Philadelphia – Senior Corps, the national service program that engages 500,000 older Americans in service each year, has teamed up with VolunteerMatch to launch a cutting-edge web-based volunteer recruitment service designed to engage more 55 plus volunteers in service to meet critical needs.

The new recruitment service was unveiled to hundreds of Senior Corps program directors at the National Conference on Volunteering and Service in Philadelphia. Designed by VolunteerMatch, the new search engine at http://www.getinvolved.gov provides access to real-time volunteer opportunities tailored to the unique skills and needs of 55-plus volunteers. Volunteers can search for opportunities by typing in their zip codes and interest area.

"Now, more than ever, communities need the talents and skills of 55-plus volunteer. We know that they are most likely to serve when they can easily find meaningful opportunities that match their needs, interests, and schedules,” saidTess Scannell, director of Senior Corps. “This new service will make it easier to find the opportunities that benefit their communities and suit their lifestyles."

The collaboration was born out of the shared commitment of Senior Corps and VolunteerMatch to help organizations think about how to find, match, and manage the skills and talents of individuals age 55+.

Leveraging Senior Corps’ experience in recruiting older adults and the VolunteerMatch expertise in online recruitment systems allows each organization to maximize the impact of their unique strengths in their respective fields.

The new volunteer search tool builds on research findings that show Baby Boomers are looking for substantive volunteer opportunities that make use of their personal or professional skills. The Corporation’s “Keeping Baby Boomers Volunteering” report released in March found that Boomer volunteers who engage in professional activities such as managing people or projects are more likely to continue volunteering. On Monday, VolunteerMatch issued a report called "Great Expectations: Boomers and the Future of Volunteering" that found that volunteers are increasingly interested in making use of their career and non-career related skills as they mature.

"The coming wave of Baby Boomers is one of the best opportunities the nonprofit sector has ever had to expand its reach and impact," said David Eisner, CEO of the Corporation for National & Community Service. “If we do this right, we will change the face of volunteering and find millions of new volunteers to tackle our toughest social problems."

About Senior Corps

Each year Senior Corps taps the skills, talents, and experience of more than 500,000 Americans age 55 and older to meet a wide range of community challenges through three main programs: RSVP, the Foster Grandparent Program, and the Senior Companion Program. RSVP volunteers help local police departments conduct safety patrols, participate in environmental projects, provide intensive educational services to children and adults, and respond to natural disasters, among many other activities. Foster Grandparents serve one-on-one as tutors and mentors to young people with special needs. Senior Companions help homebound seniors and other adults maintain independence in their own homes. Senior Corps is administered by the Corporation for National and Community Service, which also oversees AmeriCorps and Learn and Serve America. Together with the USA Freedom Corps, the Corporation is working to build a culture of service, citizenship, and responsibility in America. For more information, visit http://www.nationalservice.gov.

About VolunteerMatch

VolunteerMatch is where volunteering begins, enabling anyone to find local nonprofits by ZIP code, get involved based on skills and interests, and support a community network of individuals, charitable organizations, and socially responsible businesses committed to civic engagement. Since 1998, VolunteerMatch has helped volunteers make 3 million matches to over 50,000 nonprofits throughout the United States, earning the national nonprofit worldwide acclaim, two Webby Awards, and recognition from The White House. Make a difference today at www.VolunteerMatch.org.

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