Are you interested in having local volunteers complete a project for your organization through Day of Caring? Day of Caring is an incredible event United Way of Greater Charlottesville hosts every September that engages thousands of volunteers and community members throughout our region. We would love to have you be a part of the $5.5 million in service volunteers have donated to local organizations through this event!
Check out these FAQs to learn more about what it means to be a Project Host! Have a question that we didn’t cover here? Be sure to check out the Day of Caring page, or reach out to Markiana Smith at msmith@unitedwaycville.org.
Who can submit a project?
Nonprofits, schools, childcare facilities, churches, and other eligible 501(c)(3) organizations in Charlottesville and surrounding counties can submit projects through the United Way. Our scope includes the City of Charlottesville and the counties of Albemarle, Fluvanna, Greene, Louisa, Nelson and Orange.
We have volunteers participate from all over our area who may be interested in volunteering at a project closer to them (as opposed to the City), so we strongly encourage you to submit a project even if your organization is in a surrounding county!
How do I submit a project?
You will need to create an agency page account on Cville Volunteer for your organization to submit a project, then complete the appropriate Project Submission Form. The forms go live mid-May, and will be linked here and throughout our website once they are available. Check out this year’s Day of Caring event page for specific dates and deadlines!
If you need more guidance, please reach out so we can get you started on next steps. You can also refer to the Day of Caring Project Manual for more specific guidelines and considerations.
Please note, to be included as a Day of Caring project, it must be registered through United Way of Greater Charlottesville, not directly with volunteers.
What is the deadline for submitting a project?
Project submission deadlines will be announced closer to the event, but it is usually in the first week of August. Early submission is encouraged to ensure volunteer placement. Check out this year’s Day of Caring event page for all of the specific dates and deadlines!
What types of projects can be a part of Day of Caring?
Volunteer projects tend to fall within a few different categories such as Health & Human Services, Youth & Education, and Environmental Protection. There is a wide range of what these may entail, such as:
- Painting & beautification
- Landscaping & gardening
- Organizing donations
- Office work & administrative tasks
- Hands-on construction or repair work
- Inside or outside building clean-up
- Writing thank you cards to donors or clients
- Preparing care packages
- Client-facing interactions (serving food, playing, reading, teaching, etc.)
- Virtual program training
If you have an idea that falls outside these categories, please reach out to discuss the feasibility of the idea. We want to work together to create an opportunity for volunteers to help your organization!
What is the timeframe I should consider for volunteers to be at my project?
We advise Project Hosts to submit projects that would take an average of 2 to 4 hours to complete by a group of volunteers.
I have multiple projects I’d like volunteers to help with. Can I submit more than one?
Yes, Project Hosts can host multiple volunteer projects! We simply ask that you submit each project separately via the Project Submission Form.
How are volunteers matched with projects? What if my project requires specific skills?
Volunteer Team Leaders will select projects from a list provided by United Way in August. Matches are made based on team size, skills, and project needs. Because volunteer teams pick their projects, there is always a chance your project may not be chosen, especially if it requires specific skills and/or materials. If any of these apply to a project you are considering hosting, please reach out to us so we can create the best strategy to get your project completed!
If your project does still go unmatched on Day of Caring, we will continue to promote your project to the general public and host it on Cville Volunteer following the event if you are still interested.
Do we need to provide supplies, materials, and tools for volunteers to complete our project?
Project Hosts must supply any necessary supplies to complete their project. This may include paint, cleaning supplies, landscaping tools, gardening materials, or whatever your project requires. You do not need to provide food for the volunteers, although we encourage you to have water readily available, especially for outdoor, labor-intensive projects.
What if my organization cannot provide the necessary tools and supplies needed to complete our project?
Project Hosts can request that volunteers bring the supplies and tools their project may need if they cannot supply the items themselves. However, please note that this may lead to your project not being selected by volunteers. Project Hosts are responsible for noting any required tools or supplies in their project submission.
Please communicate any needs for supplies to our team at United Way so we can explore more options together!
What happens if there is bad weather on Day of Caring and my project is outdoor?
There is NO rain date for Day of Caring, so we strongly encourage project hosts to have a backup plan if possible. If there is no backup plan to complete your project, you are welcome to independently coordinate a rescheduled date with your Volunteer Teams!
I am interested in having volunteer help, but don’t need the project to happen onsite. Can I host a remote/virtual project?
Yes! We encourage both remote and virtual projects to be submitted! These can include virtual trainings on programs for your clients/staff, assembling care/hygiene packs, assembling/dropping off donated goods, and more. If you have an idea for a project that could be done remotely or virtually, please reach out to us so we can work together to bring it to life!
Are there any info sessions I can attend to learn more about hosting a Day of Caring project?
We will also be hosting a virtual Open House info session for organizations interested in hosting a Day of Caring project on Tuesday, June 17 at 3pm via Zoom. RSVP for the info session here!
I am interested in hosting a Day of Caring project, but my organization also needs support throughout the year. Can you help with that?
Yes! We’ve seen incredible instances of Project Hosts and their Volunteer Teams connecting at Day of Caring and continuing their relationship via future volunteer projects and programs. Hosting a Day of Caring project is a great way for 2,000+ local volunteers and community members to learn about your organization and what you do. Plus, research shows there is a clear link between volunteering and future charitable giving. We want you to use Day of Caring as a platform to not only get your project done, but to also increase awareness about your work through our network!
We also host additional volunteer opportunities throughout the year, such as the MLK Days of Service every January and Family Volunteer Weekend every April. We encourage your organization to reach out about being a part of these events!
Finally, you can reach out to us year-round about including volunteer projects on Cville Volunteer as well.
Who should I contact with additional questions?
For more information, contact Markiana Smith at msmith@unitedwaycville.org or (434) 972-1702. We look forward to working with you to get your project(s) completed at Day of Caring!