Transcript Slide 1

Increasing Impact while Growing
Resources
Successful Programs in the USGBC Chapter
Network
GEARUP!
2013
Your presenters:
• Doug Widener, USGBC, Moderator
• Tom Sayre, USGBC-Georgia Chapter, Green
Schools
• Justinn Overton, USGBC-Alabama Chapter,
Green Jobs
• Devki Wright, Rachel Myers, USGBC-North
Carolina Chapter, Emerging Professionals
• Brian Bumman, USGBC-North Carolina
Chapter, Advocacy
The green building market is
changing…
• Lingering economic issues
• New construction slow in most segments/
markets
• Existing building retrofitting and greening on
the rise in most markets
• Reduced capacity of building professionals to
volunteer given increased workloads
USGBC chapters are feeling
this change…
• Reduced membership
• Decrease in funding/fundraising
• Drop in attendance at traditional programs
• Volunteer burnout
• Lack of new volunteers and leaders for
succession planning
Change presents opportunity
Many chapters are evolving their missions/focus:
• Moving beyond just programming and services
for green building professionals
• Diving deeper into mission advancement
• Tapping into new audiences, partners, and
funding streams
Do People Think
of Us As a
Charity?
What is the Difference?
• 501(c)(6)
Trade association, which promotes growth in a
particular industry
• 501(c)(3)
Charity, provides a public benefit, derives a large
percentage of its revenue from donations from a
broad base of public support
What Are We?
USGBC and its chapters are 501(c)(3)
public benefit charities. We are a
collection of charitable organizations,
serving our entire community and
transforming our built environment for
everyone those buildings touch.
Why Does it Matter?
The strength of our vision and mission,
and our ability to truly transform our built
environment, comes from
understanding that we don’t solely serve
an internal membership.
What Do We Need to Know?
• 501c3 orgs raise and report money differently
than 501c6 orgs
• Donations are made by individuals and
organizations who believe in your mission and
vision, not who are expecting something in
return
• Preserving the chapter’s 501c3 status is
crucial
• Every program and public communication
must serve the mission and the organizational
vision
Your 501c3 Status
• Donations
Money given by those who believe in your
mission and vision, not who are expecting
something in return
• Sponsorships
Money given for something expected in
return (quid pro quo)
• Advertising
UBIT (unrelated business income tax)
• Where does membership fit in?
Rationale for Change
• Meet mission more fully
• Deeper engagement with community
• Attract new members
• Better engage existing members
• Build new partnerships
• Secure new and diverse funding
• Increase exposure and impact
Chapters are doing this
through…
• Green Schools
• Green Jobs Training
• Emerging Professionals
• Advocacy
• Many others…
Green Schools
Tom Sayer – USGBC-Georgia
Chapter
Green Jobs
Justinn Overton – USGBC
Aabama Chapter
Presented by Justinn Overton
Building Green Jobs for
Alabama
• Federally funded* statewide
workforce development
grant aimed to educate and
empower unemployed and
underemployed Alabamians
about green building and
sustainability.
– Courses held in Madison,
Huntsville, Birmingham,
Tuscaloosa, Montgomery,
Mobile, and Fairhope
• Courses based on NEED*
• Be mindful of grant reporting &
guidelines!
• Cultivate & establish a good
working relationship with
your grantor!
Program Funding
This program is 100% funded with American
Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 funding
made available to the State of Alabama by the
Governor’s Office of Workforce Development and
the Alabama Department of Economic and
Community Affairs by the U.S. Department of
Labor/Employment and Training Administration.
SESP Grant History
• The State Energy Sector Partnership and Training Grant award to
Alabama was effective as of 1/29/10 . The total SESP & Training
Grant award was $6 million.
– Goals of SESP Grant: “provide training for green jobs throughout
Alabama that lead to job placement in the Energy Efficiency,
Energy Generation, Transportation, and Green Building Sectors.”
• The request for proposals (RFPs) issued by the state resulted in 28
applications being received in response to the RFPs.
– 13 of the 28 were recommended by the review team to go to the next
level, which was contract negotiations.
– 2 applicants dropped out after the negotiations were completed and
prior to project startup.
– 11 actually implemented training programs!
– USGBC – Alabama Chapter remains as the only private-nonprofit sub
recipient. There’s one private-for-profit and the remaining are all
associated with two and four-year colleges/universities.
History of Funding & Program
• 2004- USGBC Alabama was formed
• January 2010- Alabama was awarded $6 million for ARRA
SESP grants
• Spring 2010- Board Members hired a grant writer to help
write a great for green workforce development program
• July 2010- USGBC awarded $300,000+ ADECA grant for
Building Green Jobs for Alabama program
• September 2010- hired first USGBC Alabama staff- Green
Workforce Project Director
• November 2010- launched first program in Birmingham,
Alabama
• June 2012- set date for program to end, offered extension by
ADECA
• June 2013- CLOSING DATE for Building Green Jobs for
Individual Program Statistics
• Hosted 10+ programs throughout the state
since November 2010
• Served 350+ individuals representing every
demographic and industry
• 1 Narrative Modification
• 5 Budget Modifications
• Countless job fairs, lunch & learn
presentations, email blasts, phone calls to
ADECA
What this grant offers…
• Understanding of sustainability
• meaning to you personally and professionally
• Fundamentals of green building
• Green certificate training course and testing
• LEED® Green Associate
• Green Advantage ®
• HERS Rater
• On-site green building experience
• Job Coaching and Small Group Mentoring
Grant Logistics
Five Step Program
– 1. Program Orientation & Industry Overview
– 2. Green Building Workshop
– 3. Industry- Recognized Certificate Training and
Testing
– 4. On-site Green Building Experience
– 5. Program Graduation & Job Search Assistance
*certificates
Grant Eligibility
Original Requirements:
• Unemployed & Underemployed
Post Modification:
-Application
• Meet ONE of the minimum federal requirements
• 16 years of age or older
• U.S. Citizen/Eligible Non-Citizen
• If applicable, Selective Service Registered
____________________________________
• Fill out registration forms and supply all
documentation necessary
• If you are eligible, the program is offered at no cost.
Federal Requirements
• Eligible Veteran
• Unemployed Individual
• Worker Impacted by National Energy and
Environmental Policy
• Individual Seeking Pathways of Out Poverty
into Economic Self-Sufficiency
• Individual in Need of Updated Training in
Energy Efficiency and Renewable Industries
• Individual with a Criminal Record
• Individuals Impacted by Automotive
Restructuring (specific counties listed by the
State)
Participant Expectations
• Application Process
• At the conclusion of each step, each
participant will be evaluated by interest,
to ensure that individuals who are
enrolled in this program are engaged and
can benefit from this program.
• Each participant must treat the Green
Workforce Project Director and others
with respect. If there are any issues, the
participant may be asked to leave the
Documentation Disclaimer
• Proving Eligibility
– Be prepared for some sticky situations…
– Keeping documentation safe & private!
Disclaimer:
“This project was funded by a grant awarded under the ARRA Green Jobs
Training Grants, as implemented by the U.S. Department of Labor’s
Employment and Training Administration. The collection of this information
helps to track long-term success of this training program. Your personal
information is kept confidential and secure and will not be shared with any
outside agencies other than those involved with the support and oversight
of the Energy Grant received by USGBC Alabama and issues by the U.S.
Department of Labor. Your information will never be sold or shared with
third party agencies through your participation in grant supported training
activities. Please direct any questions concerning your use of personal
information to Justinn Overton.”
Leveraging Resources
• Reach out to local work trade/environmental
organizations and local businesses for
outreach & speakers
– Example: ASLA, AIA, AGC, ABC, IFMA, BOMA, Cahaba River
Society, Alabama Environmental Council, Interiorscapes
Inc., Smart Living Energy Potential, Stewart Perry
Construction
• Lean on other grant recipients for advice
– Example: Calhoun Community College
• Don’t be afraid to ask for free space or sponsored
lunches! The worst they can say is no!
Best Practices & Missed
Opportunities
• Distance Learning
– Environmental & Economic
Benefits
• Writing the Program
• Funding Issues
– Advancements vs.
Reimbursements
– Have a plan!
• Work with other grant
recipients/community colleges
to leverage coursework
• Qualitative &Quantitative
Measures for your Chapter &
grant reporting
• Program Director & Grant
Administration- skill sets
Future?
• Grant ends June 30, 2013
• No future plans for
USGBC Alabama to
continue funding or
program
– Grants?
• Staff Changes
Justinn Overton
Green Workforce Project Director
USGBC Alabama
205/910.5726
[email protected]
QUESTIONS?
Emerging Professionals
Devki Wright, Rachel Myers –
USGBC North Carolina Chapter
Emerging Professionals
• Who are Emerging Professionals?
• How can EPs address current issues facing chapters today?
• Where are we going and how will we get there?
• Examples on the committee, branch, and chapter levels
• Case Study - evolution of Charlotte’s EP Committee
Who are Emerging Professionals?
Mission
To serve as a point of entry for emerging professionals into USGBC and the
sustainability movement to develop resources and networks to support their evolution into
dynamic, visionary leaders who are dedicated to the creation of a sustainable future.
Goals
• Achieve integration of EPs into the Chapter/Branch
• Foster a relationship of co-creation and collaboration between the chapter and EPs
• Empower EPs with the skills they need to be future chapter leaders
• Provide a smooth transition from USGBC Students Groups into local EP groups
Where do EPs fit in?
Emerging Professionals
USGBC Chapters
• Desire to learn and meet
others
• Membership
by addressing new audiences
• Eager to gain experience
• Existing volunteer Burn-Out
• New Ideas
• Need for Leaders
• Time to volunteer
• Need for new Volunteers
Where are we going?
5,000 EPs by December 2015
• Goal - 900 EPs by December 2013
• Actual - 580 new EPs nationwide in April
• Actual - 145 new EPs in the southeast
How will we get there?
Committee Level
Branch Level
Chapter Level
Evolution of Charlotte EPs
Committee Formation
CLT Branch Example
• Beginning: two Co-leaders and no official group
• Subcommittee of Membership & Outreach
• Perhaps a place to start, but not to stay
• First Step: create value for current EP members, attract new members
• SOCIAL (The King’s Kitchen)
• COMMUNITY (Adopt a Creek/Scholarship)
• PROFESSIONAL (Mentorship)
• While numbers and participation were low – combined with other likeminded groups: CSI, AIA, Habitat
• At each event – identify potential future leaders and keep contact
Committee Formation
CLT Branch Example
• NEXT STEP:
• Form an Official Committee
• Have Committee Meetings
• Hold an Election Meeting in which you identify the Committee Leaders
• Titles are good for go-getters and accountability
• Non-titles are also good for those that want to be part of the
committee, but aren't comfortable or can’t commit to a titled-position
• Understand your volunteers- they aren’t all the same
• Put leaders and volunteers in contact with Chapter leaders so that they
begin to be part of the greater picture, but also so that there is a
Succession Plan
• Delegate!
Advocacy
Brian Bumann – USGBC North
Carolina Chapter
Ingredients for Success
Focus
• You can’t do everything (realize this from the start).
• Do one or a few things well.
• Where do you want to make a difference?
• Strategic plan; member interest; chapter strengths.
Priorities • Polling members is important!
• Small and large chapters can implement equally well.
• Success depends on member/volunteer engagement,
Capacity partnerships and focus.
Ingredients for Success
Market
Needs
Partnerships
Stakeholders
• Understand what your market and community needs.
• Then decide if and how you fit in.
• You don’t have to (and often shouldn’t) go it alone.
• You also don’t always have to lead; supporting is also
important.
• Don’t take programming or projects to a group; first
start a dialogue and the ideas come from there.
Ingredients for Success
• Rome wasn’t built in a day.
Pilot first • Start small and build on your success.
• There are great models out there.
Replicate • Don’t reinvent the wheel – replicate and refine.
• Opportunity to attract foundation AND corporate
support.
Funders • Piloting may be the first step.
Outcomes
Member
engagement
Program
shift
New
audiences
• Answer the question “why should I
volunteer or join?”
• Balance traditional programs with
“mission” focused initiatives.
• Attract new faces.
• “I want to help them do that.”
Outcomes
Diversify
funding
Relevance
Partners
• Beyond foundations, even corporations that have
never sponsored may support an initiative they care
about (e.g. schools, homes, jobs).
• Seen as a relevant and impactful resource that
people and organizations want to connect with.
• Establish new relationships with new groups that
can build and grow over time.
Outcomes
Build
Capacity
Exposure
• New members and new funding can
allow you to grow and eventually take
the next step in current initiatives or 1-2
new ones.
• Increased media coverage, connection
with policymakers and key stakeholders.
USGBC Resources
Three-Year Plan for Community – Significant focus on
diversity, volunteer engagement, training/resources,
and community initiatives
• Grants – Support new programs and replication of existing
ones
• Replication – Taking the best of what’s being done by
chapters and bringing those to scale
• Toolkits – Programs in a box
• Partnerships – Capitalize on national partnerships and
make connections at the local level
• Peer Groups – Like-minded chapters working together
Consider this…
• Your ability to raise funds is a direct function of how
clear you are on what value your organization brings
QUESTIONS?
• Instead of asking for money look at the conversation
as you are giving them an opportunity to be a part of
something that is making a huge difference
• If you are not passionate about the difference USGBC
is making, figure out why. Is it because you can’t see
the measurable outcomes? You are not really fulfilling
on the mission? etc…
L.O.
#3
Consider this…
• Your ability to raise funds is a direct function of how
clear you are on what value your organization brings
BREAK-OUT DISCUSSIONS
• Instead of asking for money look at the conversation
as you are giving them an opportunity to be a part of
something that is making a huge difference
• If you are not passionate about the difference USGBC
is making, figure out why. Is it because you can’t see
the measurable outcomes? You are not really fulfilling
on the mission? etc…
L.O.
#3
Consider this…
• Your ability to raise funds is a direct function of how
clear you are on what value your organization brings
THANK YOU!!
• Instead of asking for money look at the conversation
as you are giving them an opportunity to be a part of
something that is making a huge difference
• If you are not passionate about the difference USGBC
is making, figure out why. Is it because you can’t see
the measurable outcomes? You are not really fulfilling
on the mission? etc…
L.O.
#3