The New Faces of Philanthropy

December 2007 Issue

From a giving circle to an online information center,
these Clevelanders are giving back.

Katie Corrigan

Hands On Northeast Ohio

When the international organization Hands On Network performed a needs assessment in the Greater Cleveland area, it found an interesting parallel, says Jeff Griffiths, executive director of Hands On Northeast Ohio.

“Nonprofits, schools and municipal agencies felt the need for trained, oriented volunteers,” Griffiths says. “And the individuals and families who wanted to volunteer didn’t know how.”

So Hands On Northeast Ohio connects trained, background-checked volunteers with local organizations and civic education programs.

Initial grant funding spawned Ohio’s first Hands On affiliate in Northeast Ohio and is allowing it to take the necessary steps to become a 501(c)(3) nonprofit. But in order to flourish in Cleveland’s nonprofit sector, the organization needed additional financial support. In May, the Civic Innovation Lab awarded $30,000 to Hands On Northeast Ohio. And in July, the organization launched its first formal nonprofit partnerships.

Hands On Northeast Ohio partners with local organizations for 10 to 15 projects per month that focus on critical issue areas such as the environment, senior services and children’s education and development. All projects occur regularly, allowing busy professionals to choose causes that fit into their time and interests.

“You’re a part of something with like-minded folks,” Griffiths explains. “When you start to foster relationships with the people you work with, Cleveland and Cuyahoga County become much smaller. Getting to know the city intimately deepens connections to Cleveland and produces tangible benefits to the community.” Griffiths says the number of projects per month will grow with more volunteers, a figure already surpassing 100.

By promoting existing programs and encouraging new service ventures, Hands On Northeast Ohio hopes to become the hub for volunteerism in Cleveland. Griffiths says the next step is to look for family-friendly and youth-oriented projects to expand the capacity of what they do. “We exist because there is a great need for volunteerism in our community,” says Griffiths. “We can be a catalyst of change. We’re here to do it right.”

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