Hands On UWGN

What Hands On UWGN does

Hands On Greater Nashville (d/b/a Hands On Nashville, HON) is a 501(c)(3) volunteer hub founded in 1991 and headquartered at 2525 Perimeter Place Drive in Nashville, Tennessee. It connects individual, youth, family, skilled, court-ordered, corporate, and disaster volunteers with more than 200 vetted nonprofit and community partners across seven Middle Tennessee counties (Davidson, Cheatham, Dickson, Hickman, Montgomery, Robertson, and Williamson). The organization runs more than 300 service projects each month and maintains a social media reach exceeding 103,000 followers and a newsletter base of more than 48,000 subscribers.

The organization is built on the HandsOn Connect web-based volunteer management platform, which provides online registration, opportunity search and sign-up, team creation, self-reported hour tracking (including verification for court-ordered service), and partner-side posting and attendance management. On top of this core platform sit specialized programs: GeekCause (fee-based skilled-tech volunteer matching, launched in 2017 with Atiba and The Frist Foundation), the Community Partner Program (free membership for nonprofits), the Corporate Partner Program, the Disaster Program (in coordination with the Nashville Office of Emergency Management and Nashville VOAD), the Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards, court-ordered service coordination, virtual volunteering, and county-specific volunteer portals.

The revenue model is a hybrid nonprofit mix. Hands On receives donations (individual, corporate, cause marketing such as "10% Tuesdays"), annual Corporate Partner subscriptions (CPI Card Group, Zoll Medical, Cummins, Ernst & Young, Ingram Industries, Tennessee Titans, UBS), fee-for-service corporate events ($150/volunteer with a $3,000 minimum; $25-$50 per-volunteer kit packing), fee-based one-time project postings ($50 per three shifts or three months), GeekCause sliding-scale project fees ($150/$300/$450), and Strobel Awards sponsorships ($2,500-$10,000 tiers). In 2024 Hands On merged with United Way of Greater Nashville and now operates as a program under that parent organization.

Name

Hands On UWGN

Legal name

Hands On Greater Nashville

Website

https://hon.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Hands On Greater Nashville is a Middle Tennessee nonprofit volunteer hub, founded in 1991 and merged with United Way of Greater Nashville in 2024, that uses the HandsOn Connect platform to connect 200+ vetted nonprofit partners with thousands of individual, corporate, skilled, youth, court-ordered, and disaster volunteers each month.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Nashville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations: Hands On raises funds from individual donors, corporate donors, and community members who make financial contributions to support volunteerism operations. Donations can be made online or by check payable to United Way of Greater Nashville with 'Hands On' in the memo.
2. Corporate Partner Program: Annual partnerships with businesses providing year-round volunteer engagements combined with recognition on website and social media. Companies like CPI Card Group, Zoll Medical, Cummins, Ernst & Young, Ingram Industries, and Tennessee Titans participate as Corporate Volunteer Partners.
3. Custom Volunteer Events: Hands On plans and manages custom offsite volunteer events for corporate teams at community agencies. Priced at $150 per volunteer with a minimum of $3,000. Includes full project planning, supplies, event leadership, photos, and a contribution to support the mission.
4. Kit Packing Events: Hands On delivers volunteer kit packing events to corporate offices. Priced at $25-50 per volunteer plus supply costs. Includes planning, supplies, event leadership, photos, and delivery to benefiting nonprofits.
5. One-Time Volunteer Project Postings: Community organizations with intermittent or one-time volunteer needs pay fees to post projects on the Hands On website: $50 per 3 shifts for date/time-specific opportunities, or $50 per three months for individually scheduled opportunities.
6. Strobel Awards Sponsorships: Corporate sponsors fund the annual Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards at various tiers: Award Sponsor ($5,000-$10,000) and Cheering Section Sponsor ($2,500). Provides logo placement, social media posts, company invites to awards reception, and volunteer webinars.
7. Cause Marketing: Corporate partners donate a portion of proceeds to Hands On through cause marketing arrangements (e.g., '10% Tuesdays'). Engaging customers who want to support volunteerism while raising awareness of community needs.
8. GeekCause Program Fees: Community Partners pay sliding-scale fees for GeekCause tech volunteer projects: Small projects (1-25 hours) at $150, Medium (26-75 hours) at $300, Large (75+ hours) at $450. Funded in part by The Frist Foundation and originally founded by Atiba.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

Hands On Greater Nashville operates a volunteer coordination hub connecting individuals, corporate teams, and skilled professionals with more than 200 vetted nonprofits and community organizations across Middle Tennessee. The organization runs the HandsOn Connect platform for opportunity posting, volunteer registration, team management, and hour tracking, and coordinates specialty programs including GeekCause tech volunteering, Volunteer Skill Match, disaster response, and the annual Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards.

Product overview

Hands On Greater Nashville operates as a volunteer hub powered by the HandsOn Connect platform, connecting more than 200 nonprofits and community organizations with volunteers throughout Middle Tennessee. The core HandsOn Connect platform enables volunteer opportunity posting, registration, hour tracking, and team management. The product portfolio includes specialized programs: GeekCause provides tech volunteer matching for nonprofits; the Community Partner Program offers year-round membership with volunteer management tools; the Corporate Partner Program delivers custom and kit-based volunteer events for businesses; the Disaster Program coordinates emergency response; and the Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards celebrates community service. Additional offerings include court-ordered service coordination, youth and family volunteering, virtual opportunities, and county-specific volunteer portals. The organization merged with United Way of Greater Nashville in 2024.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Corporate Partner Program Business engagement program offering custom volunteer events, team projects, annual partnerships, employee volunteerism, and sponsorship opportunities for corporate teams seeking structured community service engagement.
• GeekCause Tech Volunteer Program Program that pairs skilled tech volunteers with nonprofits for low-cost, high-impact technology projects including website audits, CRM/database reviews, IT security assessments, social media strategy, and data analysis. Available to community partners at sliding-scale fees ($150-$450 per project).
• Community Partner Program Free membership program for nonprofits, schools, faith-based organizations, government agencies, hospitals, hospices, and senior living facilities to recruit and manage volunteers year-round through the HandsOn Connect platform, with access to resources, networking, and skilled volunteer matching.
• Custom Volunteer Events
• Kit Packing Events
• One-Time Volunteer Opportunity Postings
• Disaster Volunteer Program
• Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards Annual recognition event honoring Middle Tennessee volunteers across multiple award categories, with corporate sponsorship packages providing brand visibility, social media posts, email logo placement, and reception access.
• Volunteer Skill Match Program

Quantifiable outcome

• 200,000 volunteers mobilized for flood recovery in 2010 (91,000 hours through Hands On alone; 125,000 referrals)
• +6 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature5 records

Partnerships

20 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Jackson (Presenting Sponsor, Strobel Awards)flagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Jackson serves as the Presenting Sponsor of the 2026 Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards, Hands On's largest annual celebration of volunteerism in Middle Tennessee. This premier sponsorship provides prominent brand visibility at the awards event and across related marketing materials.
• Advance FinancialcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Advance Financial is an Award Sponsor of the 2026 Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards, presenting the Older Adult Volunteer Award. Advance Financial provides volunteer recognition sponsorship.
• AmazoncoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Amazon is an Award Sponsor of the 2026 Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards, presenting the Charles Strobel Legacy of Service Award. Amazon provides volunteer recognition sponsorship.
• University of Tennessee College of Social WorkcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026The University of Tennessee College of Social Work is an Award Sponsor of the 2026 Strobel Volunteer Awards, presenting the Social Justice Impact Award. Provides volunteer recognition sponsorship.
• KrogercoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Kroger is an Award Sponsor of the 2026 Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards, presenting the Disaster Response Award. Provides volunteer recognition sponsorship.
• Nashville Soccer ClubcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Nashville Soccer Club is an Award Sponsor of the 2026 Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards, presenting the Youth Volunteer Award. Provides volunteer recognition sponsorship.
• HCA Healthcare | TriStar HealthcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026HCA Healthcare | TriStar Health is an Award Sponsor of the 2026 Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards, presenting the Adult Volunteer Award. Provides volunteer recognition sponsorship.
• DeloitteminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Deloitte is a Cheering Section Sponsor of the 2026 Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards, providing financial support for the awards event.
• Atlanta Braves FoundationminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Atlanta Braves Foundation is a Cheering Section Sponsor of the 2026 Mary Catherine Strobel Volunteer Awards, providing financial support for the awards event.
• UBScoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026UBS is a 2026 Annual Partner of Hands On Greater Nashville, providing year-round corporate partnership and volunteer engagement support.
• CPI Card GroupcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026CPI Card Group is a 2026 Corporate Volunteer Partner engaged in Hands On's Corporate Partner Program, organizing employee volunteer events through Hands On.
• Zoll MedicalcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Zoll Medical is a 2026 Corporate Volunteer Partner engaged in Hands On's Corporate Partner Program, organizing employee volunteer events through Hands On.
• CumminscoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Cummins is a 2026 Corporate Volunteer Partner engaged in Hands On's Corporate Partner Program, organizing employee volunteer events through Hands On.
• Ernst & YoungcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Ernst & Young is a 2026 Corporate Volunteer Partner engaged in Hands On's Corporate Partner Program, organizing employee volunteer events through Hands On.
• Ingram Industries, Inc.coreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Ingram Industries, Inc. is a 2026 Corporate Volunteer Partner engaged in Hands On's Corporate Partner Program, organizing employee volunteer events through Hands On.
• Tennessee TitansflagshipGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026The Tennessee Titans are a 2026 Corporate Volunteer Partner with an established relationship with Hands On for organizing company-wide volunteer events. The Titans' mission of 'Win, Serve, Entertain' is reflected in their community service engagement through Hands On.
• Nashville VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Hands On and United Way of Greater Nashville are proud members of the Nashville VOAD, which strengthens area-wide disaster coordination and preparedness by sharing programs, policies, and information, and engaging in joint planning, education, and training.
• Nashville Office of Emergency ManagementflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Hands On collaborates with the Nashville Office of Emergency Management and United Way of Greater Nashville to support disaster preparedness and response efforts for natural and man-made disasters throughout Middle Tennessee. Hands On organizes and manages volunteer projects during disasters.
• United Way of Greater NashvilleflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024Hands On merged with United Way of Greater Nashville in 2024 and continues to nurture the vision of its founders with even greater reach. United Way provides institutional support, funding, and administrative infrastructure for Hands On's volunteer programs.
• AtibacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2017Atiba, a Nashville-based technology consulting firm, founded GeekCause in 2017 as a way for their employees to lend tech skills to local nonprofits. With 130 volunteers and eight projects complete, Atiba saw an opportunity to expand the program through partnership with Hands On.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• VolunteerMatch: National online volunteer matching platform connecting individuals with nonprofit opportunities; directly comparable to Hands On's hon.org platform in product, audience, and nonprofit-segment focus.
• Taproot Foundation: Nonprofit that mobilizes skilled volunteers (marketing, tech, HR, strategy) for capacity-building engagements with other nonprofits; functionally similar to Hands On's GeekCause and Skill Match programs.
• Points of Light: National nonprofit operating HandsOn Network and corporate volunteer engagement programs; directly comparable as a volunteer hub running recognition events and corporate partnerships at greater scale.
• Catchafire: Skill-based volunteer matching platform pairing professionals with nonprofits for marketing, tech, and strategy projects; the closest direct comparable to Hands On's GeekCause program.
• VolunteerHub: SaaS volunteer management platform used by nonprofits to recruit, schedule, and track volunteers; directly comparable to Hands On's proprietary HandsOn Connect platform offering.
• Idealist: Online platform listing volunteer opportunities, jobs, and actions at nonprofits worldwide; directly comparable to hon.org as a discovery and registration channel for individual volunteers.

Emerging players

• Big Brothers Big Sisters of America: Large national nonprofit pairing adult volunteers with youth mentees; comparable operating model of recruiting, vetting, and managing volunteers to deliver community outcomes at scale.
• Findhelp (211): National social-care network connecting individuals to community programs and volunteer opportunities; comparable as a community-resource directory serving overlapping nonprofit and volunteer audiences.

Broad incumbents

• United Way Worldwide: Global parent network of United Way affiliates including Hands On's parent UWGN; comparable as a broader civic/funraising incumbent with overlapping volunteer, disaster, and community programs.
• American Red Cross: National humanitarian organization operating large-scale disaster volunteer mobilization (Hands On is a local disaster partner); comparable on disaster volunteer coordination capability at national scale.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/honashville
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/UnitedWayNashville
• Facebookfacebook.com/HONashville
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/hands-on-nashville
• Instagraminstagram.com/honashville

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Hands On UWGN