SAN FRANCISCO, June 16, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- VolunteerMatch, the web's largest volunteer engagement network, and LinkedIn, the world's largest professional network on the Internet, announced today a partnership that will leverage LinkedIn's 300 million members to make it dramatically easier for nonprofits to successfully recruit skilled volunteers and board members.
Building on the successful launch of the LinkedIn Volunteer Marketplace earlier this year, this unique partnership will create an even richer platform for LinkedIn members to locate skill-based volunteer opportunities and nonprofit board positions, and give VolunteerMatch's nonprofit users access to LinkedIn's unparalleled professional talent pool.
A joint team of product managers and engineers worked together to build a technology bridge so that all skilled volunteer opportunities posted to VolunteerMatch.org will now automatically be posted to LinkedIn, as well.
So far, the pilot program has already seen twice as many---sometimes three times as many---sign-ups from interested volunteers, a trend that will only grow when all 5,000+ listings go live today.
"Skilled volunteering has become a critical form of support for nonprofit organizations," said Greg Baldwin, president of VolunteerMatch. "But fragmentation, disorganization and dilution keep too many great organizations from finding the help that they need. We're proud to be partnering with LinkedIn to use technology to help the social sector find the talent and skills it deserves. Not every partnership in Silicon Valley puts the needs of the community first, but we are pleased to say this one does."
According to Meg Garlinghouse, Head of LinkedIn for Good, "One of the biggest myths about the volunteer sector is there aren't enough people who want to serve the needs of our communities. The reality is the exact opposite. On LinkedIn alone, we have more than one million professionals who have signaled on their profiles they want to use their skills to volunteer or serve on a nonprofit board. We are incredibly grateful to partner with VolunteerMatch to be able to meet this growing demand with their quality postings."
To learn more about VolunteerMatch's services for volunteers, nonprofits and companies, visit www.volunteermatch.org .
About VolunteerMatch
VolunteerMatch is the web's largest volunteer engagement network serving 100,000 participating nonprofits, 150 network partners and 12 million annual visitors. Founded in 1998, VolunteerMatch offers solutions to make it easier for individuals, nonprofits and companies to make a difference. Since its launch, VolunteerMatch has helped the social sector attract more than $5.4 billion worth of volunteer services. To learn more, visit www.volunteermatch.org .
A photo accompanying this release is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=25944
Shari Ilsen VolunteerMatch 415-241-6884
