CRY AmericaAction Center Growth & Sustainability

www.america.cry.org

Action Centers are a vital part of CRY America

• Volunteers form the core of CRY America

• Volunteers come from different walks of life - students from universities, professionals, housewives, retirees and people working in various companies.

• Each contributing in whatever way they can ... to impact the lives of underprivileged children.

• Working among their friends, family, colleagues & local

community to create an awareness about the situation of underprivileged children and help harness resources (financial and non-financial) for the cause.

• Working together through the formation of Volunteer Chapters called Action Centers

• Each Action Center being led and managed by an Action Center Leader and a committed core group of volunteers

Key Activities of Action Centers• Volunteer mobilization - recruitment, retention, motivation

• Action Center sustainability - AC leaders and AC core groups with clearly defined responsibilities

• Revenue generation - events planning, organizing, sponsorships, publicity

• Participation in CRY America national campaigns & events

• Action Center Website development, maintenance & online community building

• Media outreach, local CRY brand building & improving Action Center name recognition

• Project stories/ updates & child rights perspective building

• Student outreach – Universities, Colleges, High Schools

• Community outreach – partnerships with ethnic associations, professional organizations, like minded community organizations and participation in other community events.

• Action Center Accounts keeping & reporting to the accountants• Co-ordination with the CEO, National Volunteer Leader & the

National Action Center Leaders community

Snapshot of Detroit AC 2008 Activities

Achievements: Active AC Leader & Core group of 15 members

(14 members in 2007 & 4 in 2006) Built volunteer base - 50 active volunteers

(25 volunteers in 2007) 7 Events organized in 2008

(3 events in 2007 & 2 events in 2006) Primary Events – CRY Walk, CRY Dinner, DJ Evening,

Dance & Music Cultural Event Raised $30,000 Revenue in 2008

($12,500 Revenue in 2007 & $5000 in 2006) CRY Booths and visibility at local community events

- Temples, India Independence Day, Relay for Life University outreach - Oakland & Michigan State

University Media outreach – contacts with journalists from TV,

Radio & Publications

Issue: Detroit AC struggled with volunteer attrition due to India relocation, job pressures, personal issues

Note: Detroit AC won the “Action Center of 2008 Award” – Congratulations Detroit AC!

Sustaining Volunteer MotivationEnabling & focusing on Volunteer Motivation is key to growing & sustaining your Action Center – here are some suggestions & learnings from other AC’s:

• An active & motivated core group is vital- Establish clear roles & responsibilities for core group

members – match with personal skills & interests - Personalized thank you & encouraging emails & calls- Be aware of and manage personality conflicts & find

resolution sensitively within the group

• Acknowledge & recognize efforts of volunteers- Special TQ letters from AC leader - Special TQ letters from CRY Am CEO or Vol Rep

• Enable social bonding & relationship building opportunities for volunteers

- group outings to a movie, bowling etc - events like BBQ’s or pot luck parties in different

volunteer homes

Sustaining Volunteer Motivation contd.

Focusing on Volunteer Motivation is key to growing & sustaining your Action Center – here are some more suggestions:

• Plan Action Center Monthly Meetings ahead of time- Try & meet face to face at least once a month or once

in two months - Regular meetings can be held fortnightly via telecons - Set a clear agenda for the meeting & focus on the

main points- Keep the meeting duration 45 mins to 1 hour max- Share CRY supported Project stories & child rights

information- Organize a CRY America Quiz for volunteers - Share CRY America national level updates - Share experiences and event stories from other

Action Centers - Join national level campaigns & events – enables

being part of a larger volunteer community

Monthly Meeting Agenda : Detroit AC Meeting Example

Welcome to New Volunteers (All)

CRY America & CRY Detroit AC Introduction (Apoorv)

CRY Walk Update (Roopesh/Apoorv)

Detroit Marathon Update (Ramya)

Community Outreach Update (Mansi)

Detroit AC Website Update (Jatin)

“My Vision” Campaign (Apoorv)

Fundraising Dinner (Paul)

2009 Organization Proposal (Apoorv)

CRY America Quiz (Apoorv)

Sample CRY America Quiz for Action Center Meetings

1. When were CRY & CRY America founded? Ans: CRY founded in 1979; CRY Am founded in 2002

2. What is the full name of CRY America? Ans: CRY, Child Rights and You America Inc

3. What is the UNCRC? Ans: United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child – it is an

international treaty signed by 191 countries that sets international guidelines for the basic human rights of children

4. What are the four basic rights guaranteed to children by the UNCRC? Ans: The right to development, protection, survival & participation

5. What is CRY America’s vision? Ans: A ‘just’ world in which all children - regardless of gender, class, caste,

faith, color, race, ethnicity, physical and mental ability etc. - have equal opportunities to develop to their full potential and realize their dreams.

6. What is the CRY America website url? Ans: www.america.cry.org

7. Name 3 India Projects supported by CRY America? Ans: view list of India Projects http://

america.cry.org/site/our_projects/projects_we_support/ 8. Name 2 US Projects supported by CRY America?

Ans: view list of US Projects http://america.cry.org/site/our_projects/projects_we_support/

9. How many Action Centers does CRY America have? Ans: CRY America currently has 20 Action Centers

10. What is the child labor statistics for India? Ans: India is home to 17 million child laborers – the highest in the world

Allocation of Action Center Roles & Responsibilities

Allocation of roles & responsibilities to core group members is key to growing & sustaining your Action Center – here are some recommended roles that you will need:

1. Action Center Leader2. Action Center Webmaster3. Accounts Lead4. CRY Walk Lead5. Events Lead6. Community Outreach Lead7. Volunteer recruitment & motivation Lead8. You can add other roles that you need

Allocation of Action Center Roles & Responsibilities contd.

Key focus areas for each position are suggested below:1. Action Center Leader

- Action Center direction, goals, plans, budgets, reviews- Action Center growth & sustainability- Core group formation, strengthening, co-ordination- AC Monthly meetings & AC Google group- National interface – CEO, Volunteer Leader, Accounts- Volunteer mobilization, growth & motivation- Financial accountability for the Action Center- Media outreach, CRY America local brand building &

increased Action Center name recognition

2. Action Center Webmaster- AC website on Citysoft – develop, maintain & update- Volunteer registrations & databases on Citysoft- AC Events online revenues & promotions through the

CRY Events module & My Fundraising Pages- Promote AC events on Orkut, Facebook, MySpace,

Twitter, CRY Blog- Upload event updates & pictures on the AC website

Allocation of Action Center Roles & Responsibilities contd.

Key focus areas for each position are suggested below:3. Action Center Accounts Lead

- Revenue collections (online & offline) and recording of revenues as per CRY America’s accounting systems

- Payment releases & collection of bills, vouchers & recording of payments as per accounting systems

- Banking for the AC, if approved- Events spreadsheet maintenance- Accurate & timely submission of money, bills & event

spreadsheets to the accountants as per CRY America’s accounting requirements

- Resolve AC accounting, banking, receipting issues

4. Action Center Walk Lead - Event date, venue, insurance, local walk committee- Online & offline event publicity – ensure early start- Online pledge drive – ensure early start - Ensure Walk teams, Student outreach, Media outreach

and Kids activities for the event - Maximize publicity, attendance and revenues for event- Interface with the National Walk lead & team

Allocation of Action Center Roles & Responsibilities contd.

Key focus areas for each position are suggested below:5. Action Center Events Lead

- Finalize & detail AC Event plans with AC lead & core group - Recommended events – My Vision Campaign, CRY Cricket,

CRY Dinner, CRY Concerts & Festivals - Include Student outreach & Media outreach for all AC Events - Ensure an early start to online publicity through the CRY

Events module & My Fundraising Pages- Ensure an early start to offline event publicity- Work with AC lead, core group & events team to maximize

event publicity, attendance and revenues across all AC events

- Event publicity materials (posters, fliers etc) - Identify Corporates & local businesses for Event sponsorships

through volunteer contacts – lead pitches - Motivational emails to volunteers for jobs well done- Active interface with national events lead & national event

teams- Events information for the CRY America Newsletter

  

Allocation of Action Center Roles & Responsibilities contd.

Key focus areas for each position are suggested below:6. Community Outreach Lead

- Student outreach – Universities, Colleges, High Schools- Media outreach - TV, radio, publications, online sites- Write newspaper articles, blogs, talks at other events - Network with groups like Tamil, Telegu, Associations- Partnerships with NETIP, SABA, AAPI, TIE etc. - Make a difference in the local community (eg. reading to

inner city school students)- Increase local CRY brand building & AC name recognition - Lead CRY Tabling & Booths at other community events - Participate in other community events, distribute CRY Fliers,

address gatherings

7. Volunteer recruitment & motivation Lead - Growth of volunteer base- Retention & motivation of existing volunteers- Organize activities to keep volunteers engaged - Be the voice of volunteers to the leadership team

Scaling up Events is key to growing & sustaining your Action Center – here are some suggestions:

• Volunteers like action – they enjoy organizing & participating in events, compared to other activities. With each successful event you will get more volunteer & donor sign ups!

• Plan at least two to three bigger events each year. There’s no need to reinvent these events – we have guideline documents, publicity material & people to help you!

- CRY Walk for Child Rights- CRY Cricket- CRY Fundraising Dinner- CRY Concert/ Cultural event

• Plan two to three smaller events throughout the year - Movie screening- DJ or Dance evening- Kids Talent show - Volleyball or Bowling

Scaling up Action Center Events & Revenues

Scaling up Events is key to growing & sustaining your Action Center – here are some more suggestions:

• Choose events that interest your core group and will work with your local community

• Finalize event dates & book venues well in advance

• Try and annualize your events – so you can build on your Action Centers achievements, learnings & strengths

• Build in the My Vision Campaign into as many events as you can – it’s a great way to involve people!

• As events become bigger - have an assigned Events Lead for such events & a core team with assigned responsibilities

• Ensure an early start to online publicity through the CRY Events module, My Fundraising Pages & social networking sites

Scaling up Action Center Events & Revenues contd.

Scaling up Events is key to growing & sustaining your Action Center – here are some more suggestions:

• Have your event publicity materials (posters, fliers etc) ready early – tables & booths at other community events are a great way to promote your event.

• Student outreach:- Contact the Indian/Asian Student Associations at local

Universities, Colleges, High Schools- Invite them to participate in your events – request

them to participate in “Teams” for events like the CRY Walk

- This may even result in the formation of a Student Chapter for your Action Center!

• Media outreach – will promote your AC & Event to many people that you might not be able to reach

- Contact local TV, radio, newspapers, publications- Contact local online news & community events

websites

Scaling up Action Center Events & Revenues contd.

Scaling up Events is key to growing & sustaining your Action Center – here are some more suggestions:

• Identify & follow-up with Corporations and local businesses for Event Sponsorships through volunteer contacts

- Financial sponsorship templates are available - In-kind donations are important like free venues,

printing of posters, t-shirts etc - Food donations are important as they save costs &

everyone likes a snack at events!

• Send motivational emails to volunteers for jobs well done • Stay connected with the National Volunteer Leader & the

National Events lead:- Get the guidance & support you need- Share your AC experiences & successes- Learn from other Action Centers’ experiences

• Good luck with your event organizing & don’t forget to submit your event accounts to the accountants!!

 

Scaling up Action Center Events & Revenues contd.

Overview of a popular Action Center Event : CRY Walk 2009

CRY Walk for Child Rights 2009 – key elements & check list

Early start – planning, organizing, walk core groups & publicity for the event National Walk lead, Walk guidelines, Walk Yahoo! group, Walk Calls AC Walk leads, event venue, event date, event insurance Event collaterals – posters, e-vites, e-banners, t-shirt design etc

Online AC & My Fundraising Pages set up through the CRY Events Module Event publicity & promotions

Tabling & booths at multiple local events Online publicity Offline publicity Check on local personalities to attend/lead physical Walk

Team registrations Teams of 10+ walkers get logo on t-shirt, logo on AC subsite, flier in

goodie bags etc Teams can be formal or informal groups - non-profits, regional/cultural

organizations, student groups, running/walking clubs, yoga groups, schools, groups of friends etc

CRY Signature – include Kids Walk trail and other kids activities Event Sponsorships – money, materials, food – national + local sponsorships Media outreach Student outreach

Notes: Walk national calls weekly Sunday at 5pm est + Walk Guidelines document available for details on how to organize this event + the National Walk Lead can also guide & support you!

• Organize at least 4 large events - CRY Dinner - CRY Walk- DJ evening - Children’s Dance performance

• Organize several smaller events - India Day Booth - My Vision Campaign at Burns Elementary School,

Volunteer Meeting and CRY Walk 2009 - Volunteer Summer BBQ - India Culture Day @ Burns Elementary School

• Recruit new volunteers • Establish “Volunteer Motivation” committee • Keep core group members engaged and motivated • Student outreach - Lansing Student Chapter growth • Media outreach – Manoranjan Radio, Geetmala Radio, CMN

TV, Troy/Rochester Gazette, Detroit Free Press• Spread the word about Child Rights • Lead by example

Action Center Sustainability Plans : Detroit AC Plans 2009 Example

CRY America’s VisionA just world in which all children - regardless of gender, class, caste, faith, color, race, ethnicity, physical and mental ability etc. - have equal opportunities to develop to their full potential and realize their dreams. And in which children have a voice in matters that affect them.

CRY America’s MissionTo enable people to take responsibility for the situation of the deprived child, especially Indian, and so motivate them to confront the situation through collective action thereby giving the child and themselves an opportunity to realize their full potential.

CRY America’s ValuesCRY America operates on the values of:

respect for human dignity collective action inclusiveness transparency accountability non violence secularism

CRY America’s Vision, Mission & Values

As quoted by our volunteer leader

“We were all children once, many of us have children today. In many ways our childhood made us the people we are today. The love and affection we received from our parents and elders, the security of a nice home, an education that helped unlock our potential, the teachers who inspired us along the way – all influenced our character and shaped our personality. Imagine not having any of that and for no fault of yours. Just because you were born in circumstances where your parents couldn't send you to school even though they wanted to, where you had to work to support your family when you should have been playing or studying. There are millions of children who are left behind for no fault of theirs except to be born in conditions where there is little chance of their potential to be achieved. Let us do whatever we can to help these children experience what is rightfully theirs – a normal childhood”.

Apoorv Agarwal

Detroit

Contacts for Action Centers

• Apoorv Agarwal (apoorv.agarwal@gmail.com) for help in starting, growing & sustaining your Action Center

• Adam MacGregor (macgregor.adam@gmail.com) for CRY Walk event guidance & publicity material

• Steshia Monserrate (steshia.monserrate@crymail.org) for CRY America & Events publicity material, Press releases, the CRY America Newsletter

• Kreeanne Rabadi (kreeanne@crymail.org) for Corporate partnership possibilities & proposals, high value individual donor interface, donor receipts

• Apoorv Agarwal (apoorv.agarwal@gmail.com) for Student outreach & strengthening of Student Groups

• Joanne Hull (jhull@vaughnassociatespc.com) for Accounting, Banking & Accounting formats

• Shefali Sunderlal (shefali.sunderlal@yahoo.com) for organizational plans, reviews, project grants, websites, media, products, speaking opportunities