SUSTAINABILITY What does it look like for successful VISTA projects? How can we, as VISTAs, make our projects more sustainable?

A frequently used buzzword with lots of meanings… But what does in mean in the context of VISTA?

VISTA is all about using a short-term resource to make a long-term impact Your host site should have a long-term vision of the results they want to see from your VISTA project. As a VISTA, your job is to invest your time (and skills, ideas and energy) to build infrastructure that will help your organization (and the community) in the long run.

ACHIEVING SUSTAINABILITY THROUGH CAPACITY BUILDING Capacity Building Activity: Mingle & Match

Capacity Building Definition: Tasks and activities to create, expand, or strengthen an organization’s systems or processes. These tasks and activities include the transfer of knowledge/skills, products, and relationships. Capacity building allows the organization and the community to sustain the VISTA’s project activities once the project period has ended.

Information gained by the VISTA member during his/her term of service is passed along to other people in an organization in a deliberately designed way. Deliverables created by the VISTA member during his/her term of service are passed along to other people in an organization in a deliberately designed way. Professional contacts developed by the VISTA member during his/her term of service are passed along to other people in an organization in a deliberately designed way. The act of providing services to the identified recipients or clients of a program. Capacity Building Concepts 7 Transfer of Knowledge Transfer of Products Transfer of Relationships Direct Service

In your groups: 1. How does your key term support the sustainability of a VISTA project? 2. What activities build capacity in this area? 3. What activities lead to a transfer… Of knowledge? For example: creating a manual Of skills? For example: a training program Of products? For example: an up-to-date and organized file-sharing system Of relationships? For example: a donor database with detailed notes

When Is Direct Service Appropriate? 1) A brief period of direct service is necessary to understand the service elements of the sponsoring organization 2) Direct service is incidental to the time and effort in carrying out the primary responsibilities of the member assignment 3) Direct service is necessary to train direct-service providers

Acceptable Services vs. Capacity Building Activities and Sustainable Activities Acceptable Service Capacity Building Sustainable Activities Recruit Volunteers Develop forms, Volunteer assignments Develop Volunteer Handbook Train Direct Service Providers Write Training curriculum or train the trainer curriculum Develop Training Manual Coordinate Projects Develop procedures and systems for coordinating projects Develop volunteer management system and procedural guide Public Speaking Develop speakers' bureau Develop community partners Write press releases Develop press kits, media database Secure media partners Organize fundraising events Grant writing; develop database Secure project staff through additional funding Organize task forces/coalitions Develop structure of task force/coalition Create infrastructure Conduct outreach Design brochures, posters Create mechanism for project evaluation

What does a sustainable capacity-building VISTA project look like?

Two types of VISTA sustainability VISTAs accomplish capacity- building goals and then work themselves out of a job VISTAs put the work in up front to expand program capacity and set others up for success to maintain it

VISTA projects often contain a little of both of these. Need some examples?

Examples of VISTA projects Creating long-lasting deliverables or systems that will allow a host site to do more with less time and money, i.e. Developing a marketing and outreach plan, easily-updated marketing materials, and an instruction manual for staff Developing or revamping websites to better serve the needs of users Creating an online system for volunteers to log in and out and record data electronically – cutting down on staff time needed Researching, identifying and implementing a commercially-available system for data management Systematizing curriculum and making it more accessible Increasing efficiency

Examples of VISTA projects Completing projects that will increase the quality of services and improve student outcomes, i.e. Conducting formal or informal community assessment, surveys, focus groups or interviews – to identify needs of target population and where there might be gaps or room for improvement in services Researching, collecting, compiling and/or developing curriculum and materials that can be used with students Developing a volunteer manual, other instructional materials or a training module Increasing effectiveness

Examples of VISTA projects Building partnerships and collaborations Building an org’s capacity for volunteer engagement, i.e. Creating volunteer position descriptions & outreach materials Identifying sources for volunteer recruitment, building relationships with organizations that can provide volunteer referrals Creating systems and materials for recruiting, placing, training, supporting, recognizing and tracking volunteers Building an org’s capacity to leverage financial and in-kind resources Researching grant opportunities, developing materials and systems that support grant-writing over the long term Developing new fundraising opportunities Leveraging resources

Examples of VISTA projects Program development or expansion Developing a new program Expanding an existing program to more participants or a new group Adding new services to an existing program Including: All of the front-end work that goes into researching, planning, gathering resources, communicating with stakeholders, and getting programming rolling Working out the “kinks,” putting systems in place and making recommendations for future improvements Gathering data to demonstrate the need for this new/expanded program and/or to show its impact Expanding scale/reach

Which kind(s) of project(s) do you have? Creating long-lasting deliverables or systems that will allow a host site to do more with less time and money Completing projects that will increase the quality of services and improve student outcomes Building: partnerships and collaborations capacity for volunteer engagement capacity to leverage financial and in-kind resources Program development or expansion

WHAT CAN I DO AS A VISTA TO MAKE MY PROJECT MORE SUSTAINABLE?

First of all, take a step back and take a deep breath.

Keep in mind: It’s not all on your shoulders. It’s mainly your host site’s responsibility to ensure your project is sustainable, and anyway you can’t do it all on your own. Sustainability does not mean ensuring that everything you do in your full-time position continues. That’s why your role is as a “short term resource” and not a long-term staff position. Oftentimes your role as VISTA is to try out new ideas, and new ideas don’t always work. That’s very important for your host site to learn – so don’t consider it a failure if some things you tried don’t get continued. Things won’t stay exactly the same, even if you are incredibly successful with your project. Things grow and change over time. Learn to let go! So what can you do? Let’s think about this together:

Seven Steps to Sustainability* *Adapted from the Corporation for National and Community Service

1. Get Things Done Well What plans can you put in place to make sure others continue to use the systems and materials you’ve created?

2. Develop and Support Strong Community Partnerships How do you foster greater collaboration between different groups to ensure your project priorities don’t hinge on your participation?

3. Re-examine Program Design How can gathering feedback make your program/project more sustainable?

4. Empower Communities How can you empower others to take more of a leadership role to sustain your project goals? How can you get community members to be more invested?

5. Share Program Impacts How can sharing your success help to make your program/project sustainable? Can you think of others who could be champions of your project goals?

6. Increase Awareness of Programs: What methods do you use to inform the public of your program/project? Which seem to be the most effective? What other media channels could you take advantage of?

7. Generate Resources What opportunities are there to increase resources during the remainder of your year?

So, in sum: Concentrate on what is within your power to do during the rest of this year. Get help from others, especially your supervisor. Plan ahead. Prioritize. Focus on collaboration and communication. Work on putting together a helpful Green Book.

Sustainability Binder/Green Book

Green Book: Overall Layout Think about categories and organizing what is relevant to your program/project Table of Contents – Sample sections: Program Information Member/Volunteer Support Trainings & Events Reporting & Evaluating Recruitment Policies Procedures Communications & Marketing – Flyers, brochures, media mentions

Green Book: Tips & Tricks Form s How-to guides Organizing information by questions (FAQ): “How do I ________?” “What to do if _______” Add file paths to footer C://myfolder1/myfolder2/myfile.doc What other ideas do you have of things to include or avoid? Any Questions?

THANK YOU! Stick around to check out some sample green books Any questions for Amy or Ellen? Social hour at Tracy’s Saloon ! 4:15pm – 6:00pm. Hope to see you there!