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on Wednesday, May 4, 2016
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Volunteer Iowa announced the selection of six organizations as participants in the Service Enterprise Initiative certification training. Science Center of Iowa, Animal Rescue League of Iowa, Greater Des Moines Habitat for Humanity, Iowa Child Advocacy Board, Iowa Sister States, and the Office of the State Long Term Care Ombudsman will complete the training to achieve the Service Enterprise standard of integrating volunteers at all levels of their operations.
Managed nationally by Points of Light and statewide by Volunteer Iowa, the Service Enterprise Initiative is a proven, research-based model that equips organizations to leverage volunteers and their skills across all levels to successfully deliver on their social mission. It also diagnoses strengths organizations can leverage and challenges that need to be addressed in order to achieve sustainability. The model continues to achieve results nationwide. Over 80 percent of Service Enterprises report they had an increase in skills-based volunteers and a 60 percent increase in volunteer hours.
“Becoming a Service Enterprise is really an organizational change management process” said Chris Juhl, Volunteer Manager at Science Center of Iowa, “in order to leverage the full value of volunteer time and skills we need the commitment and support from everyone on our team to do things a little differently. Everyone is on board and we’re excited to access the resources and training offered through the Service Enterprise training.”
The six organizations selected will receive volunteer management resources and 16 hours of hands-on interactive training and individualized consulting services related to the initiative. There are 12 certified Services Enterprises in Iowa with over 15 organizations currently working to achieve their certification.
“Participating in the Service Enterprise Initiative demonstrates an organization’s commitment to organizational effectiveness and efficiency, and shows funders they are a good investment” said Adam Lounsbury, Volunteer Iowa Executive Director. “One of the best ways to improve volunteerism in Iowa is to empower and equip nonprofits that utilize volunteers to become Service Enterprises” said Lounsbury.
To learn more about the Service Enterprise visit volunteeriowa.org/SEI. Organizations and agencies that are interested in becoming a Service Enterprise can contact Michelle Raymer, Volunteer Iowa Program Officer, michelle.raymer@iowa.gov 515.725.3135.
About Volunteer Iowa (or Iowa Commission on Volunteer Service)
Volunteer Iowa and its partner agencies work with organizations and individuals on three main fronts. The first is to help agencies develop quality programs that use service as a strategy to fulfill their missions and address Iowa’s greatest areas of need. The second is to help engage Iowans in their communities by promoting service and expanding the volunteer base. Finally, the third area of work is to connect individuals with appropriate service opportunities by building the volunteer infrastructure. More information is available at volunteeriowa.org.
About Points of Light
Points of Light – the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service – mobilizes millions of people to take action that is changing the world. Through affiliates in 250 cities and partnerships with thousands of nonprofits and corporations, Points of Light engages more than 4 million volunteers in 30 million hours of service each year – we put people at the center of change. For more information, go to pointsoflight.org.