Susan Finch of Binky Patrol interviews Mara James, founder and CEO of the Extraordinary Lives Foundation (ELF). Listeners will learn about ELF's mission to improve children's mental health and emotional wellness through programs like Piggy Bear and the HUGS School Life Healing Center. Mara shares her personal journey of overcoming mental health challenges and how it inspired her to create tools for children to build emotional awareness and resilience.

The episode highlights the importance of teaching children emotional wellness skills from an early age, reframing mental health challenges in a positive light, and providing holistic healing options. Listeners will discover how Piggy Bear books and plush toys are being used in schools and hospitals to help children cope with difficult emotions. For those working with or caring for children experiencing trauma or emotional challenges, this episode offers valuable insights into innovative, compassionate approaches to supporting young people's mental health and well-being.

Links from this episode:

https://elfempowers.org

https://hugslife.org

https://binkypatrol.org

There are many ways to list your volunteer opportunities. This short episode goes over some of our favorite volunteer and matching fund portals. They include: volunteermatch.org, benevity.com, and joindeed.org.

Tips include:

1. Have a checkbox that they agree to have their photos taken and used for your site and social media accounts
2. Link to a form if you are posting this somewhere like NextDoor or Facebook to get their info into your database
3. Include a checkbox for privacy policies and your promises to them.
4. Be detailed and keep the opportunities simple.
5. Create a short video for the opportunity landing pages and specific landing pages on your site encouraging people to volunteer.

Susan Finch, founder of Binky Patrol, discusses the importance of having a cohesive branding package for nonprofit organizations looking to scale up. She shares insights from her own experience, highlighting the need for consistent messaging, logos, fonts, and phrasing across all chapters and volunteers. Susan also touches on the benefits of streamlining processes, such as providing digital patterns and outsourcing printing, to save time and money. By creating a comprehensive branding guide, nonprofits can ensure that their volunteers have the tools they need to represent the organization effectively and maintain a strong, recognizable brand. Whether you're a small nonprofit just starting out or an established organization looking to grow, this episode offers valuable advice on the power of branding and the steps you can take to create a cohesive brand identity.

Overall takeaways:

1. A cohesive branding package is essential for nonprofits looking to scale up and maintain a strong, recognizable brand identity.
2. Consistency in messaging, logos, fonts, colors, and phrasing across all chapters and volunteers is key to building a successful brand.
3. Streamlining processes, such as providing digital patterns and outsourcing printing, can save time and money while ensuring brand consistency.
4. Maintaining control over chapter branding and online presence is crucial to protecting the organization's reputation and mission.
5. Creating a comprehensive branding guide empowers volunteers to effectively represent the organization and its values.

The Binky Patrol branding guide sample covered in this episode (PDF)

In the second half of the conversation, Fran Morgan and Donna Robertson from Fabric Cafe share their passion for quilting and discuss the importance of passing down the love for sewing to younger generations. Fran expresses her wish to continue producing excellent books and patterns while expanding their reach to younger quilters, ensuring the craft thrives. The hosts discuss how sewing skipped a generation but is now making a comeback, with people learning through YouTube and other resources. They also touch on the growing trend of repurposing and reusing materials, turning old items into beautiful new creations. Fran and Donna share advice for those who have inherited fabric stashes and those who want to learn to quilt, suggesting they contact local quilt guilds or organizations for guidance and support.

Links from this episode:

Fabric Cafe

3-yard Quilts

Fabric Cafe on YouTube

Fabric Cafe on Instagram

National Bink-A-Thon October 19

In this heartwarming episode of All Volunteer, All Heart from Binky Patrol, host Susan Finch sits down with the dynamic duo behind Fabric Cafe, Fran Morgan and Donna Robertson. Discover how their passion for quilting led them to leave corporate America and build a thriving business that inspires creativity and joy in the quilting community. Explore the power of quilting to bring people together, create a sense of community, and make a difference in the lives of others. Learn about Fabric Cafe's mission to keep quilting simple, fast, and fun, making it accessible to beginners and experienced quilters alike. Join Susan, Fran, and Donna as they discuss the versatility of quilting, the importance of communication with their audience, and the incredible growth of their YouTube channel since the start of the pandemic. Get ready to be inspired by their infectious enthusiasm and love for the art of quilting.

Links from this episode:

Fabric Cafe

3-yard Quilts

Fabric Cafe on YouTube

Fabric Cafe on Instagram

National Bink-A-Thon October 19

Jeanne Malgioglio, teacher, Area Coordinator for the Monroe-Trumbull, CT chapter, tells the story of a community grant she received recently. She was a bit intimidated but decided to go for it. This will keep her chapter funded for a very long time and allow her to continue helping other local agencies through the gifts of binkies.

Join us for this short episode to spark ideas, especially for smaller non-profits or chapters of larger ones to secure funding through local community grants.

Visit Jeanne's chapter page here.

In this episode of All Volunteer All Heart from Binky Patrol, host Susan Finch welcomes Angie Marie, a community leader from Hood River, Oregon. Angie shares her inspiring story of creating Gorge SpeakEasy, a monthly storytelling event that brings together diverse members of the community while supporting local nonprofits. Through volunteer efforts and innovative partnerships with local businesses, Gorge SpeakEasy has become a platform for connection, personal growth, and community impact. Angie and Susan discuss the power of collaboration between organizations and how companies can give back to their communities beyond financial contributions. This episode is a must-listen for businesses seeking creative ways to make a difference in their local areas, emphasizing the exponential impact of cross-organizational cooperation. Join Susan and Angie as they explore the heartwarming potential of storytelling, volunteerism, and community-building.

Gorge Speakeasy on Instagram

Binky Patrol on Instagram

Gorge Speakeasy on Facebook

Binky Patrol on Facebook

Volunteer time management is often overlooked as a value, as an asset. But it is the most valuable donation your organization receives. The dollars you receive are precious - are they being used most effectively? Tracking the time your staff and volunteers spend will help you see where you are getting the best outcomes and where you may be spinning your wheels. Listen to this short episode for some ideas about time and volunteers.