Throw 80 or so tech professionals in a room for a full weekend, include nonprofit organizations seeking help with websites and other technical issues, add in unlimited food and beverages, and what do you get?
You get a whole lot done, that’s what.
Grand Rapids GiveCamp is a weekend-long event that pairs volunteer technology professionals with nonprofit organizations seeking technical solutions. Together, over the course of an active weekend, they strategize, design, develop and code, producing impressive results in a short amount of time.
Now in its fourth year, GiveCamp takes place October 26-28 in The Factory, the collaborative workspace at 38 West Fulton Street. Organizers for this year’s event are currently seeking volunteers, nonprofit organizations and sponsors. The deadline for nonprofits to apply is September 1.
During GiveCamp weekend, teams of five or six individuals with a variety of skills work together with a nonprofit organization to create a dynamic, content management system driven website, upgrade an old site, consult on social media and marketing strategies, offer database assistance or provide other technical solutions as requested.
If the nonprofit organizations had to pay for these services, the estimated cost would be between $10,000 and $30,000 per project.
Co-directing the event this year are J. Tower, a software consultant with Falafel Software, and Ross Hunter, a software craftsman with Mutually Human.
“Nonprofits have tight budgets and technology is a very expensive thing to pay for,” says Tower, explaining the reason for the event. “There are so many amazing nonprofits in West Michigan. We often give them money, but there’s a huge difference between spending dollars and spending your time. Getting to know the people is so much more meaningful.”
After the September 1 deadline, organizers select which of the nonprofit projects to work on in October. Projects are selected based on what will have the most impact for the organization and the community, and what can realistically be accomplished in a weekend with the number of anticipated volunteers.
“We want to make sure the projects are successful,” Tower says.
He admits it’s difficult to predict how many volunteers will show up, so they try to be conservative with commitments. Organizations are sometimes placed on a waiting list until more people volunteer for the event.
In 2011, 43 nonprofits applied and 13 projects were selected. Volunteers worked with organizations such as the American Red Cross, the Literacy Center of West Michigan, Garfield Park Neighborhood Association and Catherine’s Health Center, to name a few.
Catherine’s Health Center Development Director Janet Zahn had a great experience with the volunteers and “can’t say enough good about GiveCamp.”
“In the course of a weekend, they built us a whole new website,” she says.
Volunteers converted the old, static Catherine’s Health Care website into a re-designed interactive site by adding new features such as online forms and a way to donate. Zahn says her organization has applied for help again this year as they hope to optimize their website for mobile devices and streamline the home page a bit.
Once a GiveCamp project is selected, a volunteer project liaison will connect with the organization to determine exactly what needs to be done and set goals and expectations. Teams are then set up based on skills matching the project.
As much planning as possible is done ahead of the October weekend so the teams don’t have to waste time on Friday night getting into groups or asking questions.
Jonathan Pichot, a web developer with Rapid Development Group, has volunteered in the past and will donate his skills again this year. He says the Friday that GiveCamp starts is the most exciting and many people work late into the night.
“Sometimes we can be a little ambitious at first,” he admits. “Sunday is usually the most stressful day because you’re finishing details and realizing that you were too ambitious on Friday.”
Volunteers are needed for just about everything, from project management to programming, database administration, design, marketing, writing, running errands, helping with clean up and more. People can volunteer for any amount of time they wish throughout the weekend as well.
Sponsors and donations are also needed for meals, snacks, swag, parking spaces and general operating expenses for the event.
GiveCamp offers a rewarding way for technical professionals to give back to the nonprofit organizations in our community. Here are some ways to get involved:
- Visit
Grand Rapids GiveCamp online to find out more about the event.
- Fill out an application for your
nonprofit organization.
-
Volunteer your skills for the weekend.
-
Become a sponsor of the event or donate goods and services such as food, parking spaces and more.
- Like Grand Rapids GiveCamp on
Facebook.
- Follow
@GRGiveCamp on Twitter.
Sources: J. Tower, Co-Director of the 2012 Grand Rapids GiveCamp event and Jonathan Pichot, Grand Rapids GiveCamp volunteer
Writer: Heidi Stukkie, Do Good Editor
Photographs taken by Adam Bird.