In 2020, United Way partnered with the Chancellor’s office to bring the ECL @ Illinois to University of Illinois employees. Faculty and staff applied to participate in a program that mirrored the community-based ECL and worked with other campus entities through seminars and group projects. Unfortunately, that cohort’s schedule was interrupted with COVID-19 and participants were invited to return to the program in 2021.
The 2021 cohort completed the program with minimal restrictions and learned a great deal on how to be active volunteers in their community.
Some of the key topics:
Nonprofit Basics
How to be an effective Board/Committee member
Fundraising for Impact
Finding your best volunteer fit
Additionally, small group projects gave participants an opportunity to promote public engagement amongst their colleagues and the broader campus. Projects consisted of:
Designing a questionnaire to investigate university employees’ knowledge of and attitudes towards volunteer opportunities within the community
ECL @ Illinois meets once a month at Beckman Institute and lunch is provided. Meetings begin in March and continue through October.
If you are interested in discovering your “why”, building your network across campus and in the community, and giving back through your talents and gifts, please consider applying for the 2023 cohort.
