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Organizing Committees

We Need YOU!

Hands on DC works because volunteers take charge. Each year an incredibly committed group of people agree to organize the work-a-thon, these brave souls comprise the executive committee, who chair the different committees. However, they can't do it alone, and that is where you come in. We need your help to recruit all the workers, scope out the schools, raise money, inform the media, get the paint and you get the idea. We need your help to do all the things that make Hands on DC a day that people will truly remember and that will benefit the children of DC. Without you there is no way we could pull this off. So PLEASE come help us get things organized!

Below are the committees and what each one does. If one of them sounds perfect for you, please let the chair of that committee know, their contact information is there, or just come by one of our organizing meetings. They are held every other Wednesday. Click here to find out when our next meeting is. If you're not sure, come by one of the meetings and we can discuss the best place for you.

Fundraising | Publicity | Recruitment | Sites

Please note that not all positions require the same time commitment and you may be able to work on more than one committee or more than one task. You don't need any special skills to become part of Hands on DC.

 

Recruitment

It takes thousands of volunteers to successfully complete the annual Hands on DC work-a-thon each spring. Members of the Recruitment Committee reach out to all sectors of the Washington-area community to sign up volunteers to participate in not only the work-a-thon, but also planning projects throughout the year.

We recruit team leaders who organize teams of volunteers for the event day, and assign those teams to individual schools and projects. We provide training to team leaders and encourage volunteers to raise scholarship funds through pledges. Contacts are made at government agencies, universities, happy hours and social events, and through community groups and local businesses. The Recruitment Committee also develops award programs for volunteers, and spearheads the "Adopt-a-School" program that allows area businesses or individuals to sponsor and work on Hands on DC projects at a specific public school.

Recruitment committee volunteer opportunities include:

  • Developing materials to inform volunteers about Hands on DC
  • Communicating with interested volunteers by phone and/or email
  • Helping to plan happy hours and other fundraising/recruiting events
  • Attending local community meetings

  • Reaching out to a variety of local groups and businesses

Timeline: The tasks of the Recruitment Committee occur throughout the year, but most activity occurs in the last half. This allows you to volunteer with other committees in the early planning months.

Time Commitment: The Recruitment Committee tasks are flexible — you can take on a little or a lot, but we ask that you be responsible for completing tasks by any deadlines, and we're here to offer any support you need.

For more information, contact:



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Sites

The Sites Committee selects the schools and projects we will work on from among the many needs in the District. Committee members visit public schools throughout the city, consult with principals and maintenance staff, and identify possible projects. Once the final schools are chosen, the Sites Committee coordinates the collection and distribution of supplies — paint, mulch, tools, etc. — and matches the skills of volunteers with projects. The committee then oversees the actual work on the day of the event.

We also coordinate with the Recruitment Committee to promote community involvement and encourage parents, teachers, and students to come out on event day to support their schools and to stay involved throughout the year. Volunteer opportunities include:

Regional Coordinators (RC) (8) - You are responsible for coordinating efforts at 4 schools.

  • Initial visits during January of ~1 hour to each school to discuss potential projects. Visits are done during the DCPS school day (6 AM - 4 PM).
  • Second visits in February to gather more detailed project information. The time commitment is ~ 2 hours at each school
  • 1/2 day of your time during the event week to accompany delivery of materials to your schools
  • Attend a few Wednesday evening meetings, including RC training in January
Site Coordinator (SC) (32) - You are responsible for overseeing workday events at one school.

  • Accompany your RC on their second visits in February to gather more detailed project information. The time commitment is ~ 2 hours one morning.
  • Attend a few Wednesday evening meetings, including SC training (for new SCs)
  • At least 1 night of volunteering at the staging area during the event week (to ensure your supplies are adequate and organized)

Special Projects Coordinator (1) - You are responsible for assessing special projects reported by the RCs and coordinating efforts to secure materials and expertise to complete them.

For more information, contact:



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Fundraising

It costs tens of thousands of dollars to buy 800 gallons of paint, 1,500 bags of mulch, and all the other supplies necessary for our work-a-thon. The Fundraising Committee secures financial and in-kind support for the event from local businesses and individual donors. That way, all pledges raised by volunteers go directly to scholarships for DC public school students. If you would like a flexible experience where you can volunteer in your spare time — the Fundraising Committee is for you.

Typical tasks:

  • Raise money - We are looking for new corporate and foundation sponsors for this year's event. Once we have a list of possible donors, we'll divide up the list so that different committee members are responsible for filling out and submitting each application for funding. Hands on DC has a standard grant proposal, so in some cases an application for funding only requires that a cover letter be added. In other cases, the application requires a bit more effort.
  • Gather in-kind donations - We are also looking for 1-2 people to help us secure door prizes for our monthly happy hours, and fundraising prizes for top pledge-raisers. Previous year's prizes have included Orioles and Washington Capitals tickets and souvenirs, gift certificates, etc.

Timeline: The tasks of the Fundraising Committee are relatively frontloaded. We should have most of our grant proposals submitted by the end of January, so fundraisers are free to volunteer with other committees in the months before the event.

Time Commitment: The Fundraising Committee tasks are flexible — you can prepare and submit grant proposals during your free time, and you can ask to take one proposal or ten. We do ask that if you agree to submit a proposal, you be responsible for completing it by the deadline, but we're here to offer any support you need.

For more information, contact:



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Publicity

From helping attract volunteers to drawing media attention to our work, the Publicity Committee keeps us in the news. The committee not only promotes Hands on DC's fundraising events and the work-a-thon, but it is engaged in the establishment of a full program to raise the awareness of the needs of DC schools and students and the role Hands on DC plays in the community.

The committee also keeps volunteers updated on our activities by helping maintain the web site, writing press releases, and creating flyers, posters, advertisements, and T-shirts. We also share the success stories of the schools and students we support and the volunteers we engage. Creative talents in graphic design, journalism, and public relations can be put to good use on the Publicity Committee, but please note that no previous experience is necessary.
Publicity committee volunteer opportunities include:

  • Developing materials to inform volunteers about Hands on DC
  • Communicating with the media and community groups
  • Helping to create printed and online materials
  • Writing press releases and articles for the website
Timeline: The tasks of the Publicity Committee occur throughout the year, but most activity occurs in the last half. This allows you to volunteer with other committees in the early planning months.

Time Commitment: The Publicity Committee tasks are flexible — you can take on a little or a lot, but we ask that you be responsible for completing tasks by any deadlines, and we're here to offer any support you need.

For more information, contact:



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