2020 ASC Annual Report

EMBRACING CHANGE: CHARTING A NEW COURSE FOR NATIONAL SERVICE 2020 ANNUAL REPORT

FROM THE CHAIR & CEO Friends,

The year 2020 was like nothing we’d ever experienced before, and we continue to face challenges in 2021. The good news is that we have a national service field that is strong, resilient, and – as we saw in 2020 – ready to respond to any and all types of disaster.

We are so fortunate to have a strong, passionate, and extremely capable network of state service commissions. And we are stronger because of America’s Service Commissions (ASC).

When

our

work

began

to

shut

down

in

2020,

ASC

went

into

overdrive. ASC brought commissions together weekly to help us get ahead of emerging issues, to discuss policy changes and models of new

COVID-response

service

activities;

to

provide

mental

health

support for AmeriCorps members and staff; to fight for legislation to expand national service; and more. As the Spring turned to Summer and our country openly grappled with issues of racial justice and systemic racism, ASC stepped up its Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) work, bringing together commissions to share antiracism practices and developing a plan to address ASC’s internal and external work.

Despite the challenges we faced throughout the year, ASC was able to advocate for an increase in federal appropriations, lay the groundwork for a new strategic plan, and help raise the profile of the

critical

impact

that

national

service

plays

when

our

country

faces its most daunting challenges.

With ASC’s leadership and support, the state service commission network

is

collaborating

to

break

down

barriers

in

grantmaking,

program development, and AmeriCorps member support; together we are pushing the field of national service to engage those who will

benefit

most,

serve

those

most

in

need,

and

build

on

the

strengths of our communities.

In 2021, we are taking state service commissions to the next level – we’re

movement

builders

and

incubators

for

innovation.

Service

through AmeriCorps and volunteerism is exactly what our country needs right now and we – the state service commission network – are ready to Get Things Done.

MAUREEN K. ECCLESTON

KAIRA B. ESGATE

CHAIR

CEO

2020: A YEAR OF CHANGE “The future has a way of arriving unannounced.” - George Will

“Clinging to the past is the problem.

Embracing change is the answer.”

- Gloria Steinem

“Fear stagnation; embrace change.”

- Debasish Mridha

AMERICORPS OHIO

AMERICORPS GUAM

AMERICORPS ST. LOUIS

OUR MEMBERSHIP ASC

is

a

representing

membership-based the

52

state

501(c)(3)

service

nonprofit

commissions.

In

organization addition

to

providing a wide-range of services to state service commissions, we also provide membership opportunities in three major categories:

1. Individual Members 2. AmeriCorps Program Partner Members 3. States for Service Coalition Members

America’s commissions

Service and

Commissions

their

programs

as

represents

state

well

broader

as

the

service "state

service" ecosystem by:

Providing one unified national voice for service on critical issues Educating members of Congress and state legislators on the value of national service and volunteer programs Facilitating training and technical assistance for state service commissions and their programs Coordinating

peer-to-peer

learning

opportunities

for

the

national service and volunteer field

+ 30%

600

FIGURE 1. ASC MEMBERSHIP GROWTH, YEAR-OVER-YEAR ASC's membership from 2019 to 2020 grew across

400

all membership categories aside from commissions, which represents a stable number from year-toyear.

200

+ 317% + 55%

+ 0%

In di vi du al M em be rs St at (4 e 5) Se rv ic e Co m m is si S4 on S s Co (5 2) al it io n M em Am be er rs iC or (1 49 ps ) St at e Se rv ic e Pa rt ne rs (5 83 )

0

In particular, ASC saw exceptional growth in our States for Service (S4S) Policy Coalition membership thanks to the creation of new membership categories, as well as the number of AmeriCorps State Service Partner memberships, in large part due to the popularity of our Member Assistance Program benefit, providing 24/7 mental health and other support services to AmeriCorps members and program staff.

COVID-19 RESPONSE Since pandemic-related shutdowns first began in March 2020, ASC stepped forward to help guide and lead commissions through mitigating the negative impacts of the public health emergency on the national service, volunteerism, and civic engagement sectors, focusing on: Supporting state service commissions with contingency planning coaching, peer best practice sharing, and policies and procedures development for state mobilization and volunteer response efforts; Ensuring AmeriCorps programs and members received helpful, timely, and consistent guidance to make smart decisions regarding their program operations and service positions; Seeking COVID-19 Emergency Supplemental Appropriations & Legislative Relief from Congress for all national service programs through our public policy coalition, States for Service, with key policy partners; Providing immediate, discounted access to our Member Assistance Program (MAP) via a Special Enrollment Period to ensure that AmeriCorps members and program staff have 24/7 access to over-thephone counseling and mental health services; Adjusting our 2020 event schedule and postponing events such as the ASC regional conferences to ensure the safety of our attendees; and Promoting and sharing innovative strategies, tools, and calls-to-action being used by state commissions to combat COVID-19 locally by collecting stories and photos to share on social media and Flickr using hashtags #COVID19, #DisasterServe, and #NationalServiceResponds.

V I E W

M O R E

C O M M I S S I O N

R E S P O N S E

P H O T O S

BIT.LY/ASC-COVID19-PHOTOS

O N

F L I C K R :

PUBLIC POLICY In spite of the serious challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic, the year 2020 saw a number of critical legislative and policy advancements for improving and expanding national service, such as:

Emergency COVID Relief Measures - The CARES Act, signed into law on March 27, included key provisions for AmeriCorps members to earn the full value of their Segal AmeriCorps Education Awards if COVID-19 prevented them from fulfilling their service hours. It also permitted fixed-amount AmeriCorps grantees to draw down grant funds even if members had to exit early or serve in a limited capacity due to COVID, and provided the federal AmeriCorps agency the authority needed to carryover unexpended FY20 funds for FY21 recovery efforts and transfer funds between accounts and programs to augment existing AmeriCorps and AmeriCorps Seniors programs.

The Cultivating Opportunity and Response to the Pandemic through Service (CORPS) Act - Introduced by lead cosponsors Senator Chris Coons (D-DE) and Senator Roger Wicker (R-MS) on June 16 as a flagship national service bill, Senate Bill 1165 was the culmination of bipartisan negotiations from previously introduced bills to expand national service to aid in COVID-19 recovery efforts.

State Legislation - In August 2020, the Nebraska Legislature, led by AmeriCorps Alum Senator Tony Vargas, passed LB477 to eliminate the state income tax on the Segal AmeriCorps Education Award for AmeriCorps members in Nebraska, inspiring other states to do the same. Iowa and Minnesota had previously passed similar legislation.

3,530 49,450 messages to Congress

Through our States for Service Public Policy Coalition, we mobilized

national service advocates

who sent

to support these bills across five digital advocacy campaigns in 2020. We look forward to continuing to advance and help shape these and other emerging national service policy priorities in 2021.

BECOME AN ADVOCATE: WWW.STATES4SERVICE.ORG

INNOVATION & LEADERSHIP AWARDS On September 25, 2020, we recognized community leaders from across the nation at the first ever Virtual ASC Innovation and Leadership Awards.

The awards program is held by ASC each year, typically in Washington, DC, to recognize the accomplishments of state service commission staff, commissioners, service programs and their champions throughout the U.S. Congratulations to our 2020 Innovation & Leadership Award Recipients:

Friend of ASC Award: Senator Chris Coons (Delaware), Senator Roger Wicker (Mississippi), and Congressman Dave Loebsack (Iowa)

State Service Leadership Award: State Senator Tony Vargas (Nebraska), State Rep. Matt Wilhelm (New Hampshire), and Mayor Michael Tubbs (California)

Outstanding Commissioner: Paul Calistro (Delaware) Outstanding Commission Executive Director: Renee Bade (Idaho) Outstanding Commission Staff: Jaclyn Kolar (Texas) and Sarah Sadowski (Montana)

Outstanding Service Program: United Way of King County (Washington)

Outstanding Service Program Staff: Gail Klearman (Iowa) Honor Roll: Bill Hulterstrom (Utah)

2020 AWARD RECIPIENTS S T A T E C O M M I S S I O N S . O R G / 2 0 2 0 - A W A R D - W I N N E R S

MEMBER ENGAGEMENT & SATISFACTION ASC prides itself on being a member-centered association. To this end, each year ASC conducts a Membership Satisfaction Survey to determine whether and how it is meeting members' needs and expectations. In 2020, we were proud to receive the following feedback from ASC commission members, despite many of our support services pivoting to a virtual environment due to COVID-19:

98% of respondents stated they receive responses from ASC staff in a timely manner.

98% of respondents stated the information provided by ASC is helpful to advancing their work.

98% of respondents stated the association reflects and elevates their commission and the work they do.

83% of respondents stated their Partner Service Fees are a good value for the services received.

100% of respondents rated the services and support received from ASC in 2019-2020 as "excellent" or "good."

IN 2020: 39 22

A S C

A S C

M E M B E R S

M E M B E R S

S E R V E D

O N

P A R T I C I P A T E D

C O M M I T T E E S I N

W O R K

G R O U P S

OPT-IN SERVICES For the past few years, ASC has sought to increase the number and types of support services we offer to our 52 state service commissions and

their

programs,

while

still

ensuring

affordability

and

tailored

support where commissions feel they need it most. In 2020, we were pleased to offer a record number of "opt-in" services and training events that commissions could choose to participate in, including:

1. AmeriCorps Alumni Support – 8 states participating (new) 2. AmeriCorps Program Boot Camp – 98 individuals from 17 states 3. AmeriCorps Fiscal Boot Camp – 84 individuals from 15 states (new) 4. Audit Prep Support – 3 states participating 5. "Beyond The Rules" AmeriCorps Program Management Training - 11 states participating (new) 6. Board Development Support – 4 states participating 7. Continuity Planning – 2 states participating 8. Disaster Services Support – 3 states participating 9. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Cohort – 10 states participating 10. Federal Grants Management Training – 36 attendees representing 15 states 11. Fiscal Coaching Series – 7 states participating 12. Risk Based Monitoring Assessment and Systems – 7 states participating (new)

AFTERSCHOOL PROGRAM DEVELOPMENT ASC is pleased to share results from our multi-year initiative to expand afterschool opportunities through AmeriCorps, thanks to generous support from the

Charles Stewart Mott Foundation. From 2017-2021, ASC

received a $250,000 grant from the foundation and selected 11 different state service commissions to receive grants in order to form partnerships with statewide afterschool networks and to develop, support, and sustain quality afterschool and summer learning opportunities for youth. The 11 states receiving funding included: Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Maine, Maryland, Rhode Island, Utah, Washington, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.

As a result of these commissions' hard work,

eight new AmeriCorps

grants were awarded to afterschool initiatives – four as operating grants,

and four as planning grants – to build and develop a full afterschool AmeriCorps program. In addition,

100% of participating state commissions

reported new outreach and technical assistance activities to expand the quality and quantity of afterschool programming in their state that will continue beyond the grant period. Learn more about the project’s results and outcomes at

statecommissions.org/afterschool.

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I S S U U . C O M / A M E R I C A S S E R V I C E C O M M I S S I O N S

FINANCIALS Income: Despite the uncertainties of the pandemic, ASC ended the year in a strong financial position with income of more than $1.7 million, a

6% increase over 2019. This revenue represents a

diversified funding base of membership dues, fee for service, trainings, and earned income.

Expenses: Actual expenses came in under $1.4 million, representing 97% of revised budgeted expenses for 2020 and allowing for ASC as a nonprofit organization to add to its operating reserve for longterm sustainability. Much of these savings came as a result of shifting events and trainings to an online, virtual format which reduced travel and productions costs.

FIGURE 1. INCOME

Contributions 13.2% Membership 28.6% Earned Income 14.3%

$1,752,815

FIGURE 2. EXPENSES Fee for Service 19.8%

Trainings 24.1%

Operations 11.4% Trainings 4.9%

$1,398,897

Personnel and Contractors 83.7%

WITH GRATITUDE Our work at America's Service Commissions would not be possible without strong support from our Board of Directors as well as sponsors and donors who contribute their time, talents, and treasure each year to keep our nonprofit association and network strong. Thank you to the following individuals for their support in 2020:

2020-2021 Board Officers: Maureen Eccleston, Chair – Executive Director, PennSERVE Scott McFarland, Vice Chair/Public Policy Chair – Executive Director, Missouri Community Service Commission Beth McGuinness, Membership Chair – Director of Programs, Massachusetts Service Alliance Ginna Holmes, Resource Development Chair – Executive Director, Michigan Community Service Commission Richard Swarttz, Treasurer – at-large – CFO, Peace Corps Shelly McAlpin, Secretary – Executive Director, Serve Wyoming

2020-2021 Board Members (in addition to Officers): Katie Abbott – Executive Director, Serve Alaska John Albright – Commission Chair, Missouri Community Service Commission Thenera Bailey – at-large – SISGI Group and and SISGI Beyond Good Ideas Foundation Kristen Bennett – at-large – Service Year Alliance Owen Brown – Youth Commissioner, Volunteer Mississippi Vanessa Diamond – Commissioner, Virginia Office of Service and Community Services Jeanne Duffy – Executive Director, Serve Wisconsin Steve Epstein – Commission Chair, Volunteer New Hampshire Caroline Farmer – Executive Director, Volunteer NC William Hall – Executive Director, ServeOhio Beverly Hoster – Commission Chair, Oklahoma Community Service Commission Judd Jeansonne – Executive Director, Volunteer Louisiana Julia Keehner – Commission Chair, Volunteer West Virginia Cat Keen – National Service Programs Director, Volunteer Florida Charlette Kremer – Commissioner, Serve Idaho Jessica Noble – Executive Director, Kansas Volunteer Commission Kate Scheuritzel – Director of Programs, Serve Connecticut Lisa Spinali – Commissioner, California Volunteers Marty Weinstein – at-large – CEO, Bay Area Community Resources /Co-Chair, California AmeriCorps Alliance

With Thanks For Their Service - Outgoing Board Members: Amber Martin-Jahn, Chair (Former Chair); Philip Kolling (Former Secretary); Bill Hulterstrom (Former Treasurer)

ASC BOARD OF DIRECTORS

STATECOMMISSIONS.ORG/BOARD-OF-DIRECTORS

SPONSORS & DONORS Top Sponsors:

Commission Champions: Massachusetts Service Alliance Michigan Community Service Commission Oklahoma AmeriCorps ServeMinnesota ServeMontana Serve Illinois Foundation UServeUtah Volunteer Delaware Volunteer Mississippi

State Service Supporters: Do Good, Be Good

Individual Donors: Adam Lounsbury

Kathryn Abbott

Amber Martin-Jahn

Kristen Bennett

Amy Salinas

Kristina Sampson

Bangbay Siboliban

LaDawn Stoddard

Beth McGuinness

Lisa Spinali

Caitlin Brooking

Lisa Winkler

Carol and Ed Steinberg

Lynn Rippy

Caroline Farmer

Marc McAleavey

Cat Keen

Martin Weinstein

Chad Driscoll

Mary Kathryn Bradley

Charlette Kremer

Maureen K. Eccleston

Chris Bugbee

Monica Greenfield

Desiree Culpitt

Nicholas DiColandrea

Emily Steinberg

Philip Kolling

Gail Klearman

Rachel Bruns

Ginna Holmes

Richard Swarttz

Heather Foster

Scott McFarland

Jeanne Duffy

Shannon Stober

Jim Snell

Shelly McAlpin

John & Amanda Steinberg

Stacey Scherschligt

John Albright

Thenera Bailey

Josefina Mata

Thomas Branen

Judd Jeansonne

Vanessa Diamond

Julia Keehner

William Hall

FOUNDATION

Kaira Esgate

THANK YOU!

2020 ANNUAL REPORT

America's Service Commissions 455 Massachusetts Ave NW, Suite 153 Washington, DC 20001 info@statecommissions.org (202) 813-0807 www.statecommissions.org