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Charlotte’s passion for giving back to local nonprofits is one of many reasons why I’m proud to call the city home. But with so many deserving organizations and a range of needs, sometimes it’s hard to know how you can get involved and give back to the community. That’s where SHARE Charlotte closes the gap, connecting people to more than 400 partner nonprofits and serving up volunteer opportunities, events and even a unique way to purchase and gift items these nonprofits need to run their programs and business.
SHARE Charlotte is a one-stop shop for the community to find ways to plug in and make an impact, and it’s also the third of four EmpoWWer service-grant recipients for 2019. We spoke with Executive Director Amy Jacobs about the organization’s mission, how they hope to benefit from working with Wray Ward and why she loves her job.
What is SHARE Charlotte, in your words?
AJ: We connect the community to 440 nonprofits — everything they do and serve and need. We also connect those nonprofits to each other so they can learn together and grow their resources and social capital.
Why is SHARE Charlotte so vital to Charlotte’s nonprofit community? To our city?
AJ: No else in the nonprofit space regularly brings our community together. SHARECharlotte.org gives people one place to learn about the landscape of Charlotte nonprofits and giving campaigns or collectively apply for volunteer opportunities.
We think of ourselves as a little Switzerland. That is to say, we believe if you’re a nonprofit doing good in Charlotte, you deserve a level playing field for exposure. Our partners include anyone and everyone serving Mecklenburg County, from the little guys to the big, established, traditional nonprofits. We bring them together and give them access to resources in an altruistic way.
If you’re a Charlotte nonprofit, we exist to serve you. We take on a big responsibility so you can focus on your mission, and we come up with creative ways to rally support.
What is the best part of your job?
AJ: Getting to work with hundreds of social entrepreneurs every day.
What do they teach you?
AJ: Not just the needs of our community, but the creative and innovative ways nonprofits approach problem solving. When you’re forced to stretch $1 to $100, you learn to tackle challenges creatively. I get to work in a space with a lot of out-of-the-box thinking and innovation, both born out of necessity.
What is the hardest part of your job?
AJ: Managing the limited hours in the day. We have such a huge opportunity to help Charlotte nonprofits and connect our community to them, we can never fully tackle it. That means prioritizing. Where are the most important opportunities? How can we act on them?
