At United Way of Greater New Bedford, we believe in the power of community engagement and volunteerism's transformative impact. Today, we are thrilled to announce that our organization has achieved Service Enterprise accreditation, the national standard in Strategic Volunteer Engagement! This milestone is a testament to our commitment to proactively engage with the community to meet community needs, build our organizational strength and agility, and achieve measurable impact and equitable outcomes.
Achieving national accreditation is not an overnight success. It results from years of dedication, planning, and continuous improvement. We began our initial journey in 2016 and achieved our initial accreditation later that year. Each time we go for reaccreditation it is an opportunity to reflect on and improve upon the way we invite the community to serve with and through us. We are proud to say this is our third time achieving this honor!
While we celebrate this achievement, we also recognize that our work is never done. We will continue to innovate, evolve, and adapt our volunteer engagement strategies to meet the changing needs of our community. Our goal is to be a leader in volunteer engagement, demonstrating how organizations can harness the power of volunteers to create sustainable and scalable change within the community.
What Does Service Enterprise National Accreditation Mean?
Service Enterprise national accreditation is a prestigious recognition awarded by the Association of Leaders in Volunteer Engagement (AL!VE) and Points of Light to organizations that demonstrate excellence in the fundamental and strategic use of volunteers and their skills to address community issues. This rigorous accreditation process involves a comprehensive review of volunteer management practices, resource allocation, leadership involvement, impact and outcomes, and more. It ensures that we adhere to the highest standards of volunteer engagement, align with best practices, and deliver maximum impact.
Why Strategic Volunteer Engagement Matters
Strategic volunteer engagement goes beyond simply recruiting volunteers. It involves a thoughtful, intentional approach to understanding community needs, matching volunteers' skills and passions to those needs, and providing a meaningful and rewarding volunteer experience. This approach allows us to:
- Maximize Community Impact: By strategically aligning volunteers' skills, talents, and lived experiences with community needs, we can co-create more effective programs and initiatives with the community that drive real change.
- Enhance Volunteer Experience & Engagement: A positive volunteer experience increases satisfaction and retention, making volunteers more likely to continue their involvement, advocate for our cause, and grow participation by inviting their friends.
- Build Stronger Organizations & Communities: Engaging volunteers in meaningful and skills-based work fosters a sense of ownership and connection, strengthening the fabric of our community and our organization’s agility in responding to its needs.
What Service Enterprise Accreditation Means for Our Community
This is more than a badge of honor for UWGNB; it’s a promise to our community. It means that we are committed to excellence in volunteer engagement and dedicated to making a positive impact with all the resources our community gives us. For our volunteers, it means they can trust that their time, talents, and efforts are being utilized effectively to address the most pressing needs in our community. For our donors and partners, it means that we are using the skills and talents of the community to stretch every dollar invested into operational and program activities.
We are grateful to the Massachusetts Service Alliance for their guidance through the process and for their continued partnership to bring this initiative to Greater New Bedford. In addition to the accreditation process, Victoria on our team is coaching other organization through the accreditation process. She is currently coaching Buttonwood Park Zoo, Damien's Food Pantry, Marion Institute, and Osamequim Farm.