Supporting the Work of Anti-poverty Organizations

Then

In 2024, McGowan Fellows developed tools, resources, and other solutions to support the anti-poverty work of United Neighborhood Centers and Friends of the Poor, two nonprofits that address the impact of poverty in Lucerne and Lackawanna Counties where 15-19 percent of kids live with unaddressed needs. Focusing on improving volunteer pipelines, the Fellows delivered a comprehensive on-boarding packet for the UNC staff to use when welcoming volunteers. For Friends of the Poor, the Fellows aligned the volunteer registration and scheduling processes by improving the management system.  

Now

While running these organizations is still challenging, the standardized and streamlined processes have improved operations. UNC now has a standard of consistent services for jobseekers experiencing poverty and for those looking to rise from low-wage employment. At both organizations, tools are in place to ensure volunteers have a productive and rewarding experience—crucial concerns when volunteer retention is just 65 percent nationwide.

At UNC, Director of Community Education Terilynn Brechtel says: “The Fellows showed extreme dedication and interest in understanding the Scranton area and exploring ways to enhance service delivery. They approached the needs of the community partners with thoughtfulness and empathy, resulting in the development of valuable tools to improve and standardize volunteer onboarding and increase capacity. This toolkit will continue to be updated and used to support programming.”