Press Release –
HOW Receives SEI certification To Join Top 11% of Nonprofits –
On March 3rd, Helping Our Women (HOW) met with representatives, Lisl Hacker and Chris Woods, from the Massachusetts Service Alliance (MSA) to complete their Service Enterprise certification. Service Enterprise certification is a prestigious accomplishment for an organization. In fact, organizations that certify join the top 11 percent of nonprofits nationwide in volunteer management and organizational performance.
HOW completed an extensive assessment, over 20 hours of training and coaching and an extensive internal planning and change process to better integrate volunteers into our human capital strategy. By achieving this level of excellence and certification, HOW is better equipped to leverage the time and talent of volunteers and better meet our mission. “Service Enterprise helped to give shape and hold shape to a volunteer program that had been working, to work even better” stated Gwynne Guzzeau, Executive Director at HOW.
HOW implemented newly designed systems for volunteer engagement, from recruiting and training to onboarding and supervision, including and especially the online volunteer orientation. HOW volunteers Marianne Thomas and Diane Sidorowicz invite volunteers to come together every other month for a Meet Up.
“Their (HOW’s) engagement of volunteers from the outset in informing their approach to “Redesigning the Volunteer Program” was a beautiful reflection of Service Enterprise as they began their transformation. And their investment in volunteer engagement, meaningfully in hours and compensation dedicated to paid staff focused on volunteer engagement is impressive,” stated Emily Haber, Chief Executive Officer at MSA. “All of this and so much more demonstrates that Helping Our Women is truly operating as a Service Enterprise, and Points of Light is proud to officially certify this remarkable organization for the next three years.”
Research conducted by the TCC Group, a national program and evaluation firm, found that organizations operating as Service Enterprises outperform peer organizations on all aspects of organizational effectiveness, and are more adaptable, sustainable and capable of scaling their work.
For over 29 years, Helping Our Women (HOW) has built a strong system of supportive services to meet the needs and empower women with chronic, life threatening or disabling medical conditions living in Provincetown, Truro, Wellfleet and Eastham. HOW also provides advocacy, referrals and resources to all community members. To learn about HOW and volunteer opportunities visit www.helpingourwomen.org.
Pictured (left to right): Gwynne Guzzeau, Lisl Hacker, Chris Woods, Lisa Philips
For more information around SEI certification, visit pointsoflight.org/service-enterprise-program/