Stocktoberfest Insights with Natalye Paquin

Check out our Q&A with Natalye Paquin, CEO of Points of Light.Natalye has a history of leading transformation in turnaround and high-paced organizations. Often described as having a volunteer spirit and a servant’s heart, and it’s served her well in a career that has spanned nonprofit organizations in volunteerism and the arts, the education sector and as a civil rights attorney. Now, as President & CEO of Points of Light, a nonpartisan, global nonprofit dedicated to volunteerism and civic engagement, she leads and drives Points of Light’s mission to inspire, equip and mobilize people to take action that changes the world and their communities.

DonateStock: Your mission is to make volunteerism more accessible, inclusive and impactful. How do you do that?

Natalye: Points of Light sits at the intersection of individuals who want to do good, nonprofits who have the best practices for delivering needed services, and the companies that have resources to support these efforts. We envision a world where everyone can recognize and act on their power to live a fully engaged civic life, and use our power of convening and connection to bring these three groups together to bring the power of people where it’s needed most.

DonateStock: What are the top 3 challenges you face today?

Natalye: In 2020, Points of Light conducted civic engagement research among all generations from Gen Z to the silent generation, and we found the top barriers to engagement are being unsure where to find opportunities; can’t find opportunities where they live or work; and they’re not sure what they could do to be helpful. For us, creating awareness for civic engagement and the on-ramps to engagement that meet people where they are is critical. Points of Light’s Civic Circle is a framework that represents all the ways people can live a fully civically engaged life and helps remove barriers and challenges to engagement.

DonateStock: How has the Pandemic impacted your efforts?

Natalye: We first shared our Civic Circle framework in the summer of 2019. We couldn’t have imagined then the ways in which the world would change. The pandemic accelerated our roll out of the Civic Circle because the pandemic accelerated the variety of ways people could and had to engage when they couldn’t be in person. Activities like using your voice, using your purchase power and virtual volunteering are even more important now than they were prior to the pandemic. We knew people were engaging in so many ways, but this truly created change for Points of Light and the entire nonprofit and volunteer sector.

DonateStock: How has your approach to fundraising changed?

Natalye: We want to create transformational change in the world, and so we’re looking for transformational partners to work with us and advance our mission so people can accelerate change for causes they care about. We continue to work with corporate funders and individual donors to support nonprofits, connect individuals with opportunities to engage and support businesses in doing good where they live and work.

DonateStock: What are some of the silver linings to emerge from this challenging time?

Natalye: People are seeing their power to create change. We believe every action matters. We have seen a new wave of engagement and we believe we’re on the cusp of a new era that we’re calling the Civic Century. We know people will drive sustained, meaningful change through civic engagement. Our research showed Gen Z is the most civically engaged generation, with 39% taking 5 or more civic actions in the past year, and we know this next generation will continue this movement.

DonateStock: What else would you like the audience to know?

Natalye: Every act matters, and no act is too small. You can be the change you wish to see. Points of Light’s Civic Circle is your system for changing systems. Combine actions to accelerate change for an issue or cause you care about.