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OneStar eNews: August 2010
Last Chance to Complete the Task Force for Strengthening Nonprofit Capacity Survey
In collaboration with the Bush School of Government and Public Service at Texas A&M University, OneStar and the Task Force for Strengthening Nonprofit Capacity are implementing a statewide nonprofit survey. Your input is critically needed to provide Texas Legislators and other state leaders with information to strengthen the nonprofit sector.
The deadline has been extended to August 27th and we are very close to reaching our minimum goal of 500 participants!
The survey will take 15 minutes to complete and your responses will remain confidential.
To complete the survey, visit http://www.oneilresearch.com/onestar.php.
Don’t Miss Out on the Texas Nonprofit Summit
This year, the Governor’s Nonprofit Leadership Conference has partnered with Greenlights’ Crossroads Conference to present the Texas Nonprofit Summit in Austin on September 23-24. We have posted the schedule and the 24 breakout sessions that will take place during the summit.
We are excited to have Dan Pallotta as our luncheon keynote speaker. Dan is a leading expert on innovation in the nonprofit sector, a pioneering social entrepreneur and founder of Pallotta TeamWorks, which invented the multiday AIDSRides and Breast Cancer 3-Days. He is also the author of Uncharitable: How Restraints on Nonprofits Undermine Their Potential. He writes blog posts for the Harvard Business Review blog.
Space is limited and we’re almost sold out! To register for the summit, visit http://www.onestarfoundation.org/page/tns.
OneStar Awarded Volunteer Generation Fund Grant
On August 24th, the Corporation for National and Community Service awarded its Volunteer Generation Fund grants totaling $4 million to 19 U.S. state service commissions. The grants will support activities to identify effective approaches to increase the number of volunteers, strengthen the capacity of volunteer connector organizations to recruit and retain volunteers and develop strategies to effectively use volunteers to solve local problems. OneStar Foundation was selected as one of the grantees and will use the funds to invest in the capacity of volunteer connector organizations (VCOs) to enhance volunteer impact.
This will be accomplished through a multi-dimensional approach to better equip VCOs and their partners to increase the scale, effectiveness and sustainability of their volunteer engagements with the end goal to increase the number of people who serve in meaningful and high-impact roles as volunteers.
The project will utilize a multi-dimensional approach including the following:
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Statewide Association: further development of a carefully constructed association of VGOs.
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Statewide Portal: launch Phase I of the development of a technology portal to assist VCOs in their ability to track and report data via technology based systems.
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City Specific Service Plans: support the development of local service plans to plan and implement strategies focused on volunteer generation.
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Volunteer Connector Organizational Capability: provide resources for selected organizations to analyze core competencies, assess organization capability, and create an organizational development plan.
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Impact Texas Initiative: engage executive leaders and/or board members from VCOs in series of 3 leadership development trainings to equip these leaders with the tools to address complex issues of improving volunteer generation.
To learn more about the Volunteer Generation Fund and the other state commissions that were selected, visit http://www.nationalservice.gov/about/newsroom/releases_detail.asp?tbl_pr_id=1856.
Become a Member of Cities of Service or Texas Communities of Service
OneStar works to ensure that service and volunteerism are integrated as viable strategies for addressing needs of Texas. To this end, we encourage your city/community to become a City of Service or Texas Community of Service.
Cities of Service is a bi-partisan coalition of the mayors of large and small cities from across our country who will work together to engage citizens to address the great challenges of our time. Additionally, communities large and small across Texas that recognize service as a strategy to meet urgent needs in their community can become a Texas Community of Service.
Arlington, Austin, Brownsville, Corpus Christi, Deep East Texas Council of Governments, El Paso, Fort Bliss, Grand Prairie, Houston, McKinney, Plano, San Angelo San Antonio and Smithville have chosen to engage in this initiative.
To learn more about becoming a City of Service or a Texas Community of Service, visit http://www.onestarfoundation.org/page/cos-summit.
Has Your Organization Completed a CCAT?
The Core Capacity Assessment Tool (CCAT) is an online survey tool developed by the TCC Group. Hundreds of nonprofit organizations across the country have utilized the CCAT to strengthen their operations.
The CCAT is the most comprehensive organizational assessment tool of its kind, allowing for a confidential self-assessment of your organization's core capacities based on the input of board leaders, key staff and senior volunteers. It also offers specific activities and strategies to empower organizational growth based on your results.
Based on research conducted on the Texas organizations who have completed a CCAT through OneStar:
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Organizations with high collaboration rates tend to:
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Serve more clients.
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Serve clients more efficiently.
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Have more capacity to assess their clients’ needs.
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Organizations receiving state grants/contracts and funding from foundations tend to have higher CCAT scores.
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Organizations that serve rural areas tend to have stronger CCAT scores than those that do not serve rural areas, especially in the areas of Adaptive Capacity (the ability for an organization to create and respond to change) and Technical Capacity (the ability to implement all key operational and programmatic functions).
OneStar is currently offering qualified organizations the opportunity to take the CCAT at no cost. If your organization is interested in taking the CCAT and meets the eligibility requirements, complete our Eligibility Survey.
Participate in the 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance
Last year, thousands of Americans participated in service activities across the country for the 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance – a national day of service designated by the federal government as part of the Edward M. Kennedy Serve America Act.
The Corporation for National and Community Service and its partner, MyGoodDeed, are working with nonprofit organizations, faith-based groups, government at all levels, businesses and individuals to reignite the spirit of unity and service that inspired Americans in the days after the tragedy.
We encourage you to continue the tradition this year by hosting a service project or volunteering with a service project.
If your organization is hosting service project or if you are looking for a volunteer opportunity, visit http://www.911dayofservice.org.
OneStar Staff Announcements
Saying Goodbye to Our Summer Interns
This summer, we welcomed three graduate students to participate in a pilot intern program. Each intern was assigned by OneStar’s leadership team to a specific work area that coincided with their academic interests in order to provide a mutually rewarding experience for both the interns and OneStar.
Sarah Broussard, a candidate for a Masters degree in Public Service and Administration at Texas A&M University, worked on the Research, Evaluation and Learning team. Virginia Fraser, a recent graduate of The University of Texas at Austin with a Masters degree in Advertising and Certification in Nonprofit studies worked on the Social Impact and Innovation team. And Kailey Voellinger, a candidate for a Masters degree in Social Work from The University of Texas at Austin, worked on the Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility team
August 20th marked their last day. We enjoyed having their friendly faces and bright ideas around for the summer. We wish them all the best of luck in what we know will be promising futures.
Welcoming New Staff Members
In July, we welcomed Alyssa Johnson to our team. Alyssa joined our Human Resources & Operations team as an Office Assistant. Next Monday, we will also be welcoming Debbie Moffett as a Senior Program Development Specialist in our Civic Engagement and Social Responsibility team.
Events
Check our online Events Calendar for a list of other upcoming events that may be of interest to your organization. |
