The UPS Foundation’s Global Focus on Volunteerism
The UPS Foundation supports nonprofit organizations whose missions are directly related to enhancing the quality and quantity of volunteerism and/or that rely heavily on the use of volunteers to meet organizational missions. The UPS Foundation’s goal is to help create a culture of volunteerism and civic engagement around the world.
Since 1998, UPS has contributed more than $12.3 million to help nonprofit organizations globally meet the demands for services by better managing their volunteers. The UPS Foundation’s investments have supported the development of model volunteer mobilization and management strategies at both the national and local levels. Through these strategies, charitable partners have recruited more in number and from diverse pools of volunteers, increased volunteer retention rates and improved effectiveness of social service delivery to a range of populations in need, especially youth.
In 2004, UPS established a partnership with the World Association of Girl Guides and Girl Scouts (WAGGGS) to enhance volunteer programs for thousands of girls and young women in three countries. The UPS Foundation awarded the World Bureau of WAGGGS a US$1.5 million grant over three years to develop programs and facilitate knowledge sharing in China, Malaysia and Mexico.
UPS recognizes the importance of supporting those that support the field. In 2004, The Field Building Initiative focused on the needs of international and U.S.-based volunteer organizations to tap high quality information, support and professional development. UPS support strengthens the organizations and the quality of services they provide by establishing connections to effective practices, networking, professional development, research and colleague networks. In 2004, seven organizations received grants as part of this initiative and completed their goals:
- American Humanics in Kansas City, Missouri, received a UPS grant to support its annual American Humanics Management Institute (AHMI) conference.
- Association for Research on Nonprofit Organizations and Voluntary Action (ARNOVA) in Indianapolis used the UPS grant to support its marketing efforts to increase membership, increase ARNOVA conference attendance and support its members and the field.
- Association for Volunteer Administration (AVA) in Richmond worked to implement an international expansion and more member services.
- Big Brothers and Big Sisters of America in Philadelphia developed and implemented of a multi-year staff leadership development plan.
- Hands On Network in Atlanta added seven U.S. organizations to the Hands On Network.
- International Association for Volunteer Effort in Washington , D.C. promoted and grew volunteering in Nigeria and Botswana.
- Network for Good in Bethesda, Maryland increased volunteerism and conversion of volunteers to donors and lifetime supporters.
In 2005, The UPS Foundation launched its first focused grantmaking program to support organizations engaging older citizens (55 and older) in meaningful volunteer service to address community needs. Given the impending retirements or transitions of millions of people over the next ten years, especially American baby boomers, UPS saw tremendous potential to engage older citizens with extensive professional and life experience in service to their communities. The Experienced Volunteer Engagement Initiative includes five national organizations:
- Civic Venture’s Experience Corps in Washington , D.C. received a grant to increase leadership roles and awareness of older Americans in community focused volunteer service.
- National Park Foundation’s African American Experience Fund in Washington, D.C. is working to engage older citizens in intergenerational volunteer service at Park sites.
- Peace Corps Encore! in Washington, D.C. will increase the number of returned Peace Corps volunteers and staff back into service throughout the developing world.
- SeniorNet in San Francisco is training and placing older volunteers through the eVolunteering program and establish two new Learning Center sites.
- University of Maryland, Center on Aging in College Park, Maryland is working to increase and retain experienced volunteers aged 50 years and older with combined lifelong learning and civic engagement.
Finally, to support collaboration among grantmakers, The UPS Foundation made a leadership grant of $1 million to launch and support IMPACT: A Fund For Change Through Volunteerism. The Volunteer IMPACT Fund is a collaborative grantmaking initiative to influence positive community change by helping organizations manage volunteers more effectively. It is based on groundbreaking volunteer management capacity research conducted by the Urban Institute, funded in part by UPS. For more information, visit www.volunteerimpact.org .
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