to fulfilling our mission to train future nonprofit board members and expand our efforts to recruit and match qualified professionals to critical nonprofit projects.”

The Princeton Regional Chamber of Commerce Community Development Fund of the Princeton Area Community Foundation made a significant grant to VolunteerConnect to support its BoardConnect program, a pilot training course beginning in January 2014.  BoardConnect brings qualified applicants into training sessions specifically geared to participants interested in nonprofit board service and seeking additional preparation.  The pilot program will begin in January with six hours of classroom training and a final nonprofit fair to facilitate introductions to local nonprofit organizations with board vacancies.  The application for participation can be accessed through the VolunteerConnect website.

“We are very grateful that a regional business organization like PRCC has recognized the value which VolunteerConnect delivers to business, nonprofits and service-oriented individuals in central New Jersey,” added Klein. This is the first time that PRCC has made a donation to VolunteerConnect.

The second award, from Janssen Pharmaceuticals, will provide support to VolunteerConnect’s skills-based volunteer program.  VolunteerConnect seeks highly skilled professionals, through its growing database, its website and referrals, to complete short-term impact projects for nonprofits in a specified area.  Area nonprofits that have benefited from the services of a VolunteerConnect skills-based volunteer include:  The Boys and Girls Club of Trenton, Dress for Success of Mercer County, Habitat for Humanity of Trenton, Isles and many more.

“Janssen has been a longtime and generous supporter of our work in promoting skills-based volunteerism,” said Klein. Skills-based volunteers are professionals who enjoy sharing their education and experience while working, during retirement or other life transition or while at home with children.  They provide expertise in areas like communication, marketing, research and strategic planning, allowing nonprofits to continue to direct their funds to client services. 

To learn more about VolunteerConnect, its board training program and skills-based volunteer program go to www.volunteerconnectnj.org or call 609-921-8893.