Update on AmeriCorps Volunteer Generation Fund Grant: VolunteerDBQCopyrighted
January 18, 2022
City of Dubuque Consent Items # 15.
City Council Meeting
ITEM TITLE: Update on AmeriCorps Volunteer Generation Fund Grant:
VolunteerDBQ
SUMMARY: City Manager transmitting an update regarding the work being done
through the AmeriCorps Volunteer Generation Fund Grant that was
awarded to the City of Dubuque in January 2021 and a second year
awarded in January 2022.
SUGGESTED Suggested Disposition: Receive and File
DISPOSITION:
FIN ik[91:ILyil21zIII &]
Description Type
AmeriCorps Volunteer Generation Fund Grant City Manager Memo
VolunteerDBQ-MVM Memo
Staff memo Staff Memo
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TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Update on AmeriCorps Volunteer Generation Fund Grant: VolunteerDBQ
DATE: January 12, 2022
Leisure Services Manager Marie Ware is transmitting an update regarding the work
being done through the AmeriCorps Volunteer Generation Fund Grant that was
awarded to the City of Dubuque in January 2021 and a second year awarded in January
2022.
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Mic ael C. Van Milligen
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Attachment
CC' Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Marie L. Ware, Leisure Services Manager
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TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Marie L. Ware, Leisure Services Manager
Dubuque
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SUBJECT: Update on AmeriCorps Volunteer Generation Fund Grant: VolunteerDBQ
DATE: January 11, 2022
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memo is to provide updates regarding the work being done through
the AmeriCorps Volunteer Generation Fund Grant that was awarded to the City of
Dubuque in January 2021 and a second year awarded in January 2022.
BACKGROUND
In November 2020, the City of Dubuque AmeriCorps Program submitted an application
for a Volunteer Generation Fund grant. The city was selected and awarded the grant in
January 2021. In November 2021, Volunteer Iowa opened the continuation grant for
current awardees. The program submitted and was awarded the continuation grant
proposal. Volunteer Generation Fund (VGF) grant funds support development and
strengthening of the volunteer infrastructure in Iowa through Volunteer Centers.
All organizations funded under this grant support the following functions of a Volunteer
Center external to their own organization: a) connect people with opportunities to
volunteer and serve; b) increase capacity for organizations to engage volunteers in
meaningful service; c) promote volunteering; and, d) develop internally and/or support
partners in developing local programming/ projects designed to utilize volunteerism as a
solution to community problems.
In the grant submission, it was determined that the VGF grant could help the city build a
framework for civil fine and fee diversion through community service as part of the
Equitable Fines and Fee Reform, and also benefit the City of Dubuque's efforts to
engage low-income and communities of color in volunteering. Studies have shown that
low-income and communities of color are less likely to participate in structured volunteer
services. The grant application focused heavily on encouraging community members of
diverse backgrounds to volunteer in many ways, while also identifying the volunteering
needs in Dubuque, and helping these organizations create equitable practices in
engaging diverse volunteers and retaining these volunteer's services. The grant
intended goal is to help Dubuque's efforts to create a robust, service -focused volunteer
cohort that is representative of our citizens.
DISCUSSION
Upon being awarded, the Volunteer Generation Funding was used to first develop a
plan with our partner, United Way, to utilize the existing Get Connected volunteer web
platform. United Way was a previous VGF grant -holder, however, they no longer
pursued this funding and only was awarded enough to keep the Get Connected
Platform available in Dubuque. With our program being the new VGF grant holder, our
effort was to revitalize this platform to be the home base for volunteering in the
community. With the grant's funding, we increased the AmeriCorps Coordinator's hours,
Sarah Berna, who worked on re -defining our approach to the volunteer community. In
addition to making as many personal connections as possible, Sarah developed a
survey to gather details about organizations and their needs with volunteer
management that we can use to drive our support and planning.
Our partnership with United Way's Director of Community Building and Impact, Paula
Paider Licht, has been moving forward as we work together to keep volunteerism and
program sustainability in mind. Together, we looked at what will help optimize
organizational use of the Get Connect Platform and surveying organizations for their
needs. AmeriCorps Director, Heather Satterly, and United Way Director, Danielle
Peterson, guided progress and provided support with connections and knowledge.
With the help of Public Information Office Community specialists, Kristin Hill, Kelli
Buchenau and Trevor Fannon, and the knowledge and support of Chris Kohlmann in IS,
we rebranded the look and URL of the Get Connected volunteer web portal to
www.volunteerDBQ.com . Previously, the URL was dbqunitedway.galaxydigital.com,
which was not easy to find or to advertise to community members. The rebrand will
allow better search engine optimization and attract more diversity of users. The
rebrands purpose incorporates the values of the partnership between the City of
Dubuque AmeriCorps Program and United Way, while creating a call to action and an
initiative for the community volunteerism. With this rebrand, we were able to reformat
the system so that we could develop more intuitive categories that can help volunteers
find their fit in helping within their community.
AmeriCorps Coordinator, Sarah Berna, has connected with several groups that support
volunteers, including United Way's Community Volunteer Partnership, the Art and
Culture Commission, and she is currently developing relationship with the
Neighborhood Associations alongside Temwa Phiri in the Office of Shared Prosperity
and Neighborhood Support. Our goal has been to reintroduce Dubuque organizations to
VolunteerDBQ.com (formerly the Get Connected web platform). The Initiative has built
a foundation and made many connections with several Dubuque organizations. The
AmeriCorps Coordinator has been using best practice to produce information that can
help community organizations with volunteer management and recruitment. We than all
of our city departments that assisted with moving the volunteer work forward.
For 2022, we will be taking steps to discover new ways to engage people within
Dubuque organizations. We will focus on areas such as skills -based volunteering,
logistical support, and information to help connect the dots on topics important to
organizations that utilize volunteers. These topics include but are not limited to
volunteer recruitment, training, retention, recognition as well as how Diversity, Equity
and Inclusion within these topics. Using a sustainability approach is important as
turnover in many non-profit organizations is a real issue. We want to ensure volunteer
management tools are easily available so VolunteerDBQ can continually be utilized to
strengthen Dubuque's volunteer infrastructure. AmeriCorps Coordinator, Sarah Berna,
will be developing quarterly newsletters with valuable information as well as shareable
information about volunteering that is relevant to our Dubuque Community
organizations. Moving into the coming year, we plan to reach even more organizations
and share more connections to continue growth of opportunities available for Dubuque
citizens to make community connections.
Just last week the AmeriCorps Coordinator met with the North End Neighborhood and
discussed ways they might be involved in efforts related to Martin Luther King Day.
These connections will continue to build a network and increase volunteerism in the
community.
BUDGETIMPACT
The grant award for January 2021 was $29,799 in federal funding, which was matched
with $30,107 and for January 2022 was $29,799 in federal funding, which was matched
with $32,168. The 50% required match (determined by the size of the community) for
the grant is being covered by in -kind services from several staff participating in the
Equitable Fines and Fee Program. However, the match requirement has been waived
for 2021 due to COVID-19. 2021 was year one of three. We just started on the 2022
grant which is year two of three.
RECOMMENDATION
This memo is for informational purposes only. It is provided as an update of the
Volunteer Generation Fund grant past activities and future plans. There is no action
necessary at this time.
cc: Heather Satterly, AmeriCorps Director
Randy Gehl, Public Information Officer
Chris Kohlmann, Information Services Manager
Anderson Sainci, Director of OSPNS