Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

Volunteerism and Governments: Action from

the Bottom-up and Top-down

Sara DavisDan Staley

November 19, 2008

Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

• Community participation

• Increased partnerships

• More flexibility

• New ways of doing things

Finding the Balance

Sustainability and environmental-ecological goals require:

Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

Finding the Balance

•Governmental bodies across the county are rolling out mandates to plant mass numbers of trees•non-profits have been doing the work for years

How can the top-down mandates and the bottom-up social initiatives meet in the middle to accomplish more?

Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

• Three Categories of Focus:1. Expectations

2. Communication

3. Aligned goals Leads to viable strategy for projects and/or

relationships

Introduction

Tools and perspectives to build new relationships and partnerships between governments and nonprofits

Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

Background

What are the stereotypical barriers to working with governments?

•Moves slowly•Bureaucratic•Cheap•Controls all the power

What are the stereotypical barriers to working with non-profits?•Disorganized and unfocused•Instigate barriers to implementation•Overly emotionally invested•Unaligned with others goals

Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

BackgroundWhat are the benefits to working with governments?

•Staff and equipment recourses•Power and decision making•Fat Rolodexes•Access to land•Controls funding for projects and programs•Accountable to citizens

What are the benefits to working with non-profits?

•Community buy in and involvement•Volunteer energy•Flexibility•Freer financial system•Accountable to a board and community

Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

1. Expectations

2. Communication

3. Aligned Goals

Key Themes

Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

1. Expectationsa. Different

b. Not compatible

c. Expressed and measured differently

d. Accountability

Key Themes

Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

Key Themes

2. Communicationa. Different ‘languages’

• Jargon and framing

b. Hearing different things• Government: What, why• Non-profit: Why, who, how

Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

Key Themes

3. Aligned goalsa. Some goals are similar

• Trees, canopy, UHI reduction, AQ goals

• What about volunteer hours, community building, social justice vs politicians?

b. Are your goals clear to the other partner?

Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

Scenario

Public Works• CAP & SAP

goals• Execute by Q4• PROW• No overtime for

staff is budgeted

Non-profit• Social justice• Engage core

volunteers on weekend projects

• Fulfill special community request

• Multi-generational buy in

Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

Scenario Outcome

What do you think is the outcome of this scenario?

1. Expectations not aligneda. Public Works b. Non-profit

2. Poor communication3. Goals not aligned?

Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

Scenario - Expectations

1. Expectations not aligneda. Public Works’ expectations

a. The “plan” will be completed by going through the City process of doing things

b. Rules will be followedc. Non-profit can execute plan within budget

constraintsd. Non-profits can work during office hours of Public

Works

b. Non-Profits expectations a. City property will be availableb. Engage volunteers on City projectsc. Own project protocols will be applicable while

working on City projects

Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

• Communicate expectations upfront• Flexibility• Willingness to seek common solution• Ability to compromise• Permissions to make compromises

obtained before hand or clear process to obtain permission is communicated up front

Expectations

Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

Scenario - Communication

2. Poor communicationA. Public Works

1. Jargon used heavily with no check of understanding

2. Unwelcoming presentation of information3. Intent of meeting not clearly communicated4. Attendees not “who needed to be at the table”

B. Non-profit1. Jargon used heavily with no check of

understanding2. Unwelcoming presentation of information3. Intent of meeting not clearly communicated4. Attendees not “who needed to be at the table”

Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

Communication

• Eliminate jargon and specialty language until common terms are established as the relationship progresses

• Open initial conversations with an elevator speech to provide a frame of reference

• Bring an interpreter/bridge to meetings to help ensure understanding

• Appropriate players at the table for the point of the conversation

Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

Scenario - Align Goals

3. Goals not aligned?A. Public Works

1. Didn’t say they want to plant trees!2. Meet CAP & SAP goals

1. Increase canopy in the PROW for multiple reasons aligning with plans

3. Implement plan without added budget impacts

B. Non-profit 1. Didn’t say they want to plant trees!2. Meet goals of engaging volunteers and building

community3. Increase canopy for multiple reasons aligning with

strategic plan

Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

Align Goals

• Each group will have their own set of goals that may or may not overlap

• Identify goals in common• Identify and acknowledge individual

goals that can be achieved in addition to the common goals

Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

Strategy is to work together to plant trees

Expectations are to:

• Communicate expectations up front

• Flexibility

• Find commonality

Recap

Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

Strategy is to work together to plant trees

Communication is:

• Clear and jargonless

• Initiated with an elevator speech to provide a frame of reference

• Facilitated by interpreter/bridge

• Delivered to appropriate players

Recap

Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

Strategy is to work together to plant trees

Goals are:• Aligned for clarity of other party

• Expected to differ in some respects but always to plant trees

– Individual goals can be achieved in addition to the common goals – that’s OK

Recap

Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

Initial Scenario

Public Works• CAP & SAP

goals• Execute by Q4• PROW• No overtime for

staff is budgeted

Non-profit• Social justice• Engage core

volunteers on weekend projects

• Fulfill special community request

• Multi-generational buy in

Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

Scenario

Public Works

• Tree planting goals to meet various plans

• Deadline

• Budget –staffing constraints that we need help to overcome

Non-profit• Motivated

volunteers that want to plant trees

• Strategic plan goals to fulfill – increase partnerships

• Varied volunteers with multiple considerations

Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

• Expectation– Government – processes will be

followed– Non-profit – missions will be

upheld

• Communication - people don’t try to be poor communicators on purpose

• Aligned goals – break goals down to the least common denominators and the rest will follow

Conclusion

Volunteerism Bottom-up 11-19-08

Q & A