NEIA RSVP Service Enterprise Certification

Three volunteers working with envelopes in front of them.

An emblem displaying "Points of Light Certified Service Enterprise" with a blue banner that reads "Certified" across the center. The years 2021 and 2024 appear at the top. A small multi-colored star logo is at the bottom.Northeast Iowa RSVP is pleased to announce that it has been certified by Points of Light, the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service, as a Service Enterprise! Achieving Service Enterprise certification is a prestigious accomplishment for an organization. In fact, organizations that certify join the top 11 percent of nonprofits nationwide in volunteer management and organizational performance. Certification signifies that organizations have the capability and management expertise to strategically use volunteers to improve the performance of their organization.

Northeast Iowa RSVP completed an extensive assessment, over 20 hours of training and coaching, and an extensive internal planning and change process to better integrate volunteers into our human capital strategy. By achieving this level of excellence and certification, Northeast Iowa RSVP is now better equipped to leverage the time and talent of volunteers and better meet our mission.

“Going through the SE certification process has provided a structured framework that has assisted our staff team in visioning, goal-setting, and beginning to implement changes that will positively impact our overall program- and our internal volunteer program- for years to come. SE has helped us see the work that we do- and our relationship with volunteers- in a whole new way.”  Kristin Torresdal, Director, Decorah Public Library

As a result of Service Enterprise, we have partnered with skilled volunteers to lead projects, increased our media presence while spotlighting the critical roles RSVP volunteers fill within stations, streamlined processes, improved the onboarding of volunteers and stations, and made changes to our Policies and Procedures.  When RSVP volunteers are able to fully return to volunteer service, we plan to implement additional opportunities.

Research conducted by the TCC Group, a national program and evaluation firm, found that organizations operating as Service Enterprises outperform peer organizations on all aspects of organizational effectiveness, and are more adaptable, sustainable and capable of scaling their work.

The Service Enterprise program is a national change management program that helps organizations gain a greater return on volunteer investment to better achieve their mission. For more information regarding volunteer opportunities with our organization, please click here. For further information regarding Service Enterprise, please contact Lauren Fink at https://www.vccv.org or 319-883-3015

Posted: March 3, 2021

Categories: RSVP

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