Planning for sustainability

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Abstract

Based on research for her 1999–2000 National Service Fellows report, Amy Bonn developed three tools to help AmeriCorps*VISTA projects reach their sustainability goals: a training to teach AmeriCorps*VISTA members how to develop and implement sustainable programs; a guide for AmeriCorps*VISTA supervisors to develop an effective work plan; and a workbook for AmeriCorps*VISTA members to collect and organize important project and community information. From the report, Stone Soup Community Development: Sustainability and AmeriCorps*VISTA Projects.

Issue

Developing sustainable AmeriCorps*VISTA projects is a long, complicated process. AmeriCorps*VISTA supervisors should start with a clear sustainability plan in mind, and AmeriCorps*VISTA members must be trained in the sustainability needs of the project.

Action

In her 1999–2000 National Service Fellows report, Amy Bonn recognized three common themes among AmeriCorps*VISTA projects that were successfully sustained: secure funding, strong staffing/volunteer base, and a clear communication strategy. The Stone Soup Series captured best practices and lessons learned from projects around the country. The major themes that the series addresses are:

The importance of discussing the programming elements that go in to creating a sustainable project and the effect that a sustainable project can have upon a community.
What happens if a project fails? How does a project that isn’t sustained affect funding, trust levels, and program development for the host site, the community, and the AmeriCorps*VISTA member?
The unique community development role that an AmeriCorps*VISTA member plays. As one-year community developers, members’ roles and responsibilities are different from their staff counterparts.
The workplan as planning basis for sustainability. The workplan should outline steps to integrate sustainability into project planning and implementation from the project application phase through the completion of the project.
Many of the successful, sustainable projects had organized project data collection systems. These systems contributed to the successful transitioning of the project from AmeriCorps*VISTA to non-AmeriCorps*VISTA resources. The projects with comprehensive orientation programs, ongoing training opportunities, and member development opportunities yielded better program results and tended to have a higher retention rate.

Context

The tools were developed based on interviews about sustainability with eleven AmeriCorps*VISTA alumni, twelve Corporation for National and Community Service field staff, five Corporation for National and Community Service headquarters staff, nine AmeriCorps*VISTA supervisors, and eleven AmeriCorps*VISTA members and AmeriCorps*VISTA leaders. The tools were field tested at four trainings, two with AmeriCorps*VISTA leaders, one with AmeriCorps*VISTA supervisors, and one cross-stream training.

Citation

Bonn, Amy. Stone Soup Community Development: Sustainability and AmeriCorps*VISTA Projects. Washington, DC: Corporation for National and Community Service, 2000.

Outcome

Getting things done is at the heart of AmeriCorps service; and sustaining this work is its legacy. An AmeriCorps*VISTA who understands the importance of creating a sustainable project and who has the tools to do so can create long-term change. This change is twofold. A community that rallies to address a concern and helps craft a long-range vision for the issue is primed to take on other challenges and is confident in their ability to elicit change. For the member the change is lifelong — service becomes a way of life and mobilizing communities to take action becomes a passion.