Anyone who has volunteered or been involved in training, placing, and managing volunteers knows that it can be costly. Volunteers often have to take time away from family or work to be available, as well as travel to and from work locations. With the present economy causing nonprofits to downsize their staff while the needs of communities keep racheting up, a bill has been presented to the U.S. House of Representatives to grant volunteers a tax deduction for miles driven for charitable causes. Click to learn more and to show your support for this bill.

While it is accepted that there should be separation of church and state...a growing number are not sure about separating religion from "state" of mind! More patients are seeking faith-based therapy, according to a recent issue of Psychology Today; they feel that their "secular" therapists view their religious beliefs as problems or symptoms rather than as an integral part of their lives. Finding therapists with training in spiritual matters is difficult. To learn more about faith-based counseling, check out the report “With God As My Shrink,” and share your thoughts on this issue.

Leisure World, a 55 plus age-restricted community in Maryland, is a place where you can relax, improve your golf game, and live the traditional retirement life. Or, you could be among the entrepreneurial crowd that see their fellow residents as a captive market and decide to launch an encore career. This group is at the vanguard of a national trend; the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts that by 2016, workers 65 and over will account for 6.1% of the total labor force, a dramatic rise from 3.6% in 2006. To read more about Leisure World entrepreneurs, click here.

Love in the second half of life...where to begin? Don't worry, there's lots of good advice out there. With more than 30 million Americans 55 and older currently single, much is being written about how to approach the dating scene as an older adult. Coming of Age has weighed in with a free nine-chapter e-book, The Age for Change, that examines this topic in the chapter, "What's Love Got to Do With It?" "housed" on the Coming of Age website. And this article in U.S. News and World Report provides 10 tips on how meet and date at this time of life. A word to the wise as you enter the dating world: always have an exit strategy!

In celebration of the 25th anniversary of the Barbara Bates Center for the Study of Nursing at the University of Pennsylvania, panelists from Penn's School of Nursing will reflect on the study, influences, and practice of nursing throughout American history at Penn's Bookstore, 3601 Walnut Street, Philadelphia on April 4th at noon. The Center's priority is to understand the importance of a historical standpoint in the development of effective health policy and care strategies. For more information on this FREE event, call (215) 898-7595.

Now in its fifth year, the Philadelphia Book Festival is the Free Library of Philadelphia's annual burst of books, music, and inspiration! Packed with activities for all ages, the Festival, held from April 11 to 16th, features talks by best-selling authors, poetry readings, musical performances, tours of the Library's special collections, programming for children and families, and a vibrant Festival Street Fair, April 16th, featuring a wide array of literary exhibitors. Among those appearing throughout the week will be Garrison Keillor, Tina Fey, Sonia Lynn Sadler, and children's author, Chris Van Alsburg.

Are you planning to file for your Social Security retirement benefits in the near future? Do you have questions about eligibility, when to collect, and the application process? Are you also interested in learning more about what Medicare offers and how to apply? To get answers to your questions, plan to attend a free session at the Roxborough Branch of the Free Library, 6425 Ridge Avenue, Philadelphia on Monday, April 18th, 6-7 p.m. Registration required. Contact Irene Klemas-Brady or call (215) 685-2550.

This could be the year for major changes in the make-up of Philadelphia's City Council with all 17 seats in play. Not since 1991, when seven Council seats went to newly-elected members, has there been such a watershed moment. To help you be an informed voter, the Committee of Seventy and the League of Women Voters of Philadelphia, along with co-sponsoring partners, WHYY/Newsworks.org, The Philadelphia Inquirer, the Philadelphia Daily News, and philly.com, will present a series of informative and lively forums where voters can interact with candidates. Click here for times, places, and more information.

If you are you a nonprofit in the planning stages of a capital project...please keep reading. Design can make a difference. Early design assistance provided by the Community Design Collaborative helps nonprofits consider options, engage their community, raise funds, gain support, get funding, hire consultants, and build projects. Apply for a service grant or contact Heidi Segall Levy, Project Manager, for more information. Grant deadline is April 15th.

Although there are plenty of indications that the economy is gaining strength, America's nonprofits are expecting 2011 to be another difficult year, for themselves as well as the communities they serve, according to a new survey from the Nonprofit Finance Fund. The 2011 State of the Sector Survey found that 85 percent of the more than 1,900 nonprofit leaders surveyed expect demand for their organizations' services to increase in 2011, while only 46 percent expect to be able to meet that demand fully. Could this report lead to a greater use of skilled volunteers?

Project H.O.M.E., a nonprofit in Philadelphia that empowers people to break the cycle of homelessness, has a job opening for a Director of Facilities and Sustainability. The Director is in charge of all aspects of facilities management for Project H.O.M.E.’s residential, commercial, health care and community facilities. The responsibilities include organizing, improving and standardizing the quality of services and products used in maintaining these properties and providing preventative maintenance routines. To apply for this position, click here.

The Philadelphia Museum of Art is currently seeking attentive, outgoing, and energetic individuals with a background or interest in art to work as a Temporary Visitor Services Assistant, part-time or full-time. Among the job responsibilities are selling admission tickets for regular and special exhibits, promoting museum programs, answering phone inquiries, and providing information to guests. To learn about qualifications and how to apply, click here.

Tyler Arboretum, one of the oldest and largest arboreta (650 acres) in this region, is seeking a dynamic, experienced fundraiser to join its Advancement team. The Senior Development Officer will focus exclusively on the solicitation of individual prospects for leadership gifts. The position has no supervisory responsibility and is part-time (12 to 15 hours per week.) Located near Media, PA, the Arboretum consists of renowned horticultural collections, extensive natural areas, and 20 miles of marked woodland trails. To learn more about this position, click here.

The Old Pine Community Center's Adult Education Program, located at 401 Lombard St., Philadelphia, needs volunteers to provide one-on-one and small group tutoring to adults learning English, preparing for the GED, and practicing their computer skills. The program is looking for enthusiastic, creative and compassionate individuals who want to help other adults meet their personal educational goals. Previous teaching or tutoring experience is desired, but not required. Training and support are provided to all tutors. To learn more and sign up, e-mail Sara.