Service Enterprises Amplify the Ability of Communities to Meet Local Needs By Leveraging Local Assets

Service Enterprise Accreditation, the national standard for strategic volunteer engagement, is backed by AL!VE and Points of Light, with training and implementation partners nationwide. However, the true path to successful, enduring change lies in engaging the community — activating the community to fight for causes they care about, share their skills and lived experiences, and build a stronger sense of community.
Intentional community activation is about recognizing and valuing the role of community members in mobilizing and deploying their assets. They are the key to overcoming the issues their neighbors or themselves face, making them an integral part of the Service Enterprise process.

Throughout the curriculum and coaching, organizations focus on working with their community to make positive change instead of working for them. Words matter; intentionally inviting the community to volunteer with — not for — an organization, or exploring community solutions with — not for — the community creates a more equitable power dynamic and helps keep the focus centered on the community and the cause.

Ways Service Enterprises Take a Community-Centered Approach to Mission Delivery

• United Way of New Bedford embodies this community-centered approach by having volunteer committees representing the communities they serve as donors and benefactors. Community members are actively involved in the design of volunteer opportunities and program delivery models.
• ReEstablish Richmond relies on strong community partnerships to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for newcomers. What helps their collaborations thrive is clarifying roles and responsibilities so that community partners, volunteers and staff know how each other contributes and how they can ask each other for support when needed.
• Willis Dady Homeless Services believes all volunteerism should be mutually beneficial. To that end, they help the community connect with established volunteer opportunities and welcome community members to share their insights and services to meet the community’s and client’s needs.

About AL!VE’s Service Enterprise Program

This organization-wide change management program engages a cross-functional team to transform how an organization sees, values and utilizes community members as volunteers. No matter the organization’s size or style, the Service Enterprise Training & Implementation Partners can meet organizations where they are and help them more strategically engage volunteers. We have seen success with hospitals, government libraries with unions, organizations with no paid staff or less than 1 FTE, and more. To learn more about delivering this program or having your organization join the movement, contact AL!VE’s National Service Enterprise Administrator, Kayla Paulson, at [email protected].