July 2007

HandsOn is formally incorporated from two pre—existing non-incorporated entities as Nonprofit and Volunteer Connections and receives 501(c)3 status.

October 2007

Amy Lytle, our first (and current) Executive Director is hired. The office opens with a desk and a phone with the American Red Cross building.

April 2008

HandsOn organizes the Forsyth County Governor’s Volunteer Service Awards for the first time at The Hawthorne Inn, in partnership with United Way of Forsyth County.

October 2008

Kathy Davis, Program Director, is hired as HandsOn’s second employee.

January 2009

We adopt the HandsOn NWNC name.

February 2009

HandsOn welcomes the first of many VISTA members, Michelle Bennett, in November 2009. Michelle would serve with HandsOn NWNC for 2 years, and go on to lead HandsOn Asheville-Buncombe after her service.

May 2010

Launch of our Women’s Emerging Leaders program with seed funding from the Women’s Fund of Winston-Salem. To date, more than 200 women have graduated from the program.

September 2010

Launch of Nonprofit Essentials in conjunction with the newly-formed Institute for Public Engagement (now Office of Civic and Community Engagement) at Wake Forest University. This was the beginning of a deep and wide-ranging partnership with Wake Forest University.

August 2013

HandsOn is selected as the new host of the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program in both Forsyth and Stokes County, taking it over from the Piedmont Triad Regional Council. HandsOn hires Goldie Irving, a former HandsOn VISTA member, as its director, until HandsOn transitions the program to a partner nonprofit in August 2019.

September 2014

HandsOn moves into new office space with The Winston-Salem Foundation at 751 W. 4th Street.

January 2015

HandsOn adopts Project Blueprint from the United Way of Forsyth County. UW had hosted the program for almost 30 years prior to the transition.

July 2016

HandsOn hires its third permanent staff member, Brittney Albert, as Program and Marketing Assistant.

October 2017

October 2017, We celebrate our 10th Anniversary by welcoming an AmeriCorps NCCC team. Alongside corporate and community volunteers, they complete 10 different service projects across our diverse network.

April 2021

HandsOn celebrates the single largest programmatic investment in our history from The Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust in support of three equity-focused programs. The staff expands to 4 people.

October 2022

HandsOn kicks off our 15th Anniversary celebrations and signs a lease to move into the newly-built Intergenerational Center for Arts and Wellness in 2023.

Celebrate 15 Years with HandsOn NWNC!

HandsOn NWNC is excited to celebrate our 15th Anniversary! Just as our work to mobilize the people and organizations that inspire community change has evolved over the past 15 years, we’re asking YOU to make a Civic Commitment Evolution through HandsOn as part of our celebration! Guided by the research that informs the Civic Circle framework we’ve developed multiple ways you can demonstrate your Civic Commitment Evolution and help us meet our goal of 15 new or evolved commitments from local companies, small businesses, institutions, and civic organizations. We also want to engage individuals as changemakers and new supporters of mission! Want to engage civically in a way that’s not on this list?

Don’t hesitate to reach out TODAY and we’ll be happy to help you customize a commitment!

Companies and Organizations who have made a 15th Anniversary Commitment to HandsOn:
Allegacy Federal Credit Union
Blanco Tackabery
Big Brothers Big Sisters
Epic Events Essentials, LLC
Fidelity Bank
HanesBrands
Lisa Allen
Penny Rue Coaching and Consulting, LLC
Truliant Federal Credit Union
Verger Capital Management LLC
Women’s Center at Wake Forest University

Engage

ENGAGE the people and organizations that want to make a difference by facilitating a wide variety of civic engagement activities

Become a Consultant/Vendor Are you a for-profit looking to work with local nonprofits? Join the list of reputable well-qualified consultants and vendors in our region.

Offer a Volunteer Service Day We’ll manage a high-impact, customized community service event for your business’s employees, or civic, church or youth group.

Join as a Supporting Partner Becoming a Supporting Partner allows nonprofit to demonstrate the value they place on their relationship with HandsOn NWNC. In exchange, organizations receive a variety of annual benefits and privileges not available to other members of our network. Individuals can also designate a personal donation, allowing the nonprofit of their choice to become a Supporting Partner.

Equip

EQUIP our community to tackle the challenges we face by providing nonprofits and volunteer leaders with the resources they need to effectively, impactfully, and sustainably impact their organizational and individual missions and causes.

Host Nonprofit Speed Dating are fun and engaging events designed to connect interested community volunteers and nonprofits seeking engaged board and committee members, or other volunteer leaders. Speed dating events can also be held to facilitate matches between skills-based volunteers and nonprofits

Offer Customized Board Trainings We can train your current board members, or employees or team mates that are interested in serving on boards, in best practices that will prepare them to be as effective as possible!

Inspire

INSPIRE our community by unlocking the potential of our neighbors and local organizations and celebrating the role that nonprofits and volunteers play in making our community a better place to live, work and serve.

Sponsor a Program Making a commitment as a lead sponsor of one of our signature programs allows smaller and more grassroots nonprofits to benefit by significantly lowering the cost of participation. You can also make an individual gift to increase the number of full scholarships that we can offer. Learn about our programs

Connect HandsOn to your Civic Group or Church Group You can help us share the many ways to make a Civic Commitment Evolution by inviting HandsOn to speak to your civic, church, or community group. It’s a easy way to help us increase our impact!

Throw a Nonprofit Networking Event Want the chance to highlight your space or company and support a wide variety of nonprofits all at once? HandsOn can work with you to host a nonprofit networking event that is fun, engaging, and educational for all involved!

Make a Donation or Match Through these Civic Commitments, HandsOn is planning to raise $45,000 to mark the first 15 years of our work, celebrate our 15th anniversary, and prepare for the next 15 years. You can help make that happen by making a personal donation or providing a financial challenge matching gift.