3.21.2005 ET

(CSRwire) SAN FRANCISCO - Today, VolunteerMatch launched a new and improved version of its popular web site, offering clearer navigation and more powerful search tools. The freshly designed site makes it easier for volunteers to find opportunities that match their interests, and more efficient for organizations to post information about their volunteer needs.

"To us, there is nothing more important than bringing volunteers and nonprofits together to address community needs," said Deborah Dinkelacker, president of VolunteerMatch. "VolunteerMatch now does this better than ever before, and we are confident that we will be even more successful at fostering volunteerism nationwide."

As the most active online network for volunteering---VolunteerMatch recently marked its 2,000,000th volunteer referral---the internet nonprofit continues to draw more and more people to volunteering. Some of the changes to VolunteerMatch intended to more effectively promote volunteer service include:

Fresh Look & Feel

With important upgrades to the overall layout, and a more user-friendly design, the new version of VolunteerMatch is intended to be both easier on the eyes and easier to navigate. The new site puts a fresh face on volunteering, featuring the real stories of volunteers and volunteer coordinators, and complements the release of VolunteerMatch's new public service campaign, "Inner Beauty," which celebrates the volunteer spirit.

Simpler Navigation, Stronger Connections

VolunteerMatch's reorganized site now helps nonprofits and volunteers more easily access the information they need to get involved. The cleaner interface places full-featured volunteer search tools on the home page, giving everyone interested in volunteering quicker access to the volunteer opportunities in their neighborhoods.

In addition, volunteers are now asked to register with VolunteerMatch in order to express interest in a volunteer opportunity. Registration is free, and helps ensure that accurate and reliable information is exchanged between volunteers and nonprofits, preserving the integrity and reliability of the VolunteerMatch service, and resulting in stronger volunteer connections. Registration also offers volunteers access to a number of excellent tools and resources available on VolunteerMatch, all designed to save time and improve functionality.

New & Improved Tools
Improvements to VolunteerMatch now include a number of new tools for volunteers and nonprofits, too. Some of the exciting new functionalities include Group Invite for volunteers, enabling anyone to invite friends, coworkers or family members to volunteer opportunities. For nonprofits, new resources including Contact Manager make it easier for charitable organizations to manage staff turnover and keep volunteer listings active and up-to-date.

VolunteerMatch also offers a number of enhancements to the account tools nonprofits and volunteers have already come to rely upon, including Email Opportunity Alerts and the Community Leader program, which offers an extended suite of account services for participating nonprofits.

Stronger Technology, Front-to-Back

In addition to the obvious visible enhancements with the new version of VolunteerMatch, many significant improvements have been made to the behind-the-scenes technology foundation, as well. The upgrades to VolunteerMatch's software platform and underlying site architecture ensure the most reliable, stable and efficient network of volunteer information available anywhere.

To experience the new and improved version of VolunteerMatch, visit www.volunteermatch.org.

About VolunteerMatch

VolunteerMatch is a leader in the nonprofit world dedicated to helping everyone find a great place to volunteer. The organization offers a variety of online services to support a community of nonprofit, volunteer and business leaders committed to civic engagement. VolunteerMatch welcomes millions of visitors a year and has become the preferred volunteer recruiting service for more than 30,000 nonprofit organizations. The organization also offers professional business services to support corporations committed to managing successful community involvement programs. VolunteerMatch is the recipient of Webby Awards for "Activism" and "Services," and has been recognized for its accomplishments by The White House, M.I.T, the Smithsonian Institution and most recently as the Grand Prize winner of the 2004 Yale-Goldman Sachs Foundations nonprofit business plan competition.

For more information please contact: