Business Volunteers Unlimited

{These are people who saw a need and genuinely wanted to meet it — people who really felt empathy for my situation. You don't feel that all the time.

{Thank you so much for putting on an amazing Stand Down! Y'all did an amazing job of prep, organization with the city, and community outreach to businesses partners to make this event possible. It was a great opportunity to give back to the community. I truly enjoyed participating and look forward to volunteering again.

{This was the most well-run event I have attended. You were able to touch so many lives with the help of the best group of dedicated volunteers. I am already looking forward to next year!

{The event and communication beforehand were very well organized! While it is heart-wrenching that there is a need for this event, it restores one's faith in humanity to see so many folks volunteer their time and skills to this effort.

{I was very inspired by the commitment and positive contribution that everyone showed at BVU. As a distribution supporter, I got to meet new people who share my passion for giving back to the community. It was a great experience and I look forward to volunteering again!

{I attended the Role of the Board session and was energized by the stories of fulfilling board experiences the panelists shared. I’m excited for the opportunity to share my experience to support a nonprofit organization!

{We've now sent three of our employees to this wonderful program and all have come back with rave reviews. Thank you for the work you do for our area's nonprofit organizations!

{Thank you SO MUCH for such an incredible learning experience. The Nonprofit Leadership Advancement Program was by far the best high-level leadership program I have attended! I walked away with new nonprofit community contacts, a wealth of knowledge on emotional intelligence and strategic thinking, and sound ideas to implement into our Foundation. Thank you!  

{First, and foremost, a huge THANK YOU! I personally thought the day was exceptional - great discussion, great ideas, openness, honesty, and active participation. I really was very pleased with the entire day and its outcomes. And much of that is thanks to your leadership and expertise! We definitely chose the right facilitator for this effort, and I want to extend a very genuine and heartfelt thank you for your hard work! I had several calls the weekend afterward from board members who spoke very positively about the day and very highly about BVU and your team's facilitation skills. It was definitely time well spent - thank you!

{The BVU staff really took into consideration my interests and goals for joining a board. The matching suggestions were intentional, thoughtful and exciting. When reviewing the options, they took time to discuss each organization and how it related to my objectives. Such a great experience!

{The MPI provided me with the confidence, knowledge, and structure to understand my role as a potential board member and facilitated the connection to do so. This is such an impactful program both for potential board members and for nonprofits. I will be encouraging others to participate. The process was easy to follow, well organized, and I appreciated the responsive communication and follow up. The role of the board training was also excellent. Thank you for making this program available!

{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.

{Thank you for your time and help in connecting me with a skills-based volunteer through Ask the Expert. WOW—what a great session. It means so much to have FREE resources available for nonprofits. Thank you for helping us so we can continue doing good in NEO!

{Dr. Velvet was a phenomenal facilitator. It is not easy to keep a room's attention for a full day (and with such a large volume of information), but she did it with honesty and authenticity. Thoroughly enjoyed the whole presentation and looking forward to the next session!

{The session today was wonderful. Interactive, insightful, informative, helpful and actionable.

{Our BVU fellow has been instrumental in helping to bring structure to the organization's Board of Directors. She has created standard procedures for board communication, file storage and sharing, training for new board officers, and has supported the creation of the board committees and officers. In just one day, she helped us form committees, including the chairs, meeting dates, and priorities to work on moving forward. For board officers, she was the repository for nominations, held conversations with the nominated individuals to gauge interest in the positions, created the ballot and ran the election successfully. The end result was our newly elected 4 officers. We absolutely would recommend a BVU fellow to other nonprofits. Small organizations may not have the human capital or expertise to address areas of growth, so the breadth of knowledge a fellow brings to the organization to help build processes and support successful operations is invaluable.

{I thought it was a fantastic event. Really enjoyed being a part of something that impacts so many local people. Thank you for doing this!

{I loved how organized this event was. The instructions were clear. The DJ-style music, fun vibe, and exciting announcements made for a great time. I made new friends. What more could a volunteer want?

{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.

{We are so much better as a board as a result of the work BVU did, and the supporting materials they provided were a great follow-up for our board.

{BVU is like college for preparing to be a good board member.

{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!

{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!

{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.

{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.

{We are thrilled to be working with our Fellow! In the short time we have been working together, it is clear that his background, knowledge and experience will be transformative. The insightful work he is doing on our finance project is laying the foundation for strategic improvements in our processes as well as providing a tremendous opportunity for our staff to learn and benefit from his expertise. We look forward to continuing to be part of this amazing program!

{On behalf of Intergenerational Schools, we want to thank you for connecting us with the BVU Fellows Program! As a community of lifelong learners, the opportunity to tap into this program not only aligns with our mission but has provided us with access to an invaluable resource of highly qualified and skilled individuals. The caliber of the people you referred to us was impressive, both their credentials with the enthusiasm and willingness they bring to taking a deep interest in the needs and challenges of our schools.

{BVU's webinars and trainings not only support ongoing growth and learning, but are thoughtfully designed with experts in the field. What a great resource to have in our community.

{BVU's Nonprofit Leadership Advancement Program was genuinely the best professional development program I've been involved in. No exaggeration, almost every tool I picked up during this program was implemented nearly immediately. It was like my brain was being rewired in real time. NLAP afforded me the opportunity to look inward and develop a clear picture not only of who I am as a leader today, but the kind of leader I can be tomorrow.

{Each speaker on their own would have been enough, however the story and information they told and the order in which they shared their expertise took the morning to another level.

{It was a lovely event. It gave me hope that I can be a good leader and that I'm not alone in the way I feel.

{Fantastic mix of corporate, education, and nonprofit focus, plus a great storyline that let the presentations build on each other. Kudos to BVU for inviting them to speak! Came on a whim because I know and trust the staff, stayed because the speakers and showflow were exceptional.

{The speakers were engaging and motivating! I highly enjoyed myself and already bought 2 books that were recommended.

{I cannot thank you enough for inviting me. I have been to probably hundreds of events over the years and this was the best one. My colleagues and I have attended multiple events together and we all felt the same way. I also heard that from others at our table. There isn’t a leader or team member who didn’t need today's event. I could go on and on. THANK YOU!

{It is not often that I attend events where all the speakers are as amazing as these three were. This was time well spent and helped rejuvenate me. The nonprofit environment right now is stressful, and this event gave me an opportunity to refocus on myself and becoming the best leader I can be.

{I appreciated the subject matter expertise each speaker brought to their topics, and that everything was timely and we stayed on schedule which made for a jam-packed agenda, but nothing was rushed, skipped or missed due to poor time. Great event overall! Excellent job, BVU team!

{FANTASTIC and inspirational speakers. So relevant to our everyday. 5 out of 5 stars! We are so lucky to have BVU here in Cleveland.

{We got connected to the Cohen Cares team through BVU. The group supported grounds work, assembled picnic tables, reorganized admin spaces, made kits for homeless seniors and much more. This team’s efforts made for an impactful day of team building. We’re so happy to share our mission with these corporate volunteers and appreciate the effort and time the group put into our work.

{Business Volunteers Unlimited has been an incredible resource for our nonprofit organization. Through their team’s coordination, Lake Erie Nature & Science Center has welcomed several corporate volunteer groups to maintain outdoor areas and assist with special projects this summer. Thank you to BVU for connecting us with passionate individuals and helping the Center share our mission.

{I would absolutely recommend the BVU board matching process to any nonprofit organization that is looking for board members. The process was very simple and the BVU staff were great to work with. The end result for VANTAGE Aging is that we have another committed and motivated board member who is already contributing to helping us further our mission. Thank you, BVU, for facilitating the connection!

{I have been with my organization for 34 years and this was one of the best presentations on volunteers and board governance that I have ever attended. I appreciated the refreshing and concise approach and am looking forward to the next training!

{My sincerest thanks on behalf of the team for the opportunity to come out and work with at the Old Brooklyn Community Garden. It was great to be able to step away from the normal day-to-day work stuff, and spend some time bonding as a team and with the community. And in the process, we discovered an absolute gem of a place that very few of us even knew existed! Thank you to BVU for making the connection. We hope to get out and volunteer at the garden again in the near future.

{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.

{BVU gave me the opportunity to be matched to an amazing nonprofit board early in my career. They gave me all the tools I needed for success, walked through the matching process with me step by step, and followed up to make sure it was successful. I recommend BVU to professionals in my network looking to get involved.

{Best strategic planning session we have ever done. BVU was spot on. They love their work and it shows. I was hesitant to do a strategic plan over Zoom, but they made the virtual format comfortable and efficient.

{I thought the Homeless Stand Down was great and I’m so glad I was able to be a part of it.  Kudos to BVU and your staff for the fantastic work on this event. It was a great way to give back to the community. I appreciate the opportunity to have been able to be there and see it for myself.

{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.

{BVU has typically organized a volunteer project for us every year, but 2021 was different. After nearly two years of the pandemic and remote work, we were anxious to do something in which all our partners could participate outdoors. BVU coordinated a Lake Shore clean-up project at Edgewater and Bonnie Park for our team. It was a delightful day of camaraderie and community. This afternoon of engagement with colleagues helped our team transition during our return to office. It reminded us that we are at our best when helping others – which is part of our client service commitment at Northern Trust.

{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.

{Cleveland has a lot of nonprofits. There are people out there doing the good work, and they need support. Our business started with assistance from mentors and friends, and now is the time to give back. Volunteering connects us to amazing causes and can teach us so much.

{BVU is the great facilitator. If a company has an interest in using their skills to volunteer, BVU is the institution that knows the nonprofits doing the work.

{For the past few years, we have been doing the best that we can, but I feel like someone has sent in the rescue team since partnering with BVU. Their nonprofit consultants helped us break down and prioritize our needs versus just running on the wheel.

{We worked with BVU to establish a few advisory boards at Cleveland Metropolitan School District Schools… I found myself going to BVU in terms of helping us set up the structure and the framework for these boards. They’ve done it in the past, they continuously do it, and they bring a high-level of professionalism to the initiative.

{I think nonprofit leaders should participate in this program because the courses give you context, clarification, insight, suggestions, resources, ideas, and tons of tools so you can maximize your role in your organization and plan a way forward.

{[NLAP] was the single most valuable training I’ve received in my career, across both the nonprofit and corporate sectors. The content was highly relevant and practical, the caliber of the facilitators was excellent, and the benefit of participating in recurring sessions with other talented and thoughtful participants allowed us to effectively digest the information and apply it to ourselves and our organizations. I would highly recommend this course for anyone who is in a leadership role, or who desires to advance to leadership.

{NLAP has been amazing. So many times you go to something like this and only take away 20% of it…I’ve been implementing many things they’ve shared since Day One.

{Through NLAP, I gained a greater awareness of my leadership strengths and areas of development. I’ve learned the importance of asking the right questions rather than giving the answers.

{BVU makes it easy for small nonprofits, like RePlay for Kids, to reach volunteers. Their services of coordinating team events and connecting us to local business is invaluable and allows our small staff to focus on our mission of increasing the availability of adapted toys to kids in need.

{Every year we do a Done-in-a-Day volunteer project called Fields for the Future. This is a project where our employees volunteer their time to renovate and beautify a baseball field in the City of Cleveland. BVU does a lot of behind-the-scenes work for us to set it up so that when we go out there that day, it’s really easy for people to engage and just get into the work and have a great day.

{Community outreach has become a large focal point for our team here at OverDrive. Partnering with BVU was one of the best decisions we made this year for OverDrive, our team and the community. It has ignited our desire to give back and has helped us do it with success and impact.

{BVU's Skill CONNECT program has allowed us to work with someone of exceptional quality at an amount that we can afford. It has been so valuable to be able to focus on high-priority projects that we normally wouldn't have the professional resources to complete.

{The event was great. I cannot stop talking about all of the information and tips I received from it. The opportunities you provide to nonprofit organizations through Skill CONNECT are invaluable. Thank you so much for the knowledge I have gained through BVU’s skilled-based volunteers!

{Programs like the Minority Pipeline Initiative are how we initiate change in our communities. Thanks for all that BVU does to keep our nonprofit community thriving.

{The first session "Neuroscience, Emotional Intelligence & Nonprofit Leadership" was so informative and, in the modern landscape, so critical. Looking forward to session 2!

{It was so uplifting to be a part of such a welcoming atmosphere and to see so many guests receiving the care and attention they needed and deserved. I met so many new people, learned lots of stories, and made new friends along the way. I am so grateful to have been a part of it and can't wait to participate again next year. Thank you, BVU!

{This was a life-changing experience for me. BVU coordinated such an amazing event. I was nervous, at first, to be a personal shopper, but within minutes it turned into one of the most satisfying days of my life.

{I volunteered for the full day. The leadership did a great job communicating our responsibilities and were quick to make adjustments and changes as needed. I enjoyed being part of this worthwhile and needed event for my 4th year. Thank you for all you do!

{BVU did an amazing job coordinating all the wonderful volunteers for McGregor’s Carnival Day. The Medical Mutual team spent meaningful time with residents, helping to enhance their quality of life and improving their mental, physical, and psychological well-being.  The staff and residents at McGregor are happy to partner with BVU.

{Thank you for hosting this event. The presenter offered a refreshing approach that anyone can understand. From evergreen content to new tech, I can't wait to implement some of the lessons learned at this training within my organization.

{I’m writing to thank you — working with our Skill CONNECT volunteer has been such a gift for our organization. Literary Cleveland is stronger because of Judy’s smart mind and hard work. We are incredibly grateful to her and BVU for this program.

{BVU matched us with the perfect financial expert who catapulted our capacity, increased our financial skillset, and widened our organizational bandwidth. We are stronger and more ready to uplift Cleveland’s youth.

{I was thinking small when at a recent “Ask the Expert” event, I was told to think and behave like IBM. This sentence, supported by tactical advice from an expert in finance and Quickbooks, made things become suddenly very clear to me. I was grateful to connect with someone who could talk to me on my level about a very specific financial situation we were dealing with.

{The volunteer assignment through BVU was only to be a few months, but I [stayed] for over 13 years at Breakthrough Schools. It has been a great experience. Who knows – I may want to try out new volunteer opportunities in the future.

{This is an awesome resource! Within a span of 60 minutes, [the skills-based volunteer] assessed my organization's situation, explained the options we could consider, helped me put an action plan in place, and answered ALL of my questions.

{I didn’t know what I had to give until I did the first Skill CONNECT program. I’m always excited at the end of these “Ask the Expert” sessions. The nonprofits are so grateful and thankful. Nonprofit leaders are great at leading their organizations, so being able to help these professionals improve in areas where they don’t have expertise is so rewarding. When you work in a specific field every day, you almost forget that what you have IS a valuable asset to others without that skillset.