Learning to Give, Curriculum Division of The LEAGUE

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Purpose:

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• To recognize that each individual has a personal mission which will direct his/her participation in voluntary activities.

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Activity:

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1. Facilitator explains, “Now that we have begun to discover what our own personal missions are or what are the areas we care about, let’s look at the organizations in which we might want to volunteer.”
   
   
2. Posted around the room are the missions of a variety of non-profit organizations. Using mission statements from organizations that are actually available to participants is best. Ask participants to wander around the room, reading and reflecting on the organizations’ mission statements.
   
   
3. As the Mission Statements are read, participants are asked to reread their Personal Mission Statements, looking for one or two that closely match: organization-to-personal.
   
   
4. Next to the newsprint is a sign-up sheet. Participants decide, based on a Mission Match, if they might want to volunteer in that organization. If so, they sign name, address, phone number. List the following missions around the room: Facilitator may want to use other missions depending on the group. A wide variety of missions including some generic missions would be most helpful. Local sponsor can assist in the gathering of local mission statements.
   
   

5. Ask some participants to share their “Mission Match” and why they selected the volunteer opportunities they did.
   
   

6. When all participants have found an organization and are seated close to that sheet, instruct them to discuss why they chose this organization and how it fits with their personal mission. What other groups or organizations might exist in the community that might match the personal mission?

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Examples

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• American Youth Hostels’ mission is to help all, but espe¬cially the young, gain a greater understanding of the world and its people. AYH promotes global understanding by offering year-round accommodations and a full range of educational and recreational programs for travelers of all ages, income groups and nationalities.
  
  
• Boys and Girls Clubs is a youth serving organization dedi¬cated to enhancing and assisting young people in realizing and developing the essential skills for living through the promotion of health, social, educational, vocational, leader¬ship and character development experiences.
  
  
• Partners for Westside Housing’s purpose shall be to initiate the rehabilitation of all substandard residential structures on the near Westside.
  
  
• Young Mothers Educational Development Program’s mission is to provide an environment in which pregnant teenage girls will develop positive attitudes and will be provided continuing education through accredited course work.
  
  
• The mission of the Youth Services Bureau is to be an advo¬cate for vulnerable and at-risk youth by providing needed services.
  
  
• Opportunity Enterprises’ mission is to develop and effectively utilize agency and community resources to meet the needs and enrich the lives of individuals with disabilities.
  
  
• Church Federation’s mission is to act as a link between churches and public social agencies, enhance local churches’ effectiveness in responding to community social welfare needs, and to heighten congregational members’ awareness of social needs and concerns.
  
  
• The Urban League’s mission is aimed at the elimination of racial discrimination, increasing the economic and political empowerment of Blacks and other minorities and, in short, helping them to enter the mainstream of American life.
  
  
• The Information and Referral Network, Inc. connects people who need human services and those who provide them.
  
  
• The Public Action in Correctional Effort, Inc. mission is to aid in the rehabilitation to society of offenders who are involved in the criminal justice system by providing programs of service; educating citizens of their responsibilities for criminal justice; and implementing change in the system which will provide safety for the public, is economical for the taxpayer and is administered humanely.
  
  
• Youth Works, Inc. mission is to improve the employment and career development opportunities of youth.
  
  
• 4-H Mission is to assist youth and adults in their development by conducting hands-on educational programs, using the knowledge base of Purdue University, other land grant uni¬versities, and the United States Department of Agriculture.
  
  
• Girls, Inc. mission is to help girls and young women over¬come the effects of discrimination and to develop their capacity to be self-sufficient, responsible citizens; and to serve as a vigorous advocate for girls, focusing attention on their special needs.

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Option:

If the facilitator is training a group that is associated with one organization, the participants may want to write a group mission for the organization that best fits their personal missions.

Processing Questions:

 

Call the group back to together and process the following questions:
- What did you learn from this activity?
- How does this apply to choosing a governance role for yourself?
- How does this apply to choosing an organization in which you would serve on the Board?
- How did it feel when you were going through this activity?
- What if you cannot find an organization that matches your personal mission? What might you do?
- What questions do you have about your own community?
- Can we help you brainstorm ways to get involved in your local community?

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Variation:

The sponsor of the training might invite several non-profit directors to make a presentation to the group about their organizations: their history, mission and need for volunteers.