The online application to submit your organization as a candidate for participation in Cleveland GiveCamp opens each Spring. Notification of selection will be communicated to nonprofit organizations about a month before the event.
Please gather the following information as you prepare to apply for GiveCamp.
- Organization name and address
- Organization Website
- Organization history and background
- Tax ID Number as a 501(c)3 nonprofit
- Electronic Copy of your IRS Determination Letter for validation
- Electronic Copy of your IRS Form 990 for validation
- Contact Name
- Contact Email
- Contact Phone Number
- Contact Mobile Phone
Project information
- How did you hear about Cleveland GiveCamp?
- Project Description (work requested) (i.e. Is it a website, database application, mobile site/mobile app, something else?)
- Project Stakeholders
- Project Goals
- Look (i.e. if it is website, what do you want it to look like – modern, traditional, etc.)
- Specifications
- Web Plugins – (Is there specific software or apps that must be integrated into the project? Online giving, membership module, etc.)
- Examples of websites you like
- Examples of websites you don’t like.
- Comments on Existing Technologies
- Comments on Skill of Support Staff
Each year, we select around 15 to 20 nonprofits to serve. This number varies based upon the number of technical volunteers who have committed to help at the event and the scope of the projects. Our ultimate goal is to complete all projects in a weekend.
When selecting our nonprofit partners, we evaluate the projects based on certain criteria:
- Can we complete the project over the course of the weekend?
- Will the project greatly enhance the mission of the nonprofit?
- Will the nonprofit NOT be able to do this project without our help? Meaning, do they have the financial resources to do it on their own? We want to make sure we help those who need it most.
Keep in mind it is instrumental that your organization has someone with decision-making authority available during the entire GiveCamp weekend.
Congratulations! We fondly look forward to working with your organization. Here are a few things to think about that might be helpful when planning your project.
- The main emphasis on projects is technology.
- For organizations needing written content, we suggest they have a majority of it ready and planned before coming to GiveCamp. We do have copy writers available to help, but we suggest utilizing these volunteers to tighten up copy or fill in the gaps.
- For organizations needing graphic design — GiveCamp volunteers are focused on the technology aspects of your project. We do have graphic designers assigned to teams creating websites, but their role is to infuse your brand into the site. They will not be able to create a branding campaign or logo for your organization. Those items must be developed ahead of time.
- We suggest you take time to plan your project ahead of time. If you want a website, look at other sites and plan a site “map.” This document will make it easier for our volunteers to set up your site. If you are planning an app or database, think about those who will use them, the fields or sections you want to include, and plan accordingly.
More than 75 nonprofits apply each year for assistance, and unfortunately, we cannot accept every project. If you have applied and were not accepted, we encourage you to consider applying again the next year. There are also other GiveCamp events planned throughout the region that may be able to help your organization.
Outside of GiveCamp events, the following local resources may be helpful to you:
- BVU’s “Ask the Expert” is a skills-based volunteering program providing FREE 60-minute sessions to all Northeast Ohio nonprofits, providing opportunities to work one-on-one with consultants in a variety of areas – including marketing, technology, legal, finance, HR and more. BVU offers a variety of other services to nonprofits – find out more here.
- Northeast Ohio WordPress Meetup is a gathering of folks from all over northeast Ohio who share an interest in WordPress. Many of them work with it professionally and reaching out to their organizers may provide answers to some questions or recommendations on companies/individuals who can help you further.
- WordCamp Kent is a local WordPress conference in Kent, OH. Their 2020 event was virtual in May, but their community is helpful and knowledgeable. They have a Slack group you can request access to to ask questions as well as a YouTube channel for their conference talks. They are already planning a virtual 2021 event.
- Meetup.com there are many local tech oriented meetup groups whose members may be able to serve your needs. If you have an existing website, chances are there’s a local group that discusses that technology.
