Service Enterprise Initiative
What is Service Enterprise?
Service Enterprise is a national change management program that builds an organization’s capacity to strategically utilize volunteers to support their mission. Participating organizations take a self-assessment, participate in group training sessions, and receive customized coaching in preparation to earn accreditation.
Service Enterprise accredited organizations join the top 11 percent of nonprofits nationwide in volunteer management. Accreditation signifies that organizations have the capacity and expertise to strategically engage volunteers to improve the performance of their organization.
The Community Foundation partners with AL!VE (Association of Leaders in Volunteer Engagement), to offer the central Virginia region access to Service Enterprise. The Community Foundation offers this comprehensive program to nonprofits at a highly reduced rate.
Diagnostic and Debrief ($250)
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Organizations assemble a cross functional team to complete the Service Enterprise Diagnostic, a thorough, research-based assessment of their existing volunteer engagement practices.
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Through a facilitated conversation, review the results of the diagnostic and identify organizational strengths and areas for growth.
Training and Implementation ($350)
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Organizations participate in 8 two-hour training sessions with a cohort of nonprofits focused on volunteer engagement to help them transform how they currently engage volunteers.
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Nonprofits create and implement organizational action plans with customized coaching from our Service Enterprise Consultant. This support helps translate knowledge from the training into action for your organization.
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Once ready, organizations apply for Service Enterprise accreditation. Accreditation is valid for 3 years.
Benefits for Organizations
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Gain specific research-based insights from the organization’s self-assessment
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Learn about successful practices and strategies to leverage volunteer resources more effectively
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Increase understanding and alignment about the importance of volunteer engagement across the organization
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Explore opportunities to expand program operations, strengthen resource development, and realize higher programmatic impact
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More concretely communicate the value of volunteer engagement to funders, volunteers, and stakeholders
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Connect with other organizations in the cohort and join the Service Enterprise Alumni community
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Access to customized organizational coaching and consulting
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Achieve national accreditation in recognition of excellence in volunteer engagement
The Community Foundation heavily subsidizes the cost of these offerings for nonprofits in Richmond as we deeply value the impact of strategic volunteer engagement in strengthening our community.
Accredited Organizations in greater Richmond
Peter Paul Development Center
CARITAS
YMCA
GoochlandCares
Make-A-Wish Virginia
Partnership for the Future
Communities In Schools of Richmond
Children's Museum of Richmond
OAR of Richmond
Richmond Metropolitan Habitat for Humanity
SOAR365
ReEstablish Richmond
UMFS
Housing Families First
The Span Center
Next Steps
Our next training cohort will kick off in early 2026. Participating organizations must complete the Diagnostic and Debrief by the end of 2025.
For more detailed information, please review our SEI fact sheet.
If you feel like your organization is ready to take volunteer engagement to the next level of excellence, email our team at nonprofits@cfrichmond.org.