For over fifteen years, Lori’s Hands has paired college student volunteers with community members managing chronic illness — building relationships that offer practical help, genuine companionship, and learning that goes both ways. This fall, we’re introducing something new: a membership model for clients and a one-time enrollment fee for new student volunteers.
We want to be upfront about why we’re making this change, and how we’ve designed it so that cost is never a barrier to being part of Lori’s Hands.
Why now?
Like many nonprofits, Lori’s Hands has relied primarily on grants and donations to fund our work. That generosity has carried us far — but it can also be unpredictable, as recent years and federal funding cuts have exemplified. As we’ve grown to three chapters and more than a dozen university partnerships, we’ve been thinking hard about how to build a foundation sturdy enough to sustain this work for the next fifteen years and beyond.
A membership model helps us do that. It creates a steady, community-rooted source of support and reflects something we’ve always believed: that our clients and students are members of a community invested in each other and in this organization’s future.
What the client membership model looks like
Beginning this fall, clients who have completed at least one semester with Lori’s Hands will be invited to choose an annual membership level. New clients will always receive their first semester free, so every family can experience the program before deciding whether it’s a good fit.
Membership levels are entirely self-selected on a trust basis, with $250/year as our standard membership level and the amount we ask of most households.
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- Sustaining — $600/year
- Standard — $250/year
- Supporting — $125/year
- Access — $75/year
- Community — $0/year
Clients simply choose the level that best fits their circumstances, and every member receives the same program and care as they always have. Generous community funding partners and donors help make our Supporting, Access, and Community levels possible.
What the student enrollment fee looks like
New student volunteers joining Lori’s Hands are now asked to cover a one-time $75 enrollment fee. This covers the real costs of bringing a new volunteer on board: a background check, our onboarding training program, access to the Lori’s Hands app, and a Lori’s Hands t-shirt. It’s a one-time ask — students never pay it again for the rest of their college careers, and current volunteers are not affected.
Just as importantly: the enrollment fee should never be the reason a student can’t volunteer. We have a long track record of ensuring cost never stands between a willing student and this work, and we will work with students to ensure the enrollment fee is not a barrier to participation.
This is new — and we want to hear from you
This model is a first for us, and we’re approaching it with humility. We’ll be gathering feedback from clients and students throughout the fall, and membership levels may evolve in future years as we learn. If you have questions, concerns, or ideas, please reach out — we’d genuinely love to talk.
Want to help someone say yes?
Both of these models are built on trust — no client or student is turned away because of what they can afford. But that promise only works because members of our community help cover the gap for those who can’t.
If you’re in a position to give, you can:
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- Sponsor a student — $75. Covers a new volunteer’s background check, training, app access, and t-shirt for a student who isn’t able to pay the enrollment fee themselves.
- Sponsor a client membership — $250. Covers a full year of Standard membership for someone who needs the connection and support Lori’s Hands provides.
Sponsor a client or student here →
Thank you for being part of this community. Whether you’re a client, a student, a family member, or a supporter, you’re the reason Lori’s Hands exists — and this next step forward is one we’re taking together.
With gratitude,
– The Lori’s Hands Team
