Deena Carstens Munn: Nonprofit organizations help each other in countless and meaningful ways

The Houston community is home to thousands of nonprofit charities, each with its own unique mission. More and more, we learn about new nonprofits that are in the business of helping other nonprofits. Many offer money, volunteers, low-cost consulting and business-savvy support, shaping the way nonprofits grow and do business.
 
Social Venture Partners
Social Venture Partners, which is forming a Houston chapter, is a network of partners whom pool their funds and make multi-year, unrestricted gifts to carefully vetted nonprofit investees with proven potential for social change.
Partners also contribute their business and professional expertise to the nonprofits, all with the goal of strengthening the nonprofit and increasing its impact. Central to this work is the opportunity for partners to learn about strategic philanthropy so they can make the greatest impact possible with their time, talent and financial investment.
 
Houston Community ToolBank
An affiliate of ToolBank USA, the Houston Community ToolBank offers drills, power saws, generators, hammers, wrenches, tape measures, rakes, shovels, gloves and other work tools to the nonprofit community.
ToolBank’s mission is to steward an inventory of tools to lend to charitable organizations to increase the impact of their mission-related efforts in the community.
To view their vast inventory, visit
www.houston.toolbank.org.
 
Magpies & Peacocks
This organization recently joined the nonprofit scene with its efforts to collect and repurpose donated fashion accessories for a new retail market. It is a collection of fashion-savvy individuals who want to put upcycled luxury accessories back on the catwalk and showcase the skills of their up-and-coming local designers.
By harvesting formerly fabulous things and breathing new life into them, they create new collections with fresh perspectives. They generate money for good causes in Houston and provide quality materials to fuel the imaginations of young designers. They support several charities in the Houston area, which are selected by a committee.
To learn more, visit
www.magpiesandpeacocks.org.
 
Many established nonprofit charities continue to offer critical resources for growing organizations by providing training, consulting and volunteers.
 
The Executive Service Corps of Houston was created in 1984 to enable the local nonprofit community to tap into the abundant talent and experience of our area’s retired corporate executives. With nearly 60 consultants, they offer 6,000 volunteer hours to over 400 client nonprofits annually.
 
Volunteer Houston has been the city’s sole referral service connecting volunteers to a broad spectrum of diverse nonprofit organizations for 40 years. Nonprofit organizations all around Houston and its vicinity rely on the organization to acquire more than 32,000 volunteers per year.
 
Nonprofit charities always need great leadership and there are many ways professionals in our community can support them. Whether one wishes to fulfill a board commitment, become an advocate or offer pro bono services, it’s important to align skills, knowledge and passion for a lasting fit and commitment.
 
Take time to research and explore organizations, volunteer and see how you may be able to help a local charity in a meaningful way. ●