Minnesota Community Foundation & The Saint Paul Foundation: Two Foundations One Direction

www.mavanetwork.org

Background and Purpose
Founded in 2001, the Minnesota Association for Volunteer Administration (MAVA) is a statewide alliance of volunteer leaders. Comprised of over 800 individual members and 24 organizational partners, MAVA works to build capacity for quality volunteerism and leadership of volunteer programs. Recent activities of MAVA include managing AmeriCorps and VISTA volunteers and a three year initiative called Volunteer Resources Leadership which was started in 2005 and provides affordable and accessible professional development in a series of 8 trainings that are intended to give volunteer managers and nonprofit leaders the skills and tools necessary to effectively manage volunteers. MAVA employs two staff members, is governed by a 20 member Board of Directors and has the support of over 100 volunteers.

Current Request
MAVA would like to continue to build on the success of the Volunteer Resources Leadership program by continuing the volunteer management best practices training. The Association will host a symposium and deliver volunteer management training on how best to engage baby boomer volunteers. MAVA will also continue to develop a training curriculum to engage volunteers from communities of color. With limited information currently available, MAVA has formed an advisory council that will guide a research process that will ultimately develop practical tools for organizations. Mai Moua, Director of Leadership Paradigms, is the principal researcher.

It is recommended that the board approve a grant of $12,500 Minnesota Association for Volunteer Administration to help finance the budget of the Advanced Leadership in Volunteerism Project.