MNRAAA Receives Prestigious Service Enterprise Accreditation
Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging, Inc. (MNRAAA) is pleased to announce that it has achieved national accreditation in strategic volunteer engagement by AL!VE. Achieving Service Enterprise accreditation is a prestigious accomplishment. In fact, MNRAAA has joined the top 11 percent of nonprofits nationwide in volunteer management and organizational performance. Accreditation signifies that MNRAAA has the capability and management expertise to strategically engage community members and volunteers to improve the performance of our organization and meet community needs.
MNRAAA is the designated area agency on aging in Southwestern Minnesota, serving twenty-seven counties. Its vision is to assist older adults to thrive. In working with community-based organizations, MNRAAA provides funding (through the Older Americans Act) to support home-delivered meals, congregate meals, transportation, and caregiver support. MNRAAA, with the Minnesota Board on Aging, also operates the Senior LinkAge Line.
To be successful, MNRAAA utilizes volunteers to reach out to older adults and caregivers. Volunteers assist in outreach events such as leading presentations, dropping off materials, or managing a booth at community events. As a non-profit organization, MNRAAA relies on volunteers to serve on our Board of Directors or Committees. Finally, MNRAAA features an administrative volunteer opportunity.
MNRAAA completed an extensive assessment, including training and coaching, and a comprehensive internal planning and change process to integrate volunteers into our human capital strategy better. By achieving this level of excellence and accreditation, we are better equipped to leverage community members’ and volunteers’ time and talent to deliver our mission more effectively.
“Working through the SEI process has allowed us to reflect, renew, and reimagine volunteerism at MNRAAA. We have been more intentional in our volunteer roles that support our staff and clients, which enhance our opportunities to help older adults to thrive.” Stated Kylie Chandler, Contact Center Manager with MNRAAA.
MNRAAA began this journey in February 2022. “The COVID-19 pandemic produced a large exodus of volunteers from our organization and other community-based non-profits.” Stated Jason W. Swanson, Executive Director. “We needed to learn to recruit new volunteers. It was a perfect opportunity to reimagine our program.”
MNRAAA worked closely with the Minnesota Alliance for Volunteer Advancement (MAVA). MAVA is an organization that assists other non-profit organizations in maximizing mission capacity through the utilization of volunteers. Holly Daniels of MAVA worked closely with MNRAAA in preparing their application for accreditation.
“The Service Enterprise process allowed MNRAAA to successfully decentralize volunteer coordination across several staff positions and beef up their cross-organizational support and communications about volunteers. They have seen new energy and momentum about engaging volunteers after giving staff a sense of ownership and a structure to work within.” Daniels commented on MNRAAA’s work through the process.
Research conducted by the TCC Group, a national program and evaluation firm, found that organizations operating as Service Enterprises outperform peer organizations in all aspects of organizational effectiveness. They are more adaptable, sustainable, and capable of scaling their work.
The Service Enterprise program is a national change management program that helps organizations gain a greater return on volunteer investment to achieve their mission better. For more information regarding volunteer opportunities with our organization, please visit https://mnraaa.org/volunteer-opportunities/. For further information regarding Service Enterprise, please contact AL!VE’s National Service Enterprise Administrator, Kayla Paulson, at 319.310.0901 or ServiceEnterprise@volunteeralive.org.
About the Minnesota River Area Agency on Aging
MNRAAA’s vision is to assist older adults to thrive. MNRAAA provides advocacy, information, resources, and assistance so that older adults in southwest Minnesota can maintain the lifestyle of their choice. Learn more about MNRAAA at www.mnraaa.org.
For more information on the Minnesota Alliance for Volunteer Advancement (MAVA) visit their website at https://mavanetwork.org/
Catie Lee is the Director of Swift County Human Services. Lee is the current Equity Chair for the Minnesota Association of County Social Services Administrators (MACSSA) and has served on the Benson Communities Memory Loss Network and non-profits that have worked with the developmentally disabled population and public health. A graduate of the University of Minnesota, Lee has completed the Equity Works Leadership program offered through the Humphrey School of Public Affairs and holds a master’s Degree from Capella University.
Kimberly Holm is a graduate of Minnesota State University-Mankato with over 25 years of experience in the mental health field. Holm is currently the Executive Director of the Southwestern Minnesota Adult Mental Health Consortium (SMAMHC). SMAMHC is dedicated to improving the mental health of the 18 counties they serve. Holm is active in her community as a volunteer in her church and assisting fundraisers for the Hawk Creek Animal Shelter. One of Ms. Holm’s favorite quotes is, “There is no health without mental health.”
Candace Fenske spent her career in health care management, starting as a Certified Nursing Assistant (CNA), becoming a registered nurse focusing on geriatrics, and retiring as a rural hospital’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO). Ms. Fenske has stayed active with MNRAAA as a volunteer through her role as a member of the Planning Committee. She focuses on developing affordable housing for older adults and individuals with disabilities. Ms. Fenske continues to advocate for equitable healthcare access for diverse populations.
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