We've been thrilled by the great mix of responses to this hot topic.
Below they are posted by the most recent first.
For those who want to start at the beginning, click
here.
Submitted anonymously on 24 October 2006
I can't believe I'm just now finding this. I was stunned to read the things Susan wrote--it is still true today--four years later! I've worked at a volunteer center that is internal to the UW--even though UW only provides 5% of its funding--we are not able to do any type of fundraising for the duration of the UW campaign--which continues in one form or another for most of the year--save maybe one or two months in early spring. The executive director of the UW is also the executive director of the volunteer center--talk about conflict of interest. Our center has been swallowed whole by the United Way--every piece of material we put out is plastered with giant UW logos but often has our puny logo crammed in the corner as an afterthought, or doesn't contain it at all. The volunteer center seems to only exist to be put into a fundraising campaign or to squeeze money through. Grants, endowments, everything is funneled through the volunteer center which only has one part-time employee (me) and an executive director (the UW director), who does little if any of the volunteer center day to day operation and really only is involved if there's money in it for UW. And yet we still do not have the budget to hire a full-time person so the part time person (ME), who cannot keep up with everything the director is promising or claiming, takes the hit for it with the outside corporations and agencies because I'm the face they see. It is clear that the executive director has too many irons in the fire, but will not allow me to do my job--short of taking the blame for her. The few volunteers I'm able to pull in to help seldom stay once they see our leadership. The director talks a convincing talk about volunteerism and community and everything else that sounds good, but does not walk the walk--but others are fooled by her. I would love the opportunity to spread my wings at a volunteer center that has nothing to do with a United Way. I must submit this anonymously or lose my job.
Submitted on 03July28 by Laura Becker, Volunteer Coordinator
- Hanover Area Family YMCA, Pennsylvania
WOW! The United Way in our area has an integral Volunteer Center.
Our YMCA is a member. Thankfully, our local United Way does put a
higher emphasis on the Volunteer Center than it sounds like other
UW's do. However, we (the YMCA) do recruit our own volunteers AND
raise our own funds, in addition to our annual allocation. I think
this is important to note. We collaborate with the United Way, but
we are still self sufficient both in our financial and our human resources.
United Ways have their place, but woe to the agency that "puts
all their eggs in one basket" by relying solely on their funding
and volunteer service through the United Way.
Submitted on 03Apr15 by Ed Bales, Vice Chairman - Philadelphia
Volunteer Referral Organization, Philadelphia, PA
I agree with Susan 110%. As the Vice Chairman of a privately funded
volunteer center in Philadelphia and a member of the Points of Light
Foundation, we feel that we have been squeezed by the Points of Light
Organization in favor of the United Way of SE PA. The Points of Light
Organization gives the United Way of SE PA a very broad territorial
area and now wants us to leave the POLF or change our geographical
location. How can the United Way of SE PA take such a large "slot",
I am not sure, but I think the POLF has become a United Way concession.
Submitted on 6Mar03 by Darci Shave, Chair, Red Deer Volunteer
Managers Network, Red Deer, Alberta, Canada
I recently had a privilege to attend the Volunteer Development Leadership
Institute in Cornwall, ON hosted by Volunteer Canada. 200 representative
from Canada's Voluntary Sector participated in this Institute. Contrary
to Alberta, I learned that many of Canada's Volunteer Centres are
internal to United Ways. Based on comments I heard about their experiences
and those of the respondents to this hot topic...I truly believe that
it comes down to what is best for that community - how services are
BEST delivered in THAT community. I see the benefits and challenges
of both sides.
Submitted on 6Jan03 by Robbins, Consultant, Washington,
DC
Good piece. The start of something? Who knows? It's a classic case
of the organization's survival and related self-interests trumping
the mission, however well-stated, noble or heart felt. It's just the
way of the world...if you don't watch it.
Submitted on 17Dec02 by Suellen Carlson, Director of
Volunteers, Lutheran Social Services, Jamestown, NY
What a fascinating hot topic! United Way agencies take
in a great deal of money, with very little public accountability.
Their access to employees with payroll deductions is brilliant. Any
not-for-profit could have sold itself in this way. I am always concerned
that United Ways are able to drive programs in local agencies because
of the strings attached to the funds. I would hope that not-for-profits
would become smarter about raising their own funding, diversifying
their funding streams and weaning off the Unity Way dole. That way
they could attract their own volunteers and not rely on the winds
of change.
Submitted on 17Dec02 by Judith A. M. Smith, Executive
Director, Volunteer Jacksonville, Florida, USA
In my opinion, contingency theory is alive and well and living in
this topic! In other words, "it depends." I've lived through
most of a six-year reduction of United Way funding from 66% to 20%
of budget. It was certainly not much fun, and we were darn lucky that
the agency had cash reserves to continue programs and services to
the community. That said, I have also lived under new leadership,
for the past three years, that respects our capacity as an independent
agency, is our major funder at about 25% of budget, and with whom
we have a terrific reciprocating partnership based on mutual respect.
It all depends upon the leadership and motivation of the local organization.
If their agenda is truly community building, they can be the finest
partner a volunteer center has. If their agenda is based narrowly
upon their own organizational success, this can spell trouble for
a volunteer center, particularly one that's on shaky financial ground
and has become dependent on a single funding source. I believe the
contingency concept likely carries over to internal centers also--it
depends on the motivation of the leadership whether the partnership
works or not. I do, however, agree that the primary customer of a
volunteer center is the volunteer and the primary customer of a United
Way is the donor. This is tough to reconcile, and therefore I believe
the more effective structural model is the independent organization.
Submitted on 17Dec02 by Michael D. Call, President and
CEO, United Way of Rock River Valley IL
It's obvious that every community is unique. I've read
through the opinions expressed, and the full range of responses is
present. Here's mine. First, each United Way is independent. While
I acknowledge that some United Ways exist primarily to raise money,
others, including ours, exist to improve the community. Raising and
allocating funds is only ONE way we do this.
Second, most Volunteer Centers have a mission that is in step with
their local United Way. Here in Rockford, Illinois, our Volunteer
Center is internal to our United Way. We view the Volunteer Center
as an integral part of our mission. On the campaign side of the business,
we recruit financial resources and distribute them. On the Volunteer
Center side of the business, we recruit human resources and "distribute"
them.
Third, simply because of the name recognition, United Ways are often
the source for community and volunteer information. Volunteer Centers
generally don't enjoy a high level of community awareness. When the
Volunteer Center is internal to United Way, we (meaning United Way
AND the Volunteer Center) are able to provide better customer service.
Fourth, most United Ways bring a high level of corporate and media
support, which we have found greatly benefits our internal Volunteer
Center.
In the end, each community has determined--and will continue to determine--what
works best when it comes to not only referring volunteers, but also
promoting volunteering, making volunteering more effective, and building
strategic community coalitions to solve the most pressing problems.
For us, having a Volunteer Center which is internal to United Way
works best.
Submitted on 17Dec02 by Betty Sue Cliff, Director, Volunteer
Center of Bi-County United Way, Inc., Missouri, USA
Re: United Way limits Volunteer Center effectiveness
and operations.
Rather than the United Way limiting a Volunteer Center’s effectiveness,
there are frequent examples of assistance given by United Ways to
Volunteer Centers, such as computer updating, training, etc. Praise
for Volunteer Center functioning within the community is part and
parcel of the good relationship between United ways and their Volunteer
Centers.In addition, United Way opens the door to a source of corporate
volunteering that is not easily available to independent entities,
thus removing the need to reinvent the wheel.
Re: Volunteer Center staff being required to give priority to
United Way internal work.
The establishment of a free-standing status could easily offset this
so-called man-hour deficit by promoting an urgent need for man-hours
spent in individual fund raising from the community. The latter could
easily become the main focus of the Volunteer Center, rather than
being involved in helping to solve community problems. The Volunteer
Center would, of brutal necessity, need to focus on fund raising as
a matter of sheer survival.
Re: Volunteer Centers being ruled by the United Way Board.
United Way Volunteer Centers are not ruled by the United Way Board,
except as being required to adhere to the same standards that apply
to qualifications for United Way funding of service agencies. Rather,
there is an Advisory Council whose chairman also sits of the United
Way Board to facilitate coordination and planning.
Re: Volunteer Center’s being independent and doing fund
raising for them selves.
The whole idea of United Way funding a Volunteer Center is to provide
at no additional cost to the community volunteer placement for
the non-profit agencies within a said community. The purpose of volunteering
is to save individual agencies the expense of hiring additional staff,
which would cause them to need additional funding from the community
thus creating a vicious cycle of financial burdens on the community
they and the Volunteer Centers serve.
Re: Day of Caring providing opportunities for United Way funded
agencies only.
Agencies, in order to qualify for either funding or volunteer
placement services need only be 501(c)(3) and adhere to the non-discriminatory
requirements United Way demands of itself. The Day of Caring involves
many agencies who are not United Way funded, and who, as a matter
of record, have their own independent sources of funding.
Submitted on 16Dec02 by Jill Alfrejd, Director, United
Way of Lake County IL, USA
While Susan’s comments may apply to certain communities,
they cannot be applied as blanket statements to all UWs, internal
VCs or communities. It is simply not valid to take one example and
project that to all communities.
As Director of an Volunteer Center (VC) internal to United Way (UW)
and as chair of a Points of Light Foundation task force, focusing
on the Volunteer Center/United Way relationship with the goal to promote
models where VCs and UWs have developed ways to leverage the strengths
of each, we have found a number of examples where the internal VC
is a valuable and essential component of impact in the community.
In addition:
- Within the 1400 UWs there exists a wide variety of missions, goals,
programs & services, etc. Statements such as “Volunteering
is so much broader in scope than the human service agencies within
the umbrella of a United Way”, “In most communities,
it is only United Way-funded agencies which are asked to develop
a volunteer project”, “As staff of the United Way, Volunteer
Center workers can – and usually are – diverted and
deployed to “priority work” when necessary” does
not ring true in any of the internal VCs that I am aware of.
- Given any community’s limited resources does it really make
sense to demand that there must be two separate organizations serving
similar if not compatible missions? What about all the independent
VCs that have had to close their doors? Being internal to UW can
provide stability and access to resources that many of the independent
VCs would love to have; resources from internal HR, MIS, Marketing
professionals etc.
- “…to keep internal costs down, an in-house Volunteer
Center is expected to stay small. Becoming an internal program of
a United Way is the kiss of death to future growth”; the opposite
may actual be true. In IL we have a number of small independent
VCs that have not been able to add staff or increase their budgets,
most have remained part-time single staffed offices while my Center
has been able to add both.
Each community must decide how best to provide the necessary resources
to get and keep its citizens involved. This may mean a VC housed in
a UW, an independent with a UW partnership, or a VC internal to another
organization. Our national network needs to include a variety of structures
that can meet the specific needs that exist in each community and
not be restricted to a “One Size Fits All” model.
Submitted on 16Dec02 by Ioana Muresan, Pro Vobis National
Volunteer Center, Romania
(This goes both to Susan and to all who posted on this and other hot
topics). What a great Hot Topic even for us, so far away from your
reality and your challenges. As a national volunteer center manager,
working to support the development of existing and new volunteer centers
in my country, I find this discussion truly inspiring. We have both
self-incorporated volunteer centers and internal ones (not to UWs
- because we don't have this organization, but to various social service
agencies.) All your comments have provided such useful food for thought.
As usual, your work and your experiences are our main inspiration,
given that volunteerism has not got much of a tradition in Romania.
So congratulations for being so communicative- thus allowing the rest
of us to avoid reinventing the wheel! And thank you.
Submitted on 16Dec02 by Pam Kettering, Executive Director
/ United Way & Volunteer Services of Greater Yankton, Yankton,
SD USA
Our United Way and Volunteer and Information Center merged into one
organization in 1992. The Executive Director's position is to recruit,
place, refer, recognize volunteers throughout community non-profit
organizations and at the same time fund-raising for selected agencies/programs.
Our community is small (16,000); therefore, we can efficiently and
effectively work with both programs. The Board of Directors govern
the complete operation of the office. Our Advisory Board is the sounding
board for community issues. I believe we have a win-win situation
and encourage other small communities to try it on for size. Larger
communities may not find it works as well.
Submitted on 13Dec02 by Susan J. Ellis, President, Energize,
Inc., writer of this hot topic
It is wonderful that so many different people have responded
this month and with so many perspectives. Generally, I avoid jumping
into the hot topic "discussion" since I feel I had "my
say" in the original post of the Hot Topic. However, several
people have questioned my knowledge of this topic and I feel a need
to give some explanation of my research.
First, I am very aware of what is going on in Philadelphia.
I have carefully reviewed VolunteerWay.org and I telephoned and spoke
at length with several people in Philadelphia in a position to know
what happened at our United Way and why.
Second, I am in the unique (and privileged) position of
being able to travel throughout the U.S. to learn about "hot"
trends. I assure everyone that I have personally discussed this month's
subject with at least two dozen people in the last year alone, in
cities both large and small (Volunteer Centers are often my hosts,
so I see this Hot Topic as trying to support, not hurt, them).
Finally, I have a long history on this subject with the
United Way of America, having written their publication, Volunteer
Centers: Gearing Up for the 1990s, which is out of print but
which UWA allowed me to continue making available for free on line.
Go to http://www.energizeinc.com/art/elecbooks.html.
Having a difference of opinion does not make either party ignorant.
It is possible to have the same facts and draw different conclusions.
Submitted on 12Dec02 by Molly Keeney, Executive Director,
Volunteer Center of Greensboro NC/USA
As chair of the Volunteer Center National Network Council, I feel
compelled to add my two cents to this discussion. I agree with some
of Susan's comments but would not go so far as to say the only viable
Volunteer Center is one that is independent. There are many good,
strong and effective Volunteer Centers that are internal to United
Way or some other organization and several folks from those centers
have chimed in here.
At the same time, I have seen first hand how several internal Volunteer
Centers have been shut down by United Ways in North and South Carolina.
With the advent of 211 these United Ways have chosen to allocate their
increasingly limited resources to this new initiative. It's happened
even in larger cities like Raleigh and Columbia - both state capitals!
Some mistakenly think that 211 can take the place of Volunteer Centers
- that's a laugh. It's true, 211 can give someone the contact information
for an agency looking for volunteers, but 211 is surely not going
to train volunteer managers, promote volunteerism, help someone select
a volunteer opportunity that meets their skills and interests or organize
a Corporate Volunteer Council. 211 is not and will never be a substitute
for Volunteer Centers and I sincerely hope United Ways will recognize
they are not serving the community when they think it can.
Submitted on 12Dec02 by Kathey Graves, Executive Director,
Texas, USA
The Texarkana Volunteer Center is an independent ageny. For the past
25 years has been a United Way Agency. However,this year the local
United Way has decided not to fund the VC for apparent reason. Needless
to say, we are not inclined to think favorably of United Ways.
Submitted on 12Dec02 by Dorothy Grannell, Director Volunteer
Development, United Way of Greater Portland, Portland, ME
I was pleased to read Ginger Murphy's response to Susan Ellis. It
is very balanced. I would also refer Susan to the Greater Philadelphia
listing on VolunteerSolution.org. More than 700 agencies advertise
their volunteer opportunities there- and there are over 1000 opportunities
listed. Those agencies that have United Way funding are clearly marked.
Many, many organizations do not receive UW funding but have the same
opportunity to list their offerings. Perhaps a bit more research before
spouting off would have helped the Hot Topic.
Submitted on 11Dec02 by Ginger Murphy, President, Delaware
Valley Association for Directors of Volunteer Programs (DVA/DVP),
Philadelphia, PA
Thank you for a "Hot Topic" which inspires our community
to take inventory and share experiences. As a fellow member of Susan's
DOVIA, I would like to respond to her questions about our experience,
role and responsibility regarding a Volunteer Center in the Philadelphia/Delaware
Valley area. Conscious of the organizational changes underway at United
Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, our DOVIA invited UW representatives
to attend or membership meeting in September 2000.We received a positive
response from our affiliate, a member of their staff attended and
our members had an opportunity to ask questions. Your observation
that formal references to a Volunteer Center have disappeared prompt
me to realize that follow-up invitation to our UW colleagues is now
in order to understand how their organizational changes have an impact
of volunteerism in our region. As the local DOVIA, our responsibility
is to provide our membership with the opportunity to gather information
and ask questions.
Our experiences with local United Way staff have been very positive.
We count several local staff as members. One staff member who trains
volunteer program mangers routinely donates her time to do workshops
at our meetings and conferences. In the past, UW staff have served
as our officers and offered their office facilities for our meetings
and programs.
While acknowledging our appreciation for this support, your topic
brings to our community's attention that as organizations and needs
evolve, those of us entrusted volunteer program administration have
a responsibility to constantly re-examine our own participation in
this process. Resources of all kinds will always be limited;let us
ensure that our imagination and commitment are not.
Submitted on 11Dec02 by Tracey Mann, Manager, Volunteer
Regina, United Way of Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada
I was disappointed Susan to read your article maligning those volunteer
centres that exist within their local United Way's. Since merging
in 1994 with the United Way here (after 17 years as an independent
centre), Volunteer Regina has enjoyed enhanced status in the community,
financial stability, and the luxury of being able to dedicate 100%
of staff resources to the delivery of volunteer centre services. Those
services are available to ANY community-based organization -- 95%
of the organizations we work with are NOT United Way funded agencies
-- and include sport, culture, recreation and health organizations.
Contrary to the opinions you have expressed, United Way board and
staff are extremely supportive of Volunteer Regina, and in fact have
recently increased centre staffing by 100%. Volunteer centre programs
and services are as equally important as fundraising initiatives and
never have centre staff been asked to set aside volunteer centre commitments
in lieu of campaign (centre staff spent a grand total of 6 hours on
campaign this year). Our reality is that United Way staff contribute
far more time to support Volunteer Regina than the reverse.
In an environment where we have seen the number of community-based
organizations exploding in recent years, our community has indicated
its support for the volunteer centre being housed within the United
Way, thereby reducing financial requirements to support another infrastructure
and volunteer commitment for yet another board. It is erroneous to
assume that all volunteer centres located within a United Way will
suffer as a result -- as always it is ultimately the community, not
the United Way, that will determine the value of a centre and how
it is best supported.
Submitted on 11 Dec02 anonymously -- "I am active
in the local DOVIA which this woman has fought for years. We literally
struggle to bring events and support to volunteer managers."
Susan, you have impressed me again for being not only up-to-date but
ahead of our time! My local community has struggled with this issue
for years because of the Director of our local United Way. She is
very controlling and doesn't welcome the community and volunteers
as part of the United Way except those hand-picked friends of hers
who serve on her board year after year. However, times may be changing
because of the recession. She will no longer be able to have her loaned
executives pressure folks into giving to something they don't see
helping their community, because these folks are not working now.
They are among the unemployed. We are all waiting for her retirement,
but worry that HER board will replace her with the same kind.
Submitted on 10Dec02 by Sheri Hillestad Smith, Coordinator,
Volunteer Saskatoon, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Volunteer Saskatoon is a program, which receives 30%
of its annual budget from United Way of Saskatoon. This relationship
has not been the "kiss of death" but rather the "breath
of life" for Volunteer Saskatoon. Saskatoon previously had a
volunteer centre in the early 80's, which disappeared after a few
years - it was not funded by the United Way. Now our centre is not
only part of United Way, equally or more importantly, it is part of
our community. It was the United Way, along with community leaders,
who pioneered to bring this volunteer centre back to our community.
I would not be so naïve as to suggest that local relationships
between United Ways and Volunteer Centres are not without their challenges
at times, however I think that it is a community which decides how,
why and where a volunteer centre fits into the their infrastructure.
In Saskatoon, people made it very clear that they wanted a volunteer
centre placed in our United Way.
Susan, not one of your bulleted points reflects Saskatoon's relationship
between United Way and Volunteer Saskatoon, nor does it reflect the
role of United Way in our community. As an example, in Saskatoon it
is not just United Way-funded agencies that are part of Days of Caring.
This opportunity is open and available to all community agencies much
like the services of Volunteer Saskatoon. In addition, it seems presumptuous
to apply over generalized bulleted points, describing the issues and
operations of American United Ways, to those of another country.
Submitted on 10Dec02 by Alan Schlemmer, Member and Past
Chair, Volunteer Action Center Advisory Council, Seacoast New Hampshire
The truth lies somewhere between the extremes being
presented here. The issue really is not whether a VC should be internal
or external to a local United Way. As a member of a group which began
a VC in the Greater Seacoast of New Hampshire, we contemplated the
merits of both options. Ultimately, however, we found that our best
focus was to start by building the concept of what a VC should achieve.
As a result, our focus is on the volunteer, our service is to the
entire volunteer community, and we serve all sorts of agencies and
needs, from the cultural to H&HS and everything in between.
With that foundation, we looked to figure out the best structure
to achieve our mission. While we are internal to our local UW, we
retain our own director, our own staff, and we have our own advisory
board. In each of the points the writer cites, what she fails to consider
is that the failings of her examples are not a result of the VC being
internal to UW, but rather that the UW boards in those specific examples
were short sighted in the value a functioning VC can bring to the
community. Such shortcomings also exist in the non internal VCs that
have failed. A community rich in volunteerism is a community that
will support agency needs, both physically and financially. So, the
real question for any VC is not as hard and fast as being internal
or external to a UW, but rather who best will allow the VC to meet
its mission. In our case, we are convinced our relationship with our
UW is one which allows both of us to prosper, and meets the volunteer
needs of our entire community.
Submitted on 8Dec02 anonymously
I had to laugh when I read this. It was almost as if Susan has been
sitting on my shoulder for the last six months. For the story she
told...is our story. Trust me I rarely agree with what Susan has to
say but every word of this is true.
We were an independent center almost 20 years ago and floundering...then
UW came in swooped us up, saved us and helped us grow...sort of. The
VC was allowed to do it's work about 50% of the time and the other
50% were pulled off to concentrate on UW projects. Fair enough, they
funded us...kind of. We were an allocated program, our own mission,
vision, Steering Committee. We reaped the benefits and pitfalls of
being internal to a United Way...just as Susan says--growth was mostly
in Day of Caring...the kickoff to the CAMPAIGN.
Take heed all of you out there internal VC's the winds of change
are upon us. This new direction for United Ways of "impact"
not just a fund raising pass through, will impact you. And Susan is
right folks....United Way business is Fund Raising and if you are
VC internal to a UW, if it's not your business now...it will be soon.
Peter Drucker in the Drucker process has you determine...who is
your primary customer. Well, all of you UW's...that customer is the
donor--the donor gives money. For VC's, the customer is the volunteer...who
the UW wants to give MONEY
So....for us, under a new strategic plan---with "community
impact" as the UW's goal, the VC has been realigned--mission
changed...to match the UW's; the goals, corporate volunteers--get
them to volunteer to...yes you can say it-- DONATE DOLLARS; the opportuntites,
in the critical issues area; Day of Caring, focus on critical issues
and member agencies--we're big folks, 230 agencies particpate on DOC,
7000 volunteers. Want to know how many of the 230 are "member
agencies"...less than 10%. Gonna change.
The pendulum swings...for those of you who vehemently disagreed
with Susan and said, not true, not true, lucky you....for those like
us...right on Susan.
Submitted on 8Dec02 by Doris Davidson, Management Consultant,
Florida
Way to go Susan. As a former director of a United Way
Volunteer Center I have first hand knowledge of what you have described.
Those who do not believe it will happen to them need to read "Generations"
by Strauss and Howe. This book delves into the attitudes and beliefs
of the past, present and future volunteers in this county. The current
volunteer pool, the Baby Boomers, do not believe in collective solutions
(for example, United Way) and will not support them in the traditional
manner of handing over money to let United Way do what it pleases
with it. They (the Boomers) demand more control and accountablility.
United way figured this out years ago, thus the Community Building/Community
Impact phase. What really is going on is they are now going after
the same grants, providing the same services and thus have become
the competition to the same agencies they profess to raise money to
support.
As a Mangement Consultant, I work to educate agencies to realize
they are capable of supporting themselves if they understand who they
are, who their competition really is and how to survive in this volatile
changing climate. They need to know they are a business that can earn
their needed assets, not a chaity groveling for a hand out.
As far as the Volunteer Center I directed. It now is a 211 phone
number or an online list of places to volunteer. I will admit there
has not been an out cry from the community or is there a local group
willing to support a Volunteer Center.
Submitted by 8Dec02 by Vanessa True, Youth Volunteer
Centers Coordinator, Gwinnett Alliance With Youth, Gwinnett County,
Georgia
I manage more than 20 Youth Volunteer Centers in my community and
will grow to manage almost 30 by the end of this school year. I work
within a local nonprofit agency and have a relationship with United
Way. While our program has only been in existence for 5 years and
is the first of its kind in our county, we have already supported
an average of 60,000 youth service hours per year. Our local United
Way gives us financial support and linkages to some community agencies.
We are not a part of them and we will not become a part of them, because
what we are doing now works. We motivate over 16,000 youth per year
to get involved in their community through service; many of them are
first time volunteers. Our success is owed to my training in the field
of volunteerism, my growing relationships with local schools, agencies,
and churches, and support from philanthropic agencies and businesses
(including, but not limited to, the United Way). We're doing what
works. You should all do what works. Every community is different
and every United Way is different. (Thank goodness for that!) Stop
the generalizations and the "we're the best" speeches. Susan,
you make some excellent points applicable to many of your readers.
United Way responders, you do the same. But none of the views apply
to us all. As long as we continue to motivate volunteers towards community
service and do so in a way that is ethical, inclusive, well-managed
and effective, then we can all be successful. Enough said.
Submitted on 8Dec02 by Cher Siegel
I'm so glad to see you have the courage to speak out. I agree 100%.
Submitted on 8Dec02 by Penny Dendy, Executive Director,
Volunteer Mobile, Alabama
I too am very concerned about the relationship between United Way
and Volunteer Centers. As an independent volunteer center we were
created by the United Way some 26 years ago and this year sustained
a 63% cut in support from them. The chairman of the United Way of
Southwest Alabama Board called me and said, "We just don't value
your services." We will survive in spite of United Way, however,
I think the recent decision to break the agreement with the Points
of Light Foundation National Network of Volunteer Centers concerning
technology is a clear indication that we are no longer in an environment
with the United Way to collaborate or partner.
Submitted on 6Dec02 by Laura Lockwood, ManaTEEN CEO/AmeriCorps
Promise Fellow with Volunteer Services of Manatee County, Inc., Florida
As the founder of The ManaTEEN Club, the nation's largest teen volunteer
program...and a program of the Volunteer Center of Manatee County,
Inc., I agree with you 100%!
I am asked to speak to VCs around the country about replicating
our teen program and, without exception, only VCs that are independent
have been successful in developing a program similar in nature to
ours. Those VCs that are "internal" to United Ways or other
parent organizations tend to simply be a "department" of
the agency and the staff designated to manage the Volunteer component
usually aren't given much lead way in terms of budget, direct service,
etc.
Our independent VC has grown during the last 10 years from a $40K
annual budget to one of more than $2million thanks to our innovative,
creative ways to get people of all ages to volunteer. I encourage
all internal VCs to "think outside the box" and take steps
toward independence!
Submitted on 6Dec02 by Dorothy S. Grannell, Director
of Volunteer Development, Maine
Each United Way is locally controlled and operated.
Therefore, each internal volunteer center will have a different experience
based on the values of its board and the community. Here in Portland,
Maine our internal volunteer center is strongly supported, serves
any non-profit, government agency or school or hospital that needs
volunteers. We provide training for businesses and non-profits. We
do not charge for any of our services and we make them available to
everyone UW funded or not. This is just one way our United Way is
able to assist all parts of the community whether or not they receive
other funding. Susan's comments may hold true for some communities
but not ours.
Submitted on 6Dec02 by Heidi Neuhaus, Volunteer Center,
United Way of the Capital Region, Enola, Pennsylvania
I couldn't disagree more. It sounds to me as though Ms. Ellis should
have done some research before making such generalizations, many of
which are inaccurate. I am director of a Volunteer Center internal
to a United Way. Since merging with our local UW in 1999, our services
have increased and annual referrals almost tripled. (Incidentally,
I should mention that the UW didn't "suck up" our Volunteer
Center, but rather agreed to the merger in order to save the Center.)
Being internal to the UW has great advantages and very few disadvantages.
I am not restricted to working only with UW-funded agencies and have
the opportunity to work with any nonprofit agency that wants our help.
In fact, only about 1/3 of the Day of Caring projects completed each
year are at UW-funded agencies, and our projects include arts &
cultural organizations, environmental groups, schools and community
parks in addition to the traditional health & human service agencies.
I do have limited campaign responsibilities, but I view the employee
meetings as a great opportunity to promote volunteerism and talk about
what I do. When I get a call from an agency who needs a board members
with a special skill, or a client that desperately needs help with
Christmas, or even help with some plumbing or computer problems, I
have companies I can call on for help thanks to my affiliation with
the UW. And most importantly, my co-workers -- both campaign and community
building colleagues -- are my strongest supporters and do a better
job of promoting the Center than I do. So, if indeed the conditions
described by Ms. Ellis really do exist for some Volunteer Centers,
I'm sorry for them. But please, don't assume that all Centers internal
to a UW no longer are able to do what we set out to do: make our communities
a better place to live through volunteerism!
Submitted on 6Dec02 by Robin Albert, Director, United
Way of the Greater Seacoast VAC, NH
Agreeing with Rick Allen, Ph.D., President, United
Way of Pierce County, Tacoma, WA.- and disagreeing with most of Susan's
points. Many consortiums and groups in our community had tried, unsuccessfully,to
form a VC. The project wasn't succussful until United Way volunteers
recommended the formation of a VC in a 1999 UW Stratigic Plan. They
visioned it and it happened. I am the director of that VC - totally
internal to our United Way, and like many others, serve all organizations
equally. Our United Way funded 75 HHS agency programs last year. (We
no longer have partner agencies.) Our VC is currently partnering with
over 185 organizations and the number increases monthly. The VC program
is fully supported by our Board. I love going out to employee campaign
meetings, because I get to speak to people about volunteerism. It's
a natural fit to us here. Volunteerism is not treated, as Susan put
it - a "peripheral interest." We have an advisory council
that includes UW Board members, corporate reps, community volunteers,
and funded and non-funded agencies. I'll stop there. Sorry, Susan
- but I think many of your comments stem from a time past. Click the
"Volunteer" icon at www.uwgs.org
Submitted on 6Dec02 by Mary Foley, Executive Director,
The Voluntary Action Center, Manassas, VA
This is a very facinating conversation that is full
of only partial truths. I must be confused because I thought addressing
volunteer and community needs were best done at the local level. The
make-up of this entity should be driven locally whether it is a separate
or internal entity. I take offense to the notion that an internal
UW volunteer center isn't as strong as an independent.
Volunteerism is a powerful, diverse business. Individual communities
focus on volunteer programs that meet their community needs. The gentlemen
from Memphis is addressing his community needs with only episodic
volunteers to answer their call. I'm not sure Michele Nunn will agree
with that narrow-minded approach but this is America and speech is
free. Here in Prince William, Virginia, The Voluntary Action Center
(an independent volunteer center) addresses our community volunteer
needs with a strong partnership with our United Way, episodic programs
for busy people, contracts with local government for Welfare to Work
and court mandated community service, contracts with local schools
for career building, hosting a federally funded RSVP program for seniors
and a I&R program as our core value. These volunteer center programs
are by no means dinosaurs. We are pro-active in addressing our local
needs for both the volunteer perspective and community need. Let's
continue to share our best-practices. Let's never think we all have
to look alike. And please, no more generalizations.
Submitted on 6Dec02 by Melissa Mele, Volunteer Center
Director, United Way of York County, York, PA
I could not disagree more. Our VC is internal to UW
and that has been an incredible blessing. Has it always been easy,
no. But with the right leadership, the VC can flourish. Our BOD and
ED had enough insight to include fundraising, volunteerism, and community
building into our mission. Its not just lipservice, but a reality.
As the director I have the creative freedom to serve the community
at large not just UW member agenices. All of our services are open
to the agencies we serve. This VC has its own marketing, website,
programming, membership. . . But at the same time has stable funding,
the ability to use the good name of the UW when it suits, exist without
competetion, and the permission to be not just a resource but an area
expert on volunteerism. We use the benefits of our parent organization
just as they use our benefits. Its a win-win-win, for the UW, the
VC, and the community. Its not about sticking the UW nose where it
doesn't belong but where its needed in our community.
Submitted on 6Dec02 by Maile Doyle, Director, Volunteer
Center at United Way of Hancock County, Findlay, OH
Our Volunteer Center was begun with In-Kind support from our United
Way in 1991 and funded by Corporate and Community Foundation gifts.
It was formed from the beginning to serve all nonprofit and governmental
organizations in our community. In 1995 after a wild 4-year ride from
great succcess to down-sizing by the UW CEO, a new CEO asked the UW
Board of Trustees to give the Volunteer Center a three year window
to become successful again. That worked! The key to the survival of
a Volunteer Center internal to another organization rests with the
leadership of both the Volunteer Center and the parent organization.
This center has grown in service to the entire community, has created
an annual fundraiser that is 44% of its budget and involves a segment
of our community that did not traditionally give to United Way, the
Home Builder Industry. This becomes a win-win situation for both UW
and the Volunteer Center.
I have seen our Volunteer Center struggle with the issues of continued
growth demanded by the community, yet inhibited by the parent organization.
The solution has been to form a task force of all the community stakeholders
to recommend to the United Way Board of Trustees a solution both for
program and for additional funding. The Task Force recommendations
have been endorsed by the board.
Currently the Volunteer Center enjoys a great relationship with our
parent organization, United Way of Hancock County. The Volunteer Center
is considered the "Friendraising" Arm of United Way and
provides the year-round visibility necessary to "Building A Caring
Community"--our vision statement.
It would be extremely difficult for the Volunteer Center to raise
the funds in our rural community as an independent organization. We
need the United Way and it needs the Volunteer Center.
Submitted on 7Dec02 anonymously
First and foremost--United Ways are in the business of raising money.
And let's not be so naive as to say it's all about the community.
The management staff at most UWs are paid VERY well. Meanwhile, they
fudge accounting figures info about their actual admintrative costs
and continue to fund their sweetheart agencies. Some UWs have not
taken on new agencies/programs for funding in ten years or more. The
Volunteer Centers are a threat to the continued monopoly UW has enjoyed
within the coporate sector conducting workplace campaigns. The more
pro-active VCs become in partnering (or attempting to) with business
and industry, the more agressive UW will become in absorbing them.
UW wants to be viewed as THE authority on issues and solutions in
each community. To achieve this, they need to be able to have the
VCs as a "feel good" image-builder so that the community
sees them involved in more than just asking for $ all the time--if
they are gung-ho on volunteering, they can't be all about $, right?
I am almost amused by the excuse making of the UW professionals who
have responded here. Come on, guys. Let's be honest. Sounds like you
actually believe all the UW brainwashing about "community Impact"
and the "We fund PROGRAMS not agencies." Please. We all
know what the deal is. I'm glad Susan spoke up.
Submitted on 6Dec02 by Ken Hall, ED, Hands on Memphis
Hhhmmm, a debate about the relative merits of a Conestoga
wagon vs. an Edsel. Volunteer Centers are quaint referral service
agencies (mainly) and as such do a lot of talking about volunteer
work but don't produce much in the way of sweat. And given their affiliation
with the government -- CNS, POLF -- would you really expect more?
United Ways are about as cutting edge as Volunteer Centers. Look at
who or what agency in any given town is engaging citizens in active,
hands on , flexible volunteering and build relationships there; leave
the dinosaurs to the natural history museums.
Submitted on 5Dec02 by Mary Connolly, Vice President,
Strategic Partnerships - Bergen County's United Way, Bergen County,
New Jersey
The United Way and Volunteer Center in Bergen County formed a partnership
in 1998 for the purpose of establishing a single volunteer program,
while recognizing that we are separate organizations.
Days of Caring are joint projects that are open to any not-for-profit
and volunteer group; the Volunteer Center handles placement of volunteers
from the community and the workplace; the Volunteer Center maintains
a searchable online database of volunteer opportunities to which we
have a direct link from our web site; we have a joint annual fundraiser;
and together formed the Northern New Jersey Business Volunteer Council
which boasts 28 corporate members.
Through this partnership we have created a collaborative marketing
model that not only promotes volunteerism, but has contributed to
the fundraising and relationship building goals of both organizations.
A key to our success is both organizations commit themselves to
co-branding so that the community sees a single response and the fact
that we both realized there was no value in an adversarial relationship
that frequently results in the United Way bringing their volunteer
activities “in-house”. Regardless of where volunteer activities
are placed, what needs to be remembered is what is best for the community.
Submitted on 5Dec02 by Rob Buckel, Coordinator, Volunteer
Central, A program of Volunteers of America Greater New Orleans, New
Orleans, LA
While I agree that being housed within any organization
has its challenges, I do not agree that “only when independent
can Volunteer Centers serve the full scope of the volunteer field.”
What becomes important is educating the parent organization’s
directors and board. We spent the time needed to get the buy-in of
our President/CEO. Of great importance is our ability to relate the
purpose and goals of Volunteer Central, the name of our center, to
the mission of Volunteers of America Greater New Orleans, our parent
organization. That mission clearly states, “Volunteers of America…creates
opportunities for people to experience the joy of serving others.”
It is no stretch to see how that relates to the work of Volunteer
Central.
I guess we are lucky. We have a progressive, open-minded management
team that fully supports Volunteer Central. Am I naive enough to think
that this is not an on-going process? No, but I believe we have laid
the groundwork to work successfully with our parent organization without
compromising the purpose of Volunteer Central, which is to serve and
engage our community, both individuals and organizations, and to champion
meaningful volunteerism in Greater New Orleans. The key is we helped
our management understand that the success of Volunteer Central, functioning
as a traditional volunteer center, IS the success of our parent organization.
Submitted on 4Dec02 by Bob Alden, Board member, Volunteer
San Diego CA USA
In San Diego, the Volunteer Center became independent from the United
way a few years ago. In January 2002 they merged with San Diego Cares
(an affiliate of City Cares)to form Volunteer San Diego (www.volunteersandiego.org).
In less than a year, we have become a dynamic, growing, proactive
agency that has become the premier volunteer organization in the San
Diego Area. We are still supported financially by the United Way,
but are gradually being weaned off that. We have a great staff and
board and lots of enthusiastic volunteers in our flexible program.
We also maintain close ties with our national affiliates, Points of
Light Foundation and City Cares. We feel we have a great thing going
here and would encourage other Volunteer Centers to do the same, if
possible.
Submitted on 4Dec02 by Jon Hall, Edmonton Alberta Canada
In Edmonton Alberta the Volunteer Centre closed on the
eve of its 50th anniversary because the United Way withdrew funding
after a number of years where the relationship was turbulent. The
United Way immediately snapped up the annual Volunteer Centre Fund
Raiser and started running it themselves "to ensure that it continued
to serve the community." They then funded a limited recruitment
and referral service with another human service agency.
The community has been struggling to find a new model for a volunteer
centre and recently called the United Way (and other funders) to task
for dragging its heels on moving the discussions forward. It may seem
to some that the United Way didn't want to create a new entity. They
have not yet offered to form a United Way Volunteer centre but I know
the thought has crossed their minds.
Submitted on 4Dec02 by Mary Kay Hood, Director of Volunteer
Services, Hendricks Community Hospital, Indiana
I believe Susan has hit the nail on the head. The Indianapolis area
had a Volunteer Center in the '90s and it, too, went by the wayside
as United Way funding challenges came on the horizon. During the heyday
of the center, there was some local television partnership providing
on air spots about volunteering and volunteer opportunities. When
the sponsorship/partnership dried up, the Volunteer Center dried up.
Although the Volunteer Center is still part of the United Way, the
activities are very limited with little and/or no publicity. And it
seemed as though the United Way agencies had preferential treatment
with regards to volunteer referrals than other organizations using
volunteers.
Submitted on 4Dec02 anonymously
The bigger issue is the partnering of 211 and United Way - The whole
Gifts in Kind project has taken over time, attention, and staff. Our
Volunteer Center was a wonderful resource in the late 90's - workshops
were regularly scheduled, there was a single employee who was the
"face and voice" of the VC. Now, the emphasis is on being
the official channel for items that used to be given directly to various
non-profits, and which now can only be obtained after paying a membership
fee, and "handling" fee. The cover, of course, is that the
restructuring is more cost efficient, serving a more diverse group
of non-profits.
Submitted on 4Dec02 by Diane L. Hennessy, Director of
Volunteers, South Florida Science Museum, West Palm Beach, Florida
- USA
I have no complaints about the United Way of Palm Beach County. We
have excellent training for our Volunteer Coordinators and constant
communication with the United Way. They are vital to our DOVS organization.
Entering the field of Volunteering from the field of Education, I
couldn't have pulled my successful Volunteer Department together without
the help of the United Way. I owe them nothing but gratitude.
Submitted on 4Dec02 by Donna Dolce, United Way of Essex
and West Hudson Newark, New Jersey
I could not disagree with you more on your impression
of the marriage between United Ways and Volunteer Centers. First,
you're looking at an old UW model - UW today do not fund agencies
but rather programs. We are know longer dependent on corporate campaigns,
but most our our funding comes from grants, parts of which are retained
by the UWVC to support the volunteer work needed to make the program
successful.
Days of Caring - gone - large groups - corporate or others volunteer
year round and we match them to the needs of the community at dates
and times convenient to them and the agency. Lost identity - not a
chance - the VC is known as the VC - perhaps because our UW has several
different programs as part of its work - we look more independent.
The major advantage - a preexisting stand alone VC just couldn't raise
the dollars necessary to support itself. But by including the recruitment,
training, recognition, of volunteers into a broader grant proposal
e.g. a program focused on serving youth - we collaborate with a number
of agencies and all share in the funding - including monies for the
VC part of the project. Sure, a VC internal to the UW has a different
focus - we don't create volunteer driven programs just to support
the work of a VC - but provide a critical resource to a number of
agencies that rely on volunteers - we offer training for boards and
staff and offer a broader more enriched recognition program. Times
they are a changing - and that includes UW's and VC who co-exist.
Don't judge all UW's by history because there's a new model that works
great with an internal VC as part of its heart and soul.
Submitted on 4Dec02 by David Proctor, Strategic Planning
Consultant,United Way of RI, Rhode Island, USA
A number of good points, however many United Ways are
changing as have many Volunteer Centers in order to make more of a
sustained impact within communities. If a United Way sees its mission
as mobilizing the caring power of the community to improve the lives
of people in need (as is United Way of RI's), it must work cooperatively
with an independent Volunteer Center if it exists or have some capacity
to identify, recruit, train, orient, support volunteers and volunteerism
in order to have maximum impact. In our United Way of RI's transformation
to even more intentionally mobilize RI's community, our commitment
is to work together with our Volunteer Center to help it be as strong
and wide-present as possible. This is why we also are helping to fund
its acquisition of new software to help it function the way it wants
to which is more effective and more able to identify outcomes which
will also help it attract more funding. This is a healthy partnership.
Excellent point to bring up for discussion because I have seen a number
of United Ways which are not working well with Volunteer Centers,
have incorporated & killed them, or ended up solely focusing on
recruiting people for 1 shot events.
Submitted on 4Dec02 by Rick Allen, Ph.D., President,
United Way of Pierce County, Tacoma, WA
This was a very good analysis of how Volunteer Centers USED TO BE
viewed by United Ways. Unfortunately, the article is about 5 years
out of date.
Most United Ways in America are moving to a model with "community
impact" as their core business. Money is a key strategy, but
it's not the mission. Volunteering is a rapidly progressing key strategy
as well, and many United Ways are paying MUCH MORE attention to this
issue, not less attention.
Campaigns are moving to a "community conversations" model
rather than a "thermometer" model...discussions are about
human needs, and how people can help....including "here's how
you can volunteer." Many thousands are now hearing this message.
When leveraged this way, United Way may in fact be the BEST place
to house a community Volunteer Opportunities Center.
Submitted on 4Dec02 by Jackie Norris, Executive Director,
Metro Volunteers, Denver, CO USA
In Denver, our United Way "spun off" the volunteer center
over 8 years ago (during a difficult financial time for UW), and merged
it with a technical assistance nonprofit, to form Metro Volunteers.They
have been our largest funder ever since, and their CEO has been a
board member of the volunteer center--and he really understand the
value and impact an effective volunteer center can have.
We've been able to grow very differently than we would have if we
were still internal...but we have the best of both worlds. We actually
rent space in the United Way building, and they give us great support.
We are in the process of building a closer programmatic relationship
with them as they launch their 211 effort.
I join you in being outraged at the closing of the Philadelphia
Center--and I wish folks in local communities would do more to support
our type of organization, but the problem is often that we are a well
kept secret and don't do an effective job of telling our story or
showing our impact. We exist today because a group of local volunteer
managers and other supporters didn't want the volunteer center to
go away, and put some energy and effort into finding us a new home.
Submitted on 4Dec02 by Kelly Nevins, Executive Director,
Volunteer Center of RI, Providence, RI
I'm from an independent center which at one time was part of United
Way, then spun off as the organization focused more on fundraising.
The pluses are as Susan indicated, in that we are able to focus on
helping many organizations find volunteers (rather than focusing only
on UW agencies) and aren't impeded by the fundraising calendar from
doing our duties. On the other hand, we have found ourselves in competition
with UW as they handled Dare To Care (episodic volunteering) in house
and turned it into a campaign long activity. Also, UW is well known
and branded in our community, but a much smaller percentage recognizes
the Volunteer Center exists. This, in turn, makes it difficult for
us to raise the funds necessary to grow the Center and truly impact
outcomes in our community.
UWA and many local UW's are embracing a new mission statement, which
eerily echoes the mission of the Points of Light Foundation and Volunteer
Center National Network, and talks about mobilizing the caring capacity
of people. UWA is also promoting Volunteer Solutions, which is an
online volunteer matching tool. It seems to me that perhaps the pendulum
is swinging the other way, and that UW is recognizing the need for
supporting volunteerism locally. After all, several studies have shown
that people who volunteer are much more likely to make donations,
and significant ones at that!
An editorial aside, what really burns me up is the comment I hear
from funders in general that say "Of course we see the value
of volunteerism" and then continue to cut funds for just this
issue!!!
Submitted on 4Dec02 by Rebecca Quinn, Director of Community
Involvement, Heart of Florida United Way, Orlando, FL
As a VC internal to a United Way, I have to disagree with most of
the statements made, although I can see where many of them originate.
Our VC merged with the United Way in 1995, and has been undervalued
for much of the time since then. However, times are changing, and
we are now receiving more internal attention than ever before. In
the face of increased competition for donor dollars, our United Way
is positioning the Volunteer Center as one of the things that makes
us more than JUST a fund raiser. As the Volunteer Center, we serve
any not-for-profit, including governmental, environmental, animal,
arts, and other non-health and human service organizations. We have
overcome the competition for campaign dollars by researching the other
ways in which companies give--many of them have grant programs that
go over and above their corporate gifts and United Way giving programs.
We form better relationships with the donors (both individuals and
companies as a whole) by serving them in another capacity--through
volunteerism opportunities. Days of Caring has been an excellent vehicle
to get companies involved throughout the rest of the year, because
of their fantastic DOC experiences. We also have the advantage of
other UW staff assisting the VC--communications and marketing, campaign
connections to businesses, HR, etc. And even if the VC is being "used"
by the United Way organization to increase campaign dollars, so what?
It only benefits the VC in the end--through the exposure and the piece
of the pie that we get, as well.
Submitted on 4Dec02 by Aaron Spevacek, Executive Director,
Alexandria Volunteer Bureau VA/USA
I think that my organization might be a good example
of the ideal relationship between a volunteer center and local United
Way. We are an independent center that was started by the United Way.
The United Way’s support was very important when we were just
getting off the ground. But since that time (20+ years ago), we have
grown well beyond our initial role as a volunteer clearinghouse. And
now that the regional United Way has gotten its self into serious
trouble, with many layoffs expected, we are out of the fray.
Incidentally, I believe very much in the role our United Way plays
in facilitating workplace campaigns and in doing community needs assessments.
I make a point of supporting their efforts in both regards.
Submitted on 4Dec02 by Linda Daino Ohlerking, Director,
Volunteer Services, Albany County Dept. of Residential Health Care
Facilities (NY) USA
I have wondered why the Volunteer Center of the Capital
Region in Albany, New York suddenly closed its doors and disappeared
from sight.. now I know why. Thanks for the enlightening article.
I plan to show it to our County Executive.
Submitted on 4Dec02 by Gail Orser, Prayer Department
Manager, Guideposts, New York
You've made lots of good points. I have to say that
I agree with you. I think the United Way does an excellent job in
many communities, but if a Volunteer Center is a part of the United
Way it will definitely be limited in scope. And volunteerism is certainly
a lot broader than the United Way.
Submitted on 4Dec02 by Stephen J. Taylor, CFRE, Scout
Executive & CEO - Palmetto Council, BSA, Spartanburg, SC
Having worked in the non-profit sector for the past
26 years in five different southern states I have personally seen
all sorts of "volunteer center" arrangements from free-standing
independent organizations to those funded by a local United Way to
those being housed in a local United Way to those being part of a
local United Way to none at all. To me the best arrangement is to
have "none at all" with the onus on volunteer recruitment,
training, placement, guidance, and direction being placed on the actual
agency where the volunteer works. This arrangement places the responsibility
directly in line with the benefit received. Should there be any struggle
for dollars or control it then becomes all intra-agency and resolution
to the concern becomes the local board's responsibility for action.
Submitted on 4Dec02 by Sharron Regan, Community Resources
Manager CHATS, Aurora Canada
This is interesting. We are trying to start a Volunteer
Center and 211 information center in our area. The United Way is involved
in the start up. Although I expect the Canadian United Ways are different,
Susan's point about Volunteer Centers serving a larger group than
what falls under the United Way's umbrella is interesting and food
for thought as we go forward looking for a "home" for our
volunteer Center.
Submitted on 4Dec02 by Laura J. Brown, Director of Volunteer
Resources, American Red Cross Washtenaw County Chapter, Michigan
My local area has no volunteer center. We had one once,
it was part of the United Way and it was downsized out of existence.
The downsizing occurred in response to some problems our United Way
had and they had to downsize to show the community that they were
fiscally responsible. The Volunteer resources are always the first
to go since they don’t raise money. It is a huge lack in our
community that many people are unaware of because it has been so long
since there was a volunteer center.
My biggest trigger in your article was the Day of Caring. I also
dislike the focus on large group volunteering. It is a great way to
get to know an agency, but it is so expensive for small agencies to
buy the materials and try to supervise a group that may be 3 times
the size of it’s existing staff. I have had fabulous Day of
Caring experiences at my current agency (the American Red Cross) but
I have also had some Day of Caring events that have felt like something
other than a day caring!
Submitted on 4Dec02 by Valerie Helgren, Volunteer Services
Coordinator, Holland, Michigan
While I admit that having the Volunteer Center as part
of the United Way has its drawbacks, I really wonder how an organization
like that would be funded otherwise, especially long term. Perhaps
the partnership with volunteering and the United Way is better than
nothing? My organization has received good services from our local
Volunteer Center, but we are a United Way agency. I am interested
to hear comments from non-United Way organizations to see how they
are fairing.
Submitted on 4Dec02 by Laurie D. Thomas, Volunteer Coordinator,
St. John Medical Center, Tulsa, OK
Here, Here!!!! Having been employed by two Volunteer Centers during
my career, I wholeheartedly agree that absorbing a center into the
United Way turns the focus away from what a volunteer center should
be - a full service community resource serving all not-for-profit
agencies with the freedom to explore issues and legislation that effect
volunteerism regionally and statewide. In my community - Tulsa, Oklahoma,
we have a seriously understaffed but amazingly effective Volunteer
Center. Tulsa's Volunteer Center is a program of our Community Service
Council and serves more than 400 non-profits while our United Way
funds about 75 agencies. Community Service Councils are probably better
resting places for volunteer centers than United Ways - if a community
cannot afford a free standing center. Any other Community Service
Councils house a volunteer center?
Submitted on 4Dec02 by Fran Cook, Director of Volunteers/Calvary
Church PA
I live in the Philadelphia area and was not aware that
the United Way quietly dissolved the Volunteer Center. I used this
center and it proved helpful for my non-profit organization. This
was a great resource that people could turn to when they wanted to
know where they could volunteer. The center had info on lots of non-profits
that people could find out about. Now where do people go? The United
Way has been realigning itself but it seems to have gone in a wrong
direction. Bring back the Volunteer Center!
Submitted on 4Dec02 anonymously.
You sure know where to find the hot topics. I've just finished reading
today's United Way/Volunteer Center hot topic and found we finally
agree somewhere!
A sponsored Volunteer Center was my experience. When the parent
company was in annual appeal mode or needed volunteers recruited,
the "in house" VC was expected to drop their own clients
and give priority to the new parent company challenge. The parent
company rarely if ever inquired about the VC's own clientele.
VC clients were often expected to be pushed aside for sponsorship
projects and employees and volunteer support staff were left confused
and overwhelmed by additional work. Did we serve our own clients,
would we appear indifferent to the sponsors needs? All further complicated
by being an office of 2 with a support staff of 6 housed under the
same roof as our parent company.
Management didn't want to address time management concerns often
enough to impact this cycle from reoccurring. VC clients were disappointed,
time lines on volunteer need would run out unfulfilled and staff was
left to work on projects thrust at them.
Conflicts of interest would develop down the road as well. Once an
individual volunteered for the parent company they were almost perceived
as "their volunteer" from that point on. They were offered
new, more detailed fundraising committees, board membership, and most
certainly placed on the sponsors own mailing list.
It wasn't easy to have a concise proactive debate on how and why
this hot topic is real and often the beginning and end all of a Volunteer
Center's independence.
