FAFSA begins TODAY (Free Application for Federal Student Aid)

It's FAFSA Time! For those of you just getting back into this, the FAFSA opening day has changed from January 1st of a high school student's senior year to TODAY, October 1st of that same high school student's senior year. That's 3 months earlier than in years past (and actually 6 months earlier than how families 20 years ago filled out the FAFSA).

The reason for this is so that new soon-to-be college students who are applying in the fall can almost immediately compare their options, especially if the final decision comes down to finances. Check our graphic at the bottom of this post so you can visualize how, in order to receive an official financial aid award, a student needs to have both an accepted college application as well as a processed FAFSA.

Do-Gooder Consulting is here to help organizations plan, advertise, or even run a FAFSA completion session. Please contact us by phone at 872-222-8008 or by email at FAFSA(at)do-gooder.us or call us at 872-222-8008 .

We look forward to serving you in the near future.


One final note: please encourage your current college students to renew their FAFSA as soon as possible. It's easy to forget, but with the renewal using the same information they just inputted 6 months ago, it's also easy to fill out, and could provide more money than last well. Simply text and/or e-mail them this secure website address = www.FAFSA.gov


In fact, we'd suggest contacting the following people to fill out the FAFSA as soon as pssible after October 1 (as it costs no money to fill out the FREE Application for Federal Student Aid):

1) Returning college students (see above)
2) High school seniors (as mentioned above)
3) Adults simply thinking about returning to college. Filling out the FAFSA does not obligate someone to go to college, but is one vital step in getting an official financial aid package.

 

 

Time is Running Out to Save Money on Energy Costs!

Global Generation Group

The following might seem strange in this time of social distancing due to Covid-19. But I would argue now is the BEST time, as this will provide some great opportunities for you, and begin a new start when everyone returns.  And despite the many shutdowns, the program has been running throughout, and is slated to run out of funding very soon.       



Do-Gooder Consulting is excited to once again partner with Global Generation Group , a service provider / trade ally of Commonwealth Edison.  We are charged with implementing Com-Ed’s 2020 Small Business energy efficiency program (their definition of small business includes churches and nonprofits; this program is a different department than their residential energy efficiency program, which has been advertised in the media). Global Generation specializes in helping organizations finding no cost improvements to upgrade their facilities with energy efficient equipment.    



The Com-Ed Energy Efficiency Program for Small Businesses is paid for by an energy charge on EVERYONE’s bill).  See the graphic to check your own bill to see these state-mandated charges. 


This special program (paid for by an energy charge on EVERYONE’s bill) gives no-cost upgrades that include:
  

1. LED replacements of fluorescent lights (for certain types, determined by Com-Ed after free energy assessment)

2. HVAC upgrade (installing an economizer & sensors to help HVAC units pull in less air – and use less energy—when fewer or no people are in an area. This is called Demand Control Ventilation - DCV) 

3. Occupancy sensors that turn off/on lights automatically (such as for a bathroom).

4. Weather stripping for outer doors.

 The qualifications are simple – you pay an electric bill every month, which is classified at “Retail/Commercial = 0 to 100KW), and you are a small business, church or nonprofit. You can easily see if you qualify by checking your bill.


 We at Do-Gooder Consulting would like to do a walk-through of your facility (which proper precautions -- we do NOT need to touch anything) with you  sometime in the next two weeks and help you get these no cost upgrades. 

We will be happy to provide references so you can see how this has worked for others. When contacting them, please mention that JP Paulus who worked with the Com-Ed Small Business Energy Effficiency program referred you.  

Some of these organizations include:

·         Bowen’s Pizza (Bronzeville  neighborhood of Chicago)

·         Quad Communities Development Corporation (Bronzeville  neighborhood of Chicago)

·         Ephphtha Church of the Deaf (Chatham neighborhood of Chicago)

·         Chatham Fields Lutheran Church (Chatham neighborhood of Chicago)

·         Carey Tercentenary AME Church (North Lawndale neighborhood of Chicago)

·         La Villita Community Church (North Lawndale neighborhood of Chicago)

·         Neighborhood United Methodist Church (Maywood, IL)

Even though Covid had slowed things down, the money for this program *IS* running out, so please don’t delay.

We look forward to hearing from you soon by e-mail at jp@do-gooder.us or by phone or text at 872-222-8008

Partnering to Save You Money on Energy Costs

Global Generation Group

The following might seem strange in this time of social distancing due to Covid-19. But I would argue now is the BEST time, as this will provide some great opportunities for you, and begin a new start when everyone returns.  After reading this description, please contact us to schedule a walk-through as soon as possible.


Do-Gooder Consulting is excited to once again partner with Global Generation Group , a service provider / trade ally of Commonwealth Edison.  We are charged with implementing Com-Ed’s 2020 Small Business energy efficiency program (their definition of small business includes churches and nonprofits; this program is a different department than their residential energy efficiency program, which has been advertised in the media). Global Generation specializes in helping organizations finding no cost improvements to upgrade their facilities with energy efficient equipment.



The Com-Ed Energy Efficiency Program for Small Businesses is paid for by an energy charge on EVERYONE’s bill).  See the graphic to check your own bill to see these state-mandated charges. 


This special program (paid for by an energy charge on EVERYONE’s bill) gives no-cost upgrades that include:


   

1. LED replacements of fluorescent lights (for certain types, determined by Com-Ed after free energy assessment)

2. HVAC upgrade (installing an economizer & sensors to help HVAC units pull in less air – and use less energy—when fewer or no people are in an area. This is called Demand Control Ventilation - DCV) 

3. Occupancy sensors that turn off/on lights automatically (such as for a bathroom).

4. Weather stripping for outer doors.

 The qualifications are simple – you pay an electric bill every month, which is classified at “Retail/Commercial = 0 to 100KW), and you are a small business, church or nonprofit. You can easily see if you qualify by checking your bill.


 We at Do-Gooder Consulting would like to do a walk-through of your facility (which proper precautions -- we do NOT need to touch anything) with you  sometime in the next two weeks and help you get these no cost upgrades. 

We will be happy to provide references so you can see how this has worked for others. When contacting them, please mention that JP Paulus who worked with the Com-Ed Small Business Energy Effficiency program refered you.  
Some of these organizations include:

·         Bowen’s Pizza (Bronzeville  neighborhood of Chicago)

·         Ephphtha Church of the Deaf (Chatham neighborhood of Chicago)

·         Chatham Fields Lutheran Church (Chatham neighborhood of Chicago)

·         Carey Tercentenary AME Church (North Lawndale neighborhood of Chicago)

·         La Villita Community Church (North Lawndale neighborhood of Chicago)

·         Neighborhood United Methodist Church (Maywood, IL)

We look forward to hearing from you soon by e-mail at jp@do-gooder.us or by phone or text at 872-222-8008

See our website

For more information on Do-Gooder Consulting, see our website at http://www.do-gooder.us/

FAFSA opening date change can HELP your organization help students!

We talked about this major change with the FAFSA (FREE Application for Federal Student Aid)  in a  previous post. As we have reported on this blog several months ago, the FAFSA opening day has changed from January 1st of a high school student's senior year to October 1st of that same high school student's senior year. That's 3 months earlier than in years past (and actually 6 months earlier than how families 20 years ago filled out the FAFSA)

The reason for this is so that new soon-to-be college students who are applying in the fall can almost immediately compare their options, especially if the final decision comes down to finances. Check our graphic at the bottom of this post so you can visualize how, in order to receive an official financial aid award, a student needs to have both an accepted college application as well as a processed FAFSA.

While this is perhaps a little confusing for many families right now, this is also a great opportunity for churches and nonprofits to provide leadership and resources to their community. By helping families fill out the FAFSA early, you and your organization may be able to provide them with thousands of dollars and financial aid without the organization itself needing to contribute towards that purpose. You also build trust in the community, and show one reason why you are a key community resource.

We see this as a great outreach because it's a very strong need for our families. Churches and nonprofits which are located near schools have an excellent opportunity for outreach and connecting with their local community. Churches can schedule a session right after their church service, and if possible, even provide lunch. Or, if it's possible , providing an afterschool or evening program with a light dinner, such as pizza, which can also be a huge benefit two families. Nonprofits as well can help their community and also their schools as well with an activity that helps families but let's the school clothes on time we be greatly appreciated by the local school.

Do-Gooder Consulting would like encourage you to start your plan this is possible. We understand it might be too late for you to start any event in October, but we encourage you to set up a session in November, December or even the first week of January (before current college students return to school) , and then plan for a FAFSA completion session in early October of 2017.

We have also written in the past about how financial aid deadlines are shrinking, and the importance of having the FAFSA completed as soon pas possible after that opening date.   However, we believe that missing October of 2016 (despite it being the opening date) will be just fine  because for this first year, a number of students will still be getting used to this new date and you may be able to do late by a month or so. For the future, however, we strongly suggest that you schedule a fast the completion session as close to October 1st as possible.


Do-Gooder Consulting is here to help you plan, advertise, or even run a FAFSA completion session. Please contact us by phone at 872-222-8008 or by email at FAFSA(at)do-gooder.us or call us at 872-222-8008 .

We look forward to serving you in the near future.


One final note: please encourage your current college students to renew their FAFSA as soon as possible. It's easy to forget, but with the renewal using the same information they just inputted 6 months ago, it's also easy to fill out, and could provide more money than last well. Simply text and/or e-mail them this secure website address = www.FAFSA.gov


In fact, we'd suggest contacting the following people to fill out the FAFSA as soon as pssible after October 1 (as it costs no money to fill out the FREE Application for Federal Student Aid):

1) Returning college students (see above)
2) High school seniors (as mentioned above)
3) Adults simply thinking about returning to college. Filling out the FAFSA does not obligate someone to go to college, but is one vital step in getting an official financial aid package.

The new deadline helps you receive the financial aid award faster than previous years.

Guest Post = 5 Tips on Video Interview Etiquette

We at Do-Gooder Consulting want to welcome back Krystal Lamb, who gave us our most-read blog post on Facebook. (The article is "8 Ways to Make Your LinkedIn Profile Stand Out") She's back with some more great advice! Krystal Lamb is a human resources professional, LinkedIn certified, and Founder/CEO of Career Tips with Krys. We would love to hear how these tips have helped your video interview!

5 Tips on Video Interview Etiquette

Video interviewing is slowly but surely becoming the next wave. With technology changing, attending an interview in an office will soon become obsolete. A quick Google search will tell us that about 71 percent of companies use real-time video interviewing and 50 percent use video interviews as a way to narrow the candidate pool. With such high statistics, you are sure to conduct a video interview in your near future. There are a couple of different methods of video interviews today but what remains the same is how you present yourself in this environment. I have 5 great tips on how to properly conduct an interview.

1. The Software
Before your interview date, the Recruiter or Hiring Manager will send you the video link to download. Please make sure you try it at least a day before your interview. Some platforms may require an additional program to install or may not be compatible with a specific browser on your computer or smartphone. Whatever the case may be, please take the time to play with the software
on your device BEFORE your interview. This gives you the ability to log on promptly and with ease
ten minutes before your designated interview time. If you have any issues with the link, do not
hesitate to reach out to the Recruiter or Hiring Manager for additional assistance. On top of being
more than willing to help, they will acknowledge the fact that you are taking the initiative and
showing interest in the process.

2. The Location/Background
I cannot stress the importance of conducting your video interview in a QUIET and CLEAN
environment. An interviewer will make note of the background noise and the environment. Move
into a quiet space away from your pets and others in the home. Make sure you are in a well-lit room
and use headphones if you must. You want your interviewer to be focused on you and not what is
behind you.

3. Your Appearance
Dress professionally and not only from the waist up. You never know if you will need to step away
from the screen so it’s best to be prepared. Keep in mind that on screen visibility is very different
from being face to face. Stay away from shiny jewelry and patterned clothing. Bold colors such as
bright red or orange are not best for the screen either. Stick to darker colors or blazers. Keep your
hair away from your face as well so that you are completely visible to the interviewer.

4. The Body Language
Just as if you were in an office interview, you want to have engaging body language. Keep eye
contact and make sure to look into the camera when speaking. Candidates tend to forget that
looking at the screen while speaking is not the same as looking into the camera. Lean forward a bit
so that the interviewer knows you are interested and focused. Speak at a reasonable rate and not
too fast so the interviewer can understand your words. Refrain from any nervous habits or
movements. Don’t forget to smile and remain calm.

5. The Follow-Up
A video interview has its differences from a face-to- face interview but one thing remains the same:
FOLLOW-UP. Always remember to send a thank you email. It’s the easiest way to be remembered
and to show your full interest in the role. This act speaks volumes to a company and is something
that a lot of managers want to see.


Krystal Lamb is a Sales Recruiter/Human Resources Representative at a Telecommunications company in Chicago, IL. She is also the Founder/CEO of Career Tips with Krys, where she provides resume editing, resume writing, career counseling and interview etiquette services. Contact her through email at krystherecruiter@gmail.com , on Instagram @careertipswithkrys or Like her www.facebook.com/careertipswithkrys

FAFSA opening date has changed to THIS October 1!

The FAFSA opening date has changed! "Traditionally" the opening date was January 1. But things have changed,

The main trouble will be for families who have returning students. They will think “Didn’t we just fill this out?”  And that feeling is justified, as it may have been 8 months or less when they filled out the FAFSA.  That is going to require a change in mindset. For years, Do-Gooder Consulting has advocated FAFSA completion sessions at the beginning of the year. We have worked with churches to do such a session following their service on the first Sunday of January.

Now, we encourage churches to hold such a session in October or if needed, November. Nonprofits can work with families with holding evening sessions, or also during the day if the families have Columbus Day or Veterans’ Day off.  It’s a huge shift in scheduling, and may conflict with other activities. But if going to - and graduating - college is a priority, then lifestyle changes need to be made.

So please, plan accordingly, so your student can get the best financial aid possible. If you are part of a church or nonprofit (or even business that wishes to maximize help for your employees, customers and their families), please contact us at Do-Gooder Consulting, and let’s see how we can work together for the best interest of students. We would be happy to help you organize a coalition of organizations to maximize resources and impact. Feel free to call or text Do-Gooder Consulting at 872-222-8008 or e-mail at  blog@do-gooder.us