AmeriCorps* VISTA Assignment Description (VAD)

AmeriCorps* VISTA Assignment Description (VAD) VISTA Project: Alliance for Nevada Nonprofits (ANN) Site Name: Reno, Nevada VISTA Member Name/Title: Fathey Abdullah, Marketing & Fundraising Online Specialist Month: April 16, 2012 April 19, 2013 VISTA Member Activities and Steps Checklist GOAL 1 Increase the dollar value of cash and in-kind resources leveraged [Example: increase amount of online cash donations given to nonprofits at Nevada s Big Give 2 nd Annual Giving Day (April 25, 2013) by 25% ($103,250)] Activity 1.1: Assist Nevada s Big Give 2 nd Annual Giving Day on April 25, 2013 Increase By $100,000 1. Increase the dollar value of cash resources leveraged 2. Increase number of organizations that receive capacity-building 1.Read 4/15/2012 Step 1: Read Nevada Gives Request for ANN VISTA dated January 10, 2012 (enclosed) 2. Met with all Step 2: Once Phil makes introduction with Carolyn Glaser and Stacey Wedding with On 5/29/12 Nevada Gives, schedule teleconference orientation with Carolyn and Stacey. Step 3: Create an activity/steps timeline with by when s and personal goals for technical assistance provided in preparation for Nevada s Big Give 2 nd Annual Giving Day (April 25, 2013) Step 4: Report monthly on activities completed and organizations served. Step 5: Complete, revise and/or add to job description from Nevada Gives (see Step 1). Step 6: Select Learning Circle of 10 nonprofits from the 6 Focus Areas in Goal of the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) 2011-2015 Strategic Plan (i.e., economic opportunity, education, healthy futures, veterans and military families, disaster, and environmental stewardship) (see Nevada Gives Request from Step 1 for details) Deliverables per performance measures: 1. Report from Razoo platform and Nevada Gives after 2 nd Annual Giving Day 2. Monthly report of organizations served Activity 1.1 Comments/Summary of Accomplishments: Activity 1.1 Completed Activity 1.2: Develop a system for measuring the number of requests for ANN programs and (especially Marketing & Fundraising Online) & incorporating increasing requests for programs and in ANN capacity building 1. Increase the number of organizations that have experienced an increase in requests for their programs and overall and in Marketing & Fundraising Online as a result of capacity-building Step 1: Brainstorm activity, steps & timeline with ANN-VISTA Team. 8/2/2012 Page 1 of 9

Step 2: Create an activity timeline with by when s and personal goals. Step 3: Propose activity time line to ANN-VISTA Team. Step 4: Complete, revise or add to activity timeline. Step 5:Develop a model for nonprofits to measure increases in requests for programs and Step 6: Develop strategies for incorporating increasing requests for programs and in ANN capacity building Deliverables per performance measures: 1. Using model developed in Step 5, report monthly any requests 2. List of strategies or incorporating increasing requests for programs and in ANN capacity building Activity 1.2 Comments/Summary of Accomplishments: Activity 1.3: Research and promote online fundraising contests such as Chase Community Giving, LiveStrong, Toyota 100 Cars for Good, GuideStar Giving Season Giveaway, etc. while providing capacity building training and technical assistance to nonprofits to drive traffic and win Activity 1.2 Completed Step 4 8 completed on 8/2/12 for Apron s in Action 1. Increase number of organizations that receive capacity-building 2. Increase number of organizations reporting that capacity-building activities helped to make the organization more efficient and effective 3. Increase the dollar value of cash resources leveraged Step 1: Brainstorm products and to help nonprofit drive traffic and win contests. Step 2: Research online fundraising contests by tracking Google Alerts, blogs, listserves, forums, Google searches and more. Step 3: Develop a system for sharing (promoting) contests. Step 4: Identify key contacts at nonprofit agencies Step 5: Provide training and technical assistance on how to drive traffic and win contests. Step 6: Promote contests. Step 7: Monitor results. Step 8: Interview contest winners, like Veterans Guest House that won $250,000 in a contest run by Home Depot Identify organizations serving Veterans in Nevada from IRS Master List (12) Set up an interview and Eventbrite registration for interview on August 2 (completed by supervisor) Contact (by phone or email) 12 organizations identified about Interview on August 2 Attend interview on August 2 Follow up with audio replay for attendees and those unable to attend Step 9: Share interviews and promote winners. Number of contests won Amount from contests won Number of participating agencies List of training and technical assistance activities Monthly report on performance measures Activity 1.3 Comments/Summary of Accomplishments: 8/2/2012 Page 2 of 9 Activity 1.3 Completed

Step 8: Completed all tasks related to interviewing Veterans Guest House COO on August 2 Number of participating agencies ( contacted & 13 registrants see 1-page list of participating agencies from August 2 Interview Event) List of training and technical assistance activities (Aug 2 Interview with Home Depot Aprons in Action contest winner: Veterans Guest House) Monthly report on performance measures Activity 1.4: Increase online and offline in-kind resources for nonprofits 1. Increase the dollar value of in-kind resources leveraged Step 1: Become Google AdWords Certified. Step 2: Become familiar with in-kind Google AdWords through the Google Grants program Step 3: Provide training and technical assistance in applying for Google Grants and managing Google AdWords campaigns Step 4: Identify in-kind donation needs for roundtables and other ANN needs Step 5: Approach corporations around making in-kind donations Step 6: Develop a system for tracking in-kind contributions Step 7: Provide training and technical assistance to nonprofits to assist them in identifying in-kind donation ideas 1. List of training and technical assistance activities 2. Monthly report on performance measure Activity 1.4 Comments/Summary of Accomplishments: GOAL 2 Increase revenue to ANN by $20,000 Activity 2.1: Prepare ANN to participate in Nevada s Big Give on April 25, 2003, as well as online fundraising contests Activity 1.4 Completed Increase by $20,000 1. Increase the dollar value of in-kind resources leveraged Step 1: See activities 1.1, 1.2 and 1.3 to ANN. 1. Number of contests won 2. Amount from contests won 3. Monthly report on performance measure Activity 2.1 Comments/Summary of Accomplishments: Activity 2.1 Completed Activity 2.2: Design, deliver and evaluate a wide array of relevant and market-sensitive products for Nevada s 6,626 nonprofit such as fee-forservice projects, webinars and workshops 1. Increase number of organizations that receive capacity-building 8/2/2012 Page 3 of 9

2. Increase number of organizations reporting that capacity-building activities helped to make the organization more efficient and effective 3. Increase the dollar value of cash resources leveraged Step 1: Create and add to a spreadsheet of revenue and savings generated by fee-forservice projects, webinars and workshops (see example for Corinne) Step 2: Participate in product development brainstorming sessions Step 3: Become familiar with product development tools, such as webinar platforms, content management system (WishList Member), teleconference platforms, white papers, special reports, and info products (i.e., ebooks,.mp3 s, videos) Step 4: Prioritize and schedule product releases Step 5: Develop marketing strategies for product launches, including Eventbrite invitations, flyers, YouTube videos, Facebook and Twitter posts, etc. Step 6: Track marketing strategies (i.e., in product launch pre-registration surveys) and make suggestions for improvement in future product launches Step 7: Brainstorm and recommend strategies that will allow products and to make nonprofits more efficient and effective 1. Schedule of product launches and re-launches 2. Charts of pre-launch marketing strategies 3. Compiled product evaluations including efficiency and effectiveness questions 4. Monthly report on performance measure Activity 2.2 Comments/Summary of Accomplishments: Activity 2.2 Activity 2.3: Increase revenue from nonprofit members from Southern Nevada (and state-wide), including increasing recurring revenue from renewals 1. Increase the dollar value of cash resources leveraged Step 1: Become familiar with ANN s benefit package for nonprofits (see website) as well as numbers and application process. Step 2: Participate in ANN Marketing/Membership Committee meetings and follow up. Step 3: Recruit nonprofits by making presentations and one-on-one appointments. Step 4: Assist nonprofits in completing ANN and GrantStation (if appropriate) applications Step 5: Answer questions. Step 6: Assist with processing of new applicants. Step 7: Brainstorm retention strategies for increasing numbers of renewals who renew on time or before their renewal time. Step 8: Participate in implementing retention strategies and reporting results. Step 9: Become familiar with content management system (WishList Member) and how sponsors can access their benefits and update profiles. 4/23/12 1. Before/after numbers of members 2. Before/after numbers of renewals 3. List of retention strategies Activity 2.3 Comments/Summary of Accomplishments: Activity 2.3 8/2/2012 Page 4 of 9

Activity 2.4: Increase revenue from sponsors from Southern Nevada (and state-wide), including increasing recurring revenue from renewals 1. Increase the dollar value of cash resources leveraged Step 1: Become familiar with ANN s benefit package and Non-Profit Purchasing Group (NPPG) program and vendor lists for sponsors (see website) as well as numbers and application process. Step 2: Participate in discussions with NPPG. Step 3: Recruit sponsors by making presentations and one-on-one appointments. Step 4: Assist sponsors in completing ANN applications and sponsor survey. Step 5: Answer questions. Step 6: Assist with processing of new applicants. Step 7: Brainstorm retention strategies for increasing numbers of renewals who renew on time or before their renewal time. Step 8: Participate in implementing retention strategies and reporting results. Step 9: Participate in on-going Sponsor meetings. Step 10: Become familiar with content management system (WishList Member) and how sponsors can access their benefits and update profiles. 5/9/12 1. Before/after numbers of sponsors 2. Before/after numbers of renewals 3. List of retention strategies Activity 2.4 Comments/Summary of Accomplishments: Activity 2.4 GOAL 3 Increase subscribers to email list for Southern Nevada and social media fans by 50% Activity 3.1: Increase number of subscribers in email list Increase By 50% #s in 1. Database overall 2. Segmented categories of the six Focus Areas in Goal 1 of the CNCS 2011-2015 Strategic Plan (i.e., economic opportunity, education, healthy futures, veterans and military families, disaster, and environmental stewardship) Step 1: Become familiar with database and lists in Vertical Response and Google Docs Step 2: Brainstorm how to segment list according to six Focus Areas Step 3: Keep a monthly spreadsheet of additions to database and Grant Station Insider (see step 8) (include date, source, number of unique records uploaded, number of recorded updated, total number in Master List/distribution list) Step 4: Assist with processing new nonprofits/sponsors and renewals while updating Vertical Response lists Step 5: Brainstorm ways to grow lists Step 6: Become familiar with how to handle bounces (see Corinne s notes) Step 7: Assist with handling of bounces and unsubscriptions Step 8: Update GrantStation Insider newsletter on Thursdays. 5/9/12 1. Monthly spreadsheet of #s in database overall 2. Monthly spreadsheet of #s in segmented categories of the six Focus Areas 8/2/2012 Page 5 of 9

Activity 3.1 Comments/Summary of Accomplishments: Step 3: Additions to database = to-date Step 8: Additions to GrantStation Insider = 34 additions to-date Activity 3.1 Completed Activity 3.2: Enhance and manage ANN s Social Media Campaign 1. Increase numbers of fans, followers, as well as level of engagement Step 1: Become familiar with monthly tracking system developed by Corinne. Step 2: Become familiar with Social Media Campaign started by Corinne. Step 3: Implement strategies of former Campaign. Step 4: Brainstorm new strategies to enhance the Campaign and level of engagement. Step 5: Set goals for numbers and levels of engagement. Step 6: Integrate social media with website design products and (activity 2.2). Step 7: Integrate social media with Nevada s Big Give on April 25, 2013 (activity 1.1) Step 8: Integrate social media with fundraising online contests (activity 1.3) Step 9: Assist with integrating Tweetups and other social media engagement during roundtables, webinars and workshops 1. Monthly # of fans and followers 2. Monthly reports of level of engagement 3. Report of social media integration into roundtables, webinars and workshops Activity 3.2 Comments/Summary of Accomplishments: Activity 3.2 Activity 3.3: Design, deliver and evaluate fee-for-service fundraising online, marketing, and social media capacity-building products and such as Social Media Audits and Press Release Training 1. Increase number of organizations (overall and by six Focus Areas in Goal I of the CNCS 2011-2015) that receive capacity-building 2. Increase number of organizations (overall and by six Focus Areas) reporting that capacity-building activities helped to make the organization more efficient and effective 3. Increase the dollar value of cash resources leveraged Step 1: Apply steps from activity 2.2. Step 2: Develop a Social Media Audit product/service. Step 3: Beta test the use of Learning Circles of 5-10 in testing and developing products as well as capacity of nonprofits with common interests (i.e., six Focus Areas) Given to Kyle 1. Schedule of product launches and re-launches 2. Charts of pre-launch marketing strategies 3. Compiled product evaluations including efficiency and effectiveness questions 4. Beta test results of Learning Circles 5. Monthly report on performance measure Activity 3.3 Comments/Summary of Accomplishments: Activity 3.3 8/2/2012 Page 6 of 9

Activity 3.4: Become an expert in writing Press Releases. Step 1: Identify training opportunities for writing Press Releases Step 2: Develop a Press Release Writing product/service. Step 3: Develop and expand media contacts for Southern Nevada, Northern Nevada and Rural Nevada. Step 4: Issue Press Releases for ANN events and product/service launches. Step 5: Deliver and evaluate a Press Release product/service. 1. Copies of Press Releases 2. # of organizations that receive capacity-building 3. # of organizations reporting that capacity-building activities helped to make the organization more efficient and effective 4. The dollar value of cash resources leveraged and savings generated Activity 4.4 Comments/Summary of Accomplishments: Activity 4.4 GOAL 4 Improve Effectiveness & Efficiency of ANN Infrastructure & Systems Activity 4.1: Research and report on best practices in marketing and fundraising online Improve Effectiveness & Efficiency 1. Increase number of organizations (overall and by six Focus Areas in Goal I of the CNCS 2011-2015) that receive capacity-building Step 1: Research best practices in marketing for nonprofits. Step 2: Research best practices in fundraising. Step 3: Post on blog. Integrate posts with social media posts on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Step 4: Identify resource in marketing. Step 5: Identify resources in fundraising online Step 6: Update Delicious. 1. Posts. Activity 4.1 Comments/Summary of Accomplishments: Activity 4.1 Completed Activity 4.2: Assist in designing ANN-VISTA Brokering System 1. Increase number of organizations (overall and by six Focus Areas in Goal I of the CNCS 2011-2015) that receive capacity-building Step 1: Brainstorm lists of stakeholders and locations where Brokering System process and updates can be shared and made available to stakeholders. Step 2: Promote planning and timeline in posts and in various Step 3: Make presentations. Step 4: Participate in Focus Groups. Step 5: Summarize Focus Group results. 8/2/2012 Page 7 of 9

Step 6: Participate in application process for 2013 AmeriCorps VISTAs Step 7: Participate in job description writing, recruitment and interviews of VISTA candidates. 1. List of stakeholders. 2. List of locations where Brokering System process and updates can be shared. 3. Compiled presentation evaluations. 4. Focus Group summary. 5. Job descriptions of future VISTAs. Activity 4.2 Comments/Summary of Accomplishments: Activity 4.2 Activity 4.3: Measure & Improve Personal Performance 1. Increase level of personal performance and goal setting Step 1: Write monthly activity reports (due to supervisor on 12 noon on the last working day of each month) Step 2: Keep monthly time sheets according to projects and budget categories (i.e., fee-for-service, nonprofits, sponsors, etc.). Step 3: Create a portfolio of work performed and reports filed. Step 4: Identify personal and career goals. Step 5: Brainstorm activities and steps to reach goals. Step 6: Check in periodically with ANN-VISTA team to check performance. Step 7: Evaluate performance around product launches and delivery. Step 8: Write monthly activity reports (due to supervisor on 12 noon on the last working day of each month) Step 9: Update VAD with comments and summary of accomplishments (in grey areas) for each activity 5/31/12 5/31/12 1. Lists of goals 2. Portfolio 3. Evaluations 4. Monthly activity reports 5. Monthly VAD updates Activity 4.3 Comments/Summary of Accomplishments: Activity 4.3 Activity 4.4: Strengthen member and provide customer service and technical assistance to existing members such as cost savings 1. Increase member and benefits 2. Increase customer service 3. Increase cost savings Step 1: Attend Board and committee meetings. Assist whenever possible. Step 2: Assist in providing customer service to nonprofits and sponsors. Step 3: Support and participate in ANN s Marketing/Membership Committee and other marketing-based initiatives state-wide Step 4: Add to ANN s Savings Calculator. Step 5: Attend and assist with roundtables, workshops and webinars, as needed. Step 6: Brainstorm strategies to enhance benefits for members. 8/2/2012 Page 8 of 9

Step 7: Brainstorm and suggest strategies for enhancing membership without additional costs. 1. List of benefits 2. Customer service ratings and testimonials 3. Cost savings calculator Activity 4.4 Comments/Summary of Accomplishments: Activity 4.4 GOAL 5 Increase Capacity Through Projects & Initiatives Activity 5.1: Lead or assist in a variety of projects and initiatives that are required or in a particular area of interest Increase Capacity 1. Increase number of organizations (overall and by six Focus Areas in Goal I of the CNCS 2011-2015) that receive capacity-building Step 1: Support the development of service projects related to Martin Luther King day. Step 2: Become familiar with Technical Assistance resources from the AmeriCorps VISTA Program Guidance for Current and Potential Project Sponsors Step 3: Become familiar with Performance Measures on pages 11-12 of the AmeriCorps VISTA Program Guidance for Current and Potential Project Sponsors Step 4: Become familiar with CNCS 2011 2015 Strategic Plan on pages 6-11 of the AmeriCorps VISTA Program Guidance for Current and Potential Project Sponsors Step 5: Research IRS 990-N application process and procedures. Step 6: Schedule and provide technical assistance in how to complete the IRS 990-N form Step 7: Further develop Resource List for Southern Nevada (on website). Step 8: Add to this list of steps as necessary. 4/24/12 4/24/12 4/24/12 1. Report on number of agencies served 2. Verification of familiarity of AmeriCorps VISTA Program Guidance for Current and Potential Project Sponsors 3. Schedule of technical assistance in completing the IRS 990-N form 4. Resource List of Southern Nevada (on website) Activity 5.1 Comments/Summary of Accomplishments: Activity 5.1 Completed 8/2/2012 Page 9 of 9