Do you get excited at the prospect of building something new and knowing your work has the potential to have a long-term, tangible impact? While founded in 1984, NAMI Austin is basically a 33-year old “startup,” having hired its first executive director just 3 years ago. Since then, NAMI Austin has been strategically riding a wave of change in the way our community addresses mental health by providing the best mental health education, and support and advocacy programming, all at no cost. To meet the growing needs of the community, we’re looking for someone to propel us to the next level by enhancing our volunteer and donor engagement. As a volunteer-driven organization with limited resources, this VISTA position has the potential to have a huge impact on the lives of the thousands of individuals and families in the Austin area affected by mental illness. Located in the heart of the “Live Music Capitol of the World,” NAMI Austin offers a VISTA member a unique blend of opportunity for professional growth in a great location for anyone who loves the outdoors, a thriving music and arts community, and the best food truck tacos in the state. The Donor & Volunteer Relations VISTA has two major roles: developing a new volunteer program structure and identifying and implementing new donor and volunteer management database. The position will allow for a combination of creativity, innovation, and strategic organizational development in an extremely supportive atmosphere with great training and strong teamwork in a city with a large and visible AmeriCorps presence.
Service Activities
Member Duties : The NAMI Austin Donor & Volunteer Relations VISTA will enhance the agency’s volunteer and donor engagement programs by developing new and improved tools to ensure long-term and sustainable volunteer retention and tracking of individual and corporate donors. Duties include developing and improving volunteer recruitment, training, and retention tools; researching, developing and implementing much-needed donor and volunteer databases; training agency staff on how to use the new tools. The VISTA member’s contributions will help support the agency’s expansion and stability by more effectively and efficiently managing the fast-paced growth of the volunteer program while ensuring the long-term financial sustainability of the organization. She or he will work closely with the mission-driven staff of a vibrant organization experiencing exponential growth at a time of increased community mental health awareness.
Community Need Addressed
Create systems to address volunteer need within mental health field.
Position Outcomes
Develop volunteer recruitment practices, training, and retention tools. Support agency's ability to manage growing volunteer program.
Benefits
Childcare assistance if eligible, Education award upon successful completion of service, Health coverage, Non-competitive eligibility (federal jobs), Relocation allowance (if applicable), Stipend, Student loan forbearance, Training
Education Benefits
College Degree
Skills you will gain
Writing/Editing, Community Outreach, Volunteer Management, and Project Management.
Competencies You Will Develop
Communication
Demonstrate sensitivity and empathy, Lead group discussion, Listen to and consider others' viewpoints, Maintain open lines of communication with others, Speak clearly, in precise language and in a logical, organized and coherent manner, Write cleary and effectively
Creativity & Problem Solving
Able to identify and define the problem, Capable of generating possible solutions, Communicate the problem to appropriate personnel, Select and implement well-considered solution
Teamwork
Develop constructive working relationships and maintain them over time, Establish a high degree of trust and credibility with others, Interact professionally and respectfully with supervisors and co-workers, Stay positive and outcome oriented
Decisions
Accepts responsibility, Identify and prioritize the key issues involved to facilitate the decision making process, Involve people appropriately in decisions that may impact them
Tools
Carefully consider which tools or technological solutions are appropriate for a given job, Consistently choose the best tool or technological solution for the problem at hand, Seek opportunities to improve knowledge of tools and technologies that may assist in streamlining work and improving productivity
Planning
Able to prioritize various competing tasks, Create environment of contribution, Create plan of action, schedule tasks so that work is completed on time, Demonstrate the effective allocation of time and resources efficiently, Set goals
Service
Be pleasant, courteous, professional and respectful when dealing with internal and external customers or clients, Honor the privilege of being able to work with and for those being served, Provide personalized, prompt, and efficient service to meet the requirements, requests and needs of customers, Understand and anticipate the needs of others, Understand the importance of one's role in the functioning of the organization, Understand the significance of maintaining a healthful and safe environment