Home » THE UNITED STATES VOLUNTEER CENTER NATIONAL NETWORK BENCHMARKING FROM 17TH IAVE WORLD CONFERENCE
January 26, 2010

The United States Volunteer Center National Network Benchmarking from 17th IAVE World Conference

IAVE IRC

Kristin Buckley
Points of Light Foundation, USA 

 

Presentations made at a Workshop 1 at the 17th IAVE Conference on "The United States Volunteer Center National Network Benchmarking and Standards Assessment Tool" The United States Volunteer Center National Network, working in partnership with the Points of Light Foundation, is

The Volunteer Center Standards of Excellence have helped to professionalize the work of Volunteer Centers while strengthening the network, national partnership and funding opportunities. Completing the tool has helped Volunteer Centers to identify priorities and develop plans for their Center. Information from the completed tools continues to help guide development of training, materials and other resources that will benefit the entire field of Volunteer Centers.This workshop will include smaller group discussions and interactive activities in which participants can engage. Through case studies and discussion, we invite you to come learn about the process and the result that effectively helps to strengthen the United States national network of Volunteer Centers. 

comprised of nearly 500 Volunteer Centers located throughout the nation. In 1993, the Points of Light Foundation and the Volunteer Center National Network participated in an intensive visioning process, which culminated in the development of a shared vision. Core competencies were then defined and from this, benchmarking tools such as the Program Standards of Excellence and Required Standards were created.

In adopting the Vision, where the Volunteer Center of the future mobilizes people and resources to deliver creative solutions to community problems, a Volunteer Center commits to making a difference in its community through volunteer service that addresses social problems. The Volunteer Center Benchmarking Measure, translates the Volunteer Center Vision into a series of performance measures that can be used for organizational management and strategic planning. The Volunteer Center Program Measure provides a process that analyzes Volunteer Center programs and activities in the context of the vision. Used in tandem, these two tools will help a Volunteer Center define its unique model of effective volunteer engagement and its relationship to the most pressing social problems facing its community.

The Volunteer Center Standards of Excellence:
• Spring from the Volunteer Center National Network Framework of vision, values, and core competencies;
• Incorporate the work previously done on the Volunteer Center Benchmarking Measure and Program Measure;
• Present a road map to excellence based on the core competencies for Volunteer Centers;
• Professionalize our work and strengthen the Network, national partnerships, and funding opportunities; and
• Establish required standards for membership in the Volunteer Center National Network and Points of Light Foundation.