Developing An Action Plan

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Developing An Action Plan

• Seungjun Kim and Mat Morgan
• National Youth Council

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Welcome!

• Introductions
• Recap on Saturdays Ideas
• Session Objectives

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Session Objectives

• Understand the components of an Action Plan
• Develop ideas on filling gaps at your field unit
• Create an Action Plan to take back to your field
  unit to enhance your service delivery

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General Framework Action Plan

• Activity objectives / results
• Timeframe
• Person(s) Responsible
• Budgeting estimating costs
• Marketing/Communications

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Objectives / Results

• Mission-related
• SMART
• Direct vs. Indirect

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SMART

• Specific
• Measurable
• Acceptable
• Realistic
• Timeframe

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Results Direct vs. Indirect

• Direct (quantitative)
• training 300 youth at the NYI
• Indirect (qualitative)
• Facilitating networking experience, strengthening
  collaboration with youth advisors and youth
  volunteers

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Example NYI 2008 - Objectives

• Generate a customized learning experience for
  youth and young adult volunteers that presents
  tracks for multiple skill levels.
• Provide critical tools and resources that build
  capacity and strengthen youth involvement in key
  areas of service delivery

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Example NYI 2008 Results

• II.1. promote key strategic initiatives available
  at national level on the five (5) lines of
  business
• II.2. develop three different training tracks in
  accordance with the Red Cross level of experience
  
• II.3. develop new soft skills sets and
  professional development opportunities fro young
  volunteers and their coordinators
• III.1. provide youth and young adult volunteers
  with critical Red Cross specific information
• III.2. Fostering the collaboration youth
  volunteers and coordinators and enable chapters
  teams to develop concrete action plans

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Group Activity

• Design objectives and identify the projected
  results for your initiative

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Time Frame

• Time frame
• Set a realistic time frame
• Benchmarks

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Example NYI 2008

• Timeline (Examples of key tasks)
• 07 August October ? Evaluation NYI 2007,
  budgeting, finding the location for 2008
• 07 November 08 January ? Identify NYI theme,
  Develop workshop frameworks, form NYI committees
• 08 February April ? Generate /disseminate
  marketing materials, workshop/presentations due,
  finalize schedule and develop program booklet
• May ? National Youth Institute!

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Responsibility

• Project / tasks leads
• Staff and leadership volunteers
• Who are the key decision-makers?
• What are their roles?
• Delegation of tasks

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Example NYI 2008

• Key stakeholders
• National Youth Council,
• St. Louis Chapter,
• Youth Young Adults Programs Services,
• American Red Cross Senior Leadership

• Responsibility
• National Youth Council Leads
• NHQ and St. Louis Chapter Staff
• Committee Leads

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Group Activity

• Design the time frame for your initiative

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Break
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Questions?
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Budgeting

• You have a great idea and a realistic action plan
  but you need money to make it happen.
• Dont give up. Get creative!
• Set aside time to go after the resources you need

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Budgeting

• Preliminary steps
• Decide on your project
• Develop a clear picture of what you will be doing
  and why its important (what is the impact )
• Brainstorm a list of everything you will need to
  carry out the project
• Figure out what you already have, what can be
  donated, and what you will need to pay for
• Plan enough time to solicit in-kind donations

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Budget Categories

• Room rental
• Materials or supplies
• Printing or copying
• Transportation
• Refreshments

• Equipment
• Staff wages
• Recognition items
• Entertainment

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Budgeting

• Planning your budget
• Research costs
• Online
• At stores
• Ask friends and colleagues
• Estimate what you will spend
• Create a spreadsheet
• Update document during and after project is over

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Fundraising

• Prepare your rationale and budget
• Tell your story
• Use media if possible (photos, videos) Make the
  case!
• Practice your story on friends and family
• Choose your fundraising methods
• Solicit individuals or businesses
• Hold an event
• Sell a product
• Apply for a grant

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Fundraising

• Tips to increase your impact
• Ask someone to match the money you raise
• Beware of time consuming events
• Learn about other successful fundraisers and copy
  them
• Follow the solicitation cycle

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Fundraising Solicitation Cycle
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Fundraising Solicitation Cycle

• Identify your prospective donors
• Do some research
• What other causes do they give to?
• Who are they friends with?
• Use your information to identify possible
  connections

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Fundraising Solicitation Cycle

• Develop strategies
• Offer opportunities for prospective donors to
  become familiar with your cause via
• Correspondence (phone, e-mail, mail)
• Events
• Ask current Red Cross donors for advice and/or
  connections

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Fundraising Solicitation Cycle

• Ask for the gift
• Thank the donor(s)
• Recognize him or her publicly if appropriate
• Keep in touch update the donor on your
  progress/results

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Fundraising Getting Started

• Solicitation
• Make a list of prospects
• Prepare your pitch
• Make phone calls or set up meetings
• Always follow up

• Events
• Brainstorm ideas
• Create high visibility

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Fundraising Getting Started

• Products
• Brainstorm ideas
• Research costs

• Grants
• Research community agencies
• Business association, Kiwanis, etc.
• Look online
• www.ysa.org

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Fundraising Resources

• Red Cross volunteers and employees
• Board members
• Development staff
• Chapter CEO
• Your fellow youth volunteers
• Friends with fundraising experience
• Internet
• Youth Service America, Youth Venture, Do Something

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Example NYI 2008

• Expenses
• Logistics
• Training Conference Materials
• Events

• Revenue
• Grants State Farm
• NYI Registration Fee 75

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Group Activity

• Design the budget for your initiative

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Communicating, Marketing and Branding Your Plan
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Communication Strategy At a Glance
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Know Your Stakeholders
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Identify Your Target Audiences
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Customize Your Message

• Know your target groups wants and needs
• Use the right language
• Use what you have

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Build a Communications Strategy
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Apply the Red Cross Brand

• Brand tells people what an organization is and
  what benefits it delivers
• The American Red Cross helps people prevent,
  prepare for and respond to emergencies (mission)
• We help people perform extraordinary acts in
  emergency situations

Source American Red Cross Brand Standards Guide
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Apply the Red Cross Brand

• Use our logo consistently
• Refer to the Brand Standards Guide
• Go to http//www.redcross.org/email/logos/sig.asp
  to download the correct Red Cross logos

Source American Red Cross Brand Standards Guide
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Summary

• Know Your Stakeholders
• ID Your Target Audiences
• Customize your message
• Build a communications strategy
• Apply the Red Cross Brand

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Example NYI 2008

• Building Visibility for NYI 2008
• Marketing strategy for NYI 2008
• Online
• Print
• People

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Group Activity

• Design the communication strategy for your
  initiative

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Show us your Action Plan!
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Questions?

• Insert contact info here