Strengthening Ties to Better Mobilize Volunteers

By Sara Grosvenor

The Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network announced a formal affiliation agreement that strengthens the relationship between the Foundation and more than 300 Volunteer Centers. This agreement creates the largest national network of local organizations that mobilizes and connects volunteers, offering services to 50 percent of the U.S. population.

The affiliation agreement formalizes the 16-year relationship between the Foundation and the Network. “By combining the local infrastructure of the affiliates with the resources of the Foundation,” says Robert K. Goodwin, president and CEO of the Points of Light Foundation, “the agreement creates a much more unified, effective national system of mobilizing and managing volunteers.”

“The agreement codifies the expectations of the volunteer field for the working relationship between the Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network and its affiliates,” continues Goodwin. “It establishes guidelines both for the Foundation to represent the collective interest of the Volunteer Centers and for the affiliates to offer a consistent set of services.”

As part of the affiliation agreement, the combined system has agreed to provide three essential services in local communities where there are affiliates: a Web-based, searchable, volunteer-matching software application, training in volunteer management and recognition activities that promote volunteering and highlight volunteers.

“The idea with the essential services is to assure that at a minimum, people can expect these things, but the goal is always more than that,” said Steve Miller, chair of the Foundation Board. “We need a strong national voice for the volunteer sector, and we are committed to building the Volunteer Center infrastructure that will support the effective use of volunteers to help solve serious social problems.”

“The agreement will really improve and increase the ability of Volunteer Centers to serve a broader audience across the country,” says Marilee Chinnici-Zuercher, chair of the Volunteer Center National Network Council (VCNNC), “by providing information about volunteer opportunities, as well as training to improve their skills as effective volunteers.”

Both the Foundation & the Network are committed to doubling the number of volunteers that are recruited and referred through this unified system from 5.25 million to 10.5 million over the next five years. Three strategies are to meet this goal: increase the effectiveness of volunteer mangers, build the capacity of organizations to engage and deploy volunteers and increase the number of more effective volunteers. A strong and vibrant infrastructure will assure that the system can work effectively to achieve these goals.