For many of us, change is not something that we run to with open arms. Shifting jobs or careers, in particular, can come with a host of anxiety-inducing unknowns: What if I invest in a new career path but end up disliking it? Do I really want to leave the stability of my current job? I know I want to try something new — but what? The stress associated with stepping into uncharted territory causes many of us to stay comfortable — though potentially unfulfilled — rather than stretch in new directions.
Enter WomenOnCall, which functions as a bridge between women looking to volunteer and the nonprofits in need of their services. Started in 2006 through the hard work and vision of Chicago philanthropist Margot Pritzker, WomenOnCall was created to connect nonprofits with women looking to take on new volunteer opportunities. Their online database has over 1,200 registered nonprofits and 3,000 volunteers all across the country, making it possible for women to donate their time in-person or virtually.
A nonprofit looking for legal input can connect to a volunteer attorney looking for pro bono work, for example. Ciara Medina, a filmmaker from Chicago, first heard of WomenOnCall in 2014 and has had three successful matches since then.
“Redirecting your focus from what you can do for yourself to what you can do for others is a great way to begin redefining your life journey and its significance.” Medina says. And therein lies the secondary benefit of volunteering: Giving back is good for the giver, too. Those seeking exposure to a new field or to dip their toes in a new line of work would be well advised to volunteer first and see where it leads.
“Volunteering is a win-win: [you are] helping to support worthy causes and also getting exposure to new ideas, organizations and people,” Amy Khokhar, a WomenOnCall virtual volunteer from Des Moines, Iowa, says. “Volunteering is one of the best — and least risky — ways to explore career options, no matter where you’re at in your life.”
In fact, it was volunteering that led Pritzker to start WomenOnCall.
“Volunteering was a meaningful addition to a work-life balance,” she says. “Those experiences helped me realize that Boards representing nonprofit organizations often have limited resources and do not use or access the skills of volunteers in efficient and productive enough ways.” This is where the idea for WomenOnCall began 10 years ago.
Pritzker explains that when WomenOnCall started, the promise was to connect women with volunteer opportunities requiring an hour of their time.
“Throughout the years, we’ve expanded that model to include projects that require 10 hours of time or less,” she says. “Which better meets our nonprofits’ needs while still fitting into a woman’s busy schedule.”
One of WomenOnCall’s signature offerings is their annual Meet & Match event. The Meet & Match is set up like a speed-dating program — connecting volunteers with the nonprofits who need them in order to create a “match.”
This year will mark the 10th anniversary of WomenOnCall’s Meet & Match events. The upcoming, sold-out event on February 23 at the Chase Tower has attracted over 60 nonprofits and 350 volunteers from a variety of backgrounds.
Each Meet & Match features a guest speaker who “exemplifies service,” in the words of Pritzker. This year that person is former Secretary of State Madeleine Albright. Pritzker “knew that our members, both nonprofits and volunteers, would value learning from her personal story, her commitment to service and her pioneering spirit.” Not to mention, Pritzker says, Albright thinks “there is a special place in Hell for women who don’t help other women.”
In the end, Pritzker advises interested volunteers to “get involved.”
“I have always found that volunteering in some capacity helped my path to become a bit clearer – whether it was by pinpointing my strengths, expanding my network or providing the inspiration I needed,” she says. “Find a volunteer opportunity that excites you and then give it your all.”
“At WomenOnCall, we always have a number of projects available at any given time. If you don’t find something on our site that meets your needs, simply reach out, and WomenOnCall will help you find a project that sparks your interest.”
Medina advises interested parties to keep an open heart and mind when it comes to exploring volunteer possibilities through WomenOnCall.
“You may make a volunteer match right away or it may take several months,” she says. “But the simple act of showing up or posting a profile is the first step towards a wonderful experience that can help change your life.”
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