Vikings Helping Vikings Service Learning Project

Vikings Helping Vikings

Chellsie Heil

Service Learning Project

MGMT 321

Dr. Godshalk

Source: https://www.facebook.com/Vikingshelpingvikingsinc

Strategy Diagnostic

• Headquarters and mission

• The “right” people

• Opportunity

Image captured by Chellsie Heil from Google Earth

Financial Diagnostic

• Change in mission

• Need more funding

• EITC program

Source: https://www.facebook.com/Vikingshelpingvikingsinc

Membership Diagnostic• 12-15 core active

members

• A lot of volunteers who aren’t members

• Who will take over in the future?

▫ Need for younger members

Me and my sister at VHV Golf Tournament Dinner Summer 2013Source: https://www.facebook.com/Vikingshelpingvikingsinc

Communications Diagnostic

• Lack of communications

• No organized contact lists

• Increase brand awareness by increasing communications

Project – EITC Letter

• Educational Improvement Tax Credit program

• Mission change and headquarters:

▫ Afterschool programs

▫ Leadership camps

▫ STEM programs

Project – EITC Business Contributors

Database

Recommendations

• Branding and brand awareness

• Communications

• Increasing membership

• Financial aspects

▫ EITC program

▫ Fundraisers

• June 7th festival

Branding and Brand Awareness

• Measure brand awareness

• Mailed survey:

▫ Why people choose to join or not join

▫ Awareness of new headquarters and mission

▫ Likelihood of participation in afterschool programs

• Follow up survey at later date

Communications

• Integrate brand into marketing and communications

• Establish Head of Communications position

• Consistent standards for communication

• Improve and increase communications

Membership• Increase involvement

from students and young adults

• Participative leadership

• Recruit through social media

Source: https://www.facebook.com/vikingshelpingvikings/photos

Financial – EITC program

• Send letters instead of making calls

• Ensure consistency in communications

• Raise awareness

Financial - Fundraising• Increase budget and

awareness

• Fundraisers:

▫ Community scavenger hunt

▫ Pink flamingo flocking fundraiser

▫ Ford test drive fundraiser

▫ Golf ball drop

Example of Pink Flamingo Flocking FundraiserSource: http://adonisautism.org/fundraisers/

June 7th Festival• Lack of coordination

among volunteers

• Volunteer Coordinator positions

• Use of directive leadership behaviors

Source: https://www.facebook.com/vikingshelpingvikings/photos

What I Learned

• Difficulty in running a small non-profit

• Leaders need to be flexible

• Leadership styles don’t only apply to “business” leaders

• Importance of developing followers

Sources

• Costly, D. L. & Howell, J. P. (2006). Understanding Behaviors for Effective Leadership (2nd ed.). New Jersey: Pearson Education, Inc.

• http://adonisautism.org/fundraisers/

• https://www.facebook.com/vikingshelpingvikings/photos

• https://www.facebook.com/Vikingshelpingvikingsinc