Thinking about sustainability and partnerships

Abstract

The executive director of the Washington State Commission on National and Community Service discusses successful partnerships their national service programs have had with government agencies and the private sector. These collaborations multiply the amount of resources available for a program and increase sustainability. This practice was shared by Project TASC.

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Issue

Understanding the complex issues of sustainability and partnerships is important when steering the course of a national or community service program.

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Action

The following are some thoughts on sustainability by the executive director of the Washington Commission on National and Community Service.

A. Partnerships with other government agencies

Often when we think about sustainability, we think of involving the private sector, and that's important. But state commissions should explore, perhaps through the Unified State Plan Process, potential partnerships with state, county, and municipal government agencies. These would include departments concerned with health, welfare, employment, and community development.

In Washington, and in many other states, the state commission receives an annual appropriation from the legislature. In this regard it is important that the commission and its programs show how the multiplier effect of national service members helps the state or locality deal with problems or issues that the government has already identified as important.

In Washington, student reading achievement is a priority for both the governor and the legislature. In this case, the Washington Reading Corps existed before the involvement of national service members. But AmeriCorps*VISTA volunteers and Retired Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) participants were able to mobilize an additional 11,000 tutors for schoolchildren. AmeriCorps*VISTA and RSVP volunteers perform outreach activities and handle in-school orientation and training for new reading tutors who are drawn from all parts of the community.

Thus, the national service members multiplied the resources available to address the state's number one priority.

B. Private sector partnerships, some examples

• The Seattle Super Sonics basketball organization provides prizes for children who read a specified number of books.
• The Starbucks Coffee chain sponsors events where customers are asked to bring in a new or slightly used children's book and are rewarded with a free coffee.
• A major bank allows up to two hours per week of paid time for employees to participate in service activities. Many such employees act as tutors.
• A minor league hockey team in Washington State sends their players into the schools to tutor reading.
• Publishers and book retailers provide children's books that are given to the children to keep and take home (and these children are encouraged to read to their younger brothers and sisters).

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Context

The Washington State experience has been that many corporations are anxious to partner with organizations representing a good cause. It does take time to acquaint companies with the work of the commission, so overnight results shouldn't be expected. The director also reported that some companies find it much easier to provide goods (such as the books mentioned above) rather than cash.

National service programs should also explore matching opportunities. Local foundations may be willing to match other funds that programs or the state commission can raise privately or through governmental sources that are to be used for special projects over and above regular operations. For example, in Houston, the Lillian Kaiser Lewis Foundation will match President’s Student Service Scholarship Funds. This will allow twice as many high school students to be recognized for their work than otherwise would be possible using only Corporation for National and Community Service grant funds.

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Outcome

These collaborations multiply the amount of resources available for a program, and increase sustainability.

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