VOLUNTEER

BVU connects businesses and people to meaningful volunteer opportunities serving Northeast Ohio nonprofits.

CONNECT

BVU matches civic-minded professionals and teams with meaningful service opportunities.

Nonprofit Board Matching

Board CONNECT matches professionals to nonprofit board opportunities that align with their passions and experience.

JOIN A BOARD

Skills-Based Volunteering

Skill CONNECT pairs skills-based volunteers with the unique needs of nonprofits, facilitating pro bono connections that generate impact.

DONATE YOUR SKILLS

Direct Service Volunteering

Volunteer CONNECT provides community and corporate volunteers with opportunities to support nonprofits’ direct service needs.

GIVE YOUR TIME

EDUCATE

Which expert-led seminar or leadership development program is right for you?

Civic Leadership Summit

A morning of education, connection, and action, this annual conference covers an important opportunity or challenge facing nonprofits and those who care about them. Join us on October 24, 2024 to dive into AI for Social Impact.

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Nonprofit Leadership Advancement Program

This cohort-based professional development series provides relevant, evidence-based training for local nonprofit executives. Apply today for the 2025 cohort!

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Nonprofit Seminars

From fundraising to succession planning, BVU’s seminars empower nonprofit leaders to take action and maximize impact.

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Role of the Board

BVU’s flagship training prepares nonprofit board members of all experience levels for meaningful, effective board service.

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Resource Center

Check out our online hub of resources for helpful articles, sample documents, nonprofit job postings, and more!

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CONSULT

Our areas of expertise span nonprofit governance, corporate community engagement, and more.

Nonprofit Consulting

Does your organization need an experienced outside observer to facilitate change? BVU’s team provides quality, practical consulting that meets the unique needs of each organization.

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Business Consulting

Does your company’s community engagement plan need a tune-up? Let’s work together to deliver results that positively impact both your employees and your community.

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Our Impact

Thank you for helping facilitate bringing us such amazing board candidates. A quarter of our board is made up of BVU alum including our current board president, our treasurer and chair of our operations committee.
Gregory Willey
Executive Director, Friendship Animal Protective League
Like many nonprofit agencies, Achievement Centers for Children had an urgent need to launch new strategies to attract and retain a high performing workforce. We hit a home run when we secured a BVU Fellow to help us design and implement best practices in employee compensation. This work contributed to our ability to serve 20% more clients this year compared to last year. Thank you, BVU!
Bernadette Kerrigan
President & CEO, Achievement Centers for Children
Getting involved with nonprofits and on boards is a passion area of mine. I worked for BVU for a few years and loved it. It was such a great way to get to know Cleveland and how different nonprofits operate. After leaving, I stayed involved in the community by serving on boards and as a volunteer, which has been a really incredible experience. You learn so much through other organizations, through solving different kinds of problems, and you get to meet so many people – nonprofits in the end are really the ones driving our community forward.
Azadeh Hardiman
Business Leader, Level20, Progressive
Thank you for your ongoing support! It has made a huge difference to me as a new CEO. What you have provided has significantly shaped my relationship with my board and their ability to be intentional in their work. It’s a journey and we are travelling in a great direction. BVU is making a difference.
Kirsti Mouncey
President & CEO, Collaborative to End Human Trafficking
BVU’s programming is always timely and relevant to the needs of nonprofit professionals. Their network of experts is unparalleled and the events themselves are well organized, providing important opportunities for participants to network with their peers.
Anne Schaum
Manufacturing Works
BVU has always added so much to all of the boards I’ve been involved with. You all care so much and make such a difference. I hold your organization in the highest regard. We are so lucky to have BVU here in Cleveland!
Anonymous
BVU has been an integral component of Food Strong's growth. We now have 4 rockstar board members who were connected to us by BVU. The trainings and consultations we receive through this incredible organization have assisted us tremendously. Being a part of BVU is a no-brainer for any organization that seeks to grow and develop capacity.
Sara Continenza
Food Strong
BVU has been a foundational partner with Providence House for 30 years. We have partnered to match 53 Board Directors, enhanced our nonprofit expertise through every BVU program offered, and advanced our staff through hundreds of BVU led training opportunities. BVU is the vital link to help nonprofits build successful mission-driven businesses.
Natalie A. Leek
President & CEO, Providence House
Gathering to volunteer with my team really helped remind us of what’s important, strengthened connections between staff members, and left us all feeling inspired. It was amazing to meet and support passionate people who make the world a better place. Lots of us are going to go back and continue to volunteer.
Bill Priemer
President and CEO, Hyland
I'm deeply grateful for the support of BVU along this journey. You have been an invaluable resource in connecting me with an organization that matches my interests and requires my skills. The process was easy, quick, and resulted in a board match within 90 days. I took advantage of an opportunity to attend the board training with BVU this fall and it helped me prepare for this experience even more. I also appreciated the networking at the event! Thank you and your team for the work you do for our community.
Dawn Williams
Board Matching Participant

How Can We Help?