About Us

The Volunteer Center of Washington County has been linking volunteers to community needs since 1983.  The organization began as an idea shared by a group of volunteers.  The group believed that Washington County needed a central place where volunteers could learn about all the ways their help was needed.  This group of leaders formed the first Board of Directors and founded the Volunteer Center of Washington County.  Their vision gave life to an idea that over the years has grown and flourished.

We are governed by a local Board of Directors.  A portion of our funding support has come from the United Way of Washington County, with whom we have partnered for over 25 years!  We are affiliates of both the national Points of Light Hands on Network and the Wisconsin Association of Volunteer Centers.

Our Mission
The Volunteer Center of Washington County connects volunteer services with nonprofit organizations to improve the quality of life in Washington County.

Our Programs

Volunteer Connection
...Connects volunteers of all ages with volunteer opportunities given to us by our member agencies. 
54 member agencies partner with the Volunteer Center, providing over 250 volunteer opportunities in the registry. 
There are opportunities to volunteer for individuals, youth, adults, groups and families. 
All can find something in their area of interest. 
Volunteers can register 24/7 through this website.  Others who would like a little help or information can contact our office at 262-338-8256 for personal help getting registered!  We'd love to hear from you and get you connected to service today!

Volunteers are active out in the community everyday.  There are also a quiet group of special skill volunteers who volunteer right in their own homes everyday too!   The Volunteer Center coordinates the Handcrafters Project that links the beautiful homemade handiwork of 25 volunteers to the needs in our community.  This crafty bunch knit, crochet, sew and quilt hundreds and hundreds of clothes, mittens, hats, scarves, quilts, afghans and slippers for the clients of our member agencies.  In 2008, this group made over 1200 items!  These volunteers warm the hearts of so many each year by the special way they turn their free time into gifts from the heart.  All yarn donations welcome at the Volunteer Center to keep these hands busy!

An important part of Volunteer Connection is Citizen Corps of Washington County.  Volunteers can find many ways of offering help before, during and after an emergency.  Volunteers offer help, skills, time, equipment and storage.  Education, training, descriptions of ways to help and news are all available under the Citizen Corps tab above.

Resource Connection
...Connects donations and resources of all kinds to our member agencies. 
The Volunteer Center offers support and services to member agencies by coordinating Volunteer Coordinator Education, GrantStation, SurveyMonkey, Donations Connection, the Equipment Lending Closet, Used Computer Recycling Service.

Volunteers want to know that when they come to help, their time and talents will be utilized effectively! 
Volunteer Coordinator Education provides our volunteer coordinators support and education on key aspects of quality volunteer management as they develop their programs.  The classes and consultations we offer provide information, best practice examples, resources and support for volunteer coordinators who are improving volunteer coordination.

Nonprofit organizations rely on public and private grants to fund their programs.
The Volunteer Center provides access to GrantStation, an online registry of available granting organizations and grants. Staff members from our agencies come to the Volunteer Center to conduct grant searches.

Our agencies have many reasons to survey their clients, potential clients and the public.  The Volunteer Center provides access to SurveyMonkey,  an online surveying tool, that gives the agencies unlimited surveying options for all their needs.

Donations Connection provides nonprofit agencies access to the donated goods, equipment and supplies they rely on to do their work on extremely limited budgets.  If you have goods to offer, please call our office.  We'll be delighted to get your donations to places where they can be put to good use!

The Equipment Lending Closet provides a lending service to our nonprofit agencies who need specialized equipment for a single occasion or limited use!  The closet is the perfect answer to provide these items free for special events or education programs.  The closet is filled with equipment, furniture and electronics that give nonprofits essential tools.  Borrowing the equipment means that the nonprofits don't have to buy everything they might need!  If you have a piece of equipment to donate to the lending closet, we'll see it gets put to use!

Our Equipment Lending Closet Brochure details the available equipment and guidelines.  Click HERE to view!

Used Computer Recycling Service is offered to the residents of Washington County as a way of disposing old computer components and keeping them out of our landfills.  We try to place useable components back into service in our member agencies where they can be useful.  We recycle the rest!  A small fee applies.  Please see the guidelines.