Contact:
Fred Whiting
Points of Light Foundation
(202) 729-8177
fwhiting@pointsoflight.org

Building the Volunteer System for Improved Local Community Impact

WASHINGTON, D.C. (February 13, 2007) — The Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network announced today a formal affiliation agreement that strengthens the relationship between the Foundation and over 300 Volunteer Centers. This agreement creates the largest national network of local organizations that mobilize and connect volunteers, offering services to 50 percent of the U.S. population.

The affiliation agreement formalizes the 16-year relationship between the Foundation and 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.”

The Foundation & the Network is 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 5 years. It has outlined three strategies 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 has what it needs to work effectively to achieve the goals. Key to delivering on these goals is identification of essential 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; volunteer management training; 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.”

The Points of Light Foundation & Volunteer Center National Network engages and mobilizes millions of volunteers who are helping to solve serious social problems in thousands of communities. Through a variety of programs and services, the Foundation encourages people from all walks of life — businesses, nonprofits, faith-based organizations, low-income communities, families, youth and older adults — to volunteer.

###