Volunteer organizations are run by passionate people looking to better our communities, our countries, and our world. While their efforts are unique, their goals are the same – to make the world a better place.

Fortunately, the individuals at the heart of these groups are able to provide assistance to many in need. Unfortunately, there are many more that still require help.

While the organizations should not lose focus on their goal of helping those in need, it is often the case that the goal becomes the sole focus. While this situation provides short-term results, it is not beneficial to the long-term viability of the non-profit.

And it’s the long-term sustainability of these organizations that will make a real impact on those in need.

These small volunteer groups need to focus some attention on the other side of the organization – the tasks that ensure long-term sustainability and viability. These tasks include, but are not limited to, strategic planning, budgeting, grant writing, and cash flow management.

This side of the organization often lacks the necessary attention for two reasons. First, the passionate people behind these groups often lack the skills to execute these tasks. Second, the individuals are often presented with a difficult decision when faced with allocating their time – do they budget/strategize/book keep or do they help an additional person in need?

Can you fault them for making the decision they make? Absolutely not. The world is a better place because of this decision.

Traditionally, these skill set and time-vs-focus chasms have been the limiting factors to the long-term sustainability and viability of small volunteer organizations. And this sucks.

Retune is a volunteer organization that offers other non-profits/ngos a solution. Consisting of innovative young minds who pair unique skill-sets with a passion for helping others, Retune provides a range of services - freeing organizations to focus on tasks that bring the most benefit. Retune focuses on an organization’s sustainability: ensuring short-term health while the proper training and processes are implemented to ensure long-term growth and viability.

This partnership, in the long-run, will help the organization help many others. This is a great thing. Together, we can make a real impact on those in need. This is a beautiful thing.

Retune, the intersection of volunteer entrepreneurism.


COMMENTS / 5 COMMENTS

[…] Find out more about Retune here […]

retune.org » Blog Archive » Retune Intro added these pithy words on Jun 02 06 at 12:52 pm

I’m anxious to see this take off. good luck!

ashley added these pithy words on Oct 25 06 at 3:44 am

I’m anxious to see this take off. good luck!

ashley added these pithy words on Oct 25 06 at 7:44 am

Fraser - your insights, passion and intelligence make me feel like this world is in good hands. Keep me abreast of what I can do to help this organization grow. I will do whatever I can to help. Good luck - best wishes - lets talk more soon.

Kate do Forno added these pithy words on Dec 01 06 at 12:28 pm

Fraser - your insights, passion and intelligence make me feel like this world is in good hands. Keep me abreast of what I can do to help this organization grow. I will do whatever I can to help.

Good luck - best wishes - lets talk more soon.

Kate do Forno added these pithy words on Dec 01 06 at 4:28 pm

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An Introduction To Retune

Welcome to the conversation.

Hi, I'm Fraser and this is my personal site where I write about the things I'm interested in: start-up strategy, the web, music, and life.

My days are spent commercializing emerging technologies. Currently I'm helping to deliver the promise of semantic web to the consumer market at AdaptiveBlue. Previously I was at Trivaris, a Canadian seed stage investment firm.

I am a co-founder of Innovation Night, a community driven event supporting entrepreneurship in Canadian and US cities.

Here's what I'm doing right now:

    These are the people in my neighborhood: