For many years, CCAC’s Institute for Volunteerism (which celebrated its 25^th Anniversary in ’03) and the United Way of AlleghenyCounty’s Volunteer Impact Center (formerly known as the Volunteer Action Center and Good Neighbors’ VolunteerCenter) have been partners in advocating for stronger volunteer programs under the direction of a trained, skilled manager.  Together they have worked toward that end by offering training on the “Basics of Volunteer Management,” which has helped generations of volunteer managers direct their programs more successfully.  At this point in time, however, the United Way has decided it must focus its resources in other directions.   

The United Way, therefore, has turned over their training curriculum and materials to CCAC’s Institute for Volunteerism to carry on this crusade to provide fundamental volunteer management training to every person directing volunteer services in Southwestern Pennsylvania. Volunteer Instructors who were trained by the Volunteer Impact Center have graciously agreed to continue conducting this half-day overview of the basic information needed by everyone who leads volunteers.   A knowledgeable, trained volunteer director means a more effective volunteer program, --- which translates to a more meaningful experience for the volunteer,---which results in better services available through the nonprofit agency, --- which, in turn, improves our whole community.  For this reason, United Way will continue encouraging agencies to obtain this training.  Volunteer Directors, who successfully complete the “Basics of Volunteer Administration” workshop, will receive a certificate from CCAC and his/her agency will be designated by a star in United Way’s on-line volunteer matching system, “Volunteer Solutions.”   That star should help to attract more volunteers.  Read more about this story.

CCAC’s Institute for Volunteerism’s commitment to improve our community through on-going quality, professional development for the managers of volunteer programs will continue beyond its 25^th Anniversary.  As we bid farewell to United Way’s Volunteer Impact Center as a co-sponsor, we welcome two new partners, the Society of Directors of Volunteer Services (SDVS) and the Volunteer Administrators of Southwestern Pennsylvania (VASP).   SDVS is the professional organization for Volunteer Directors associated with Healthcare organizations.  It, like the Volunteer Administrators of Southwestern Pennsylvania (VASP), encourages members to grow in their knowledge and skills to achieve volunteer programs that are effective and successful.  The Institute welcomes these new partnerships and re-affirms its commitment to “carry on” its educational goal of offering quality training as inexpensively as possible.