NCOA

1. NCOA/RespectAbility From Promising to Best Practices in the Civic Engagement Presented by Thomas Endres V.P. Civic Engagement & Director of RespectAbility

2. Key Learning from Our Work to date! Our work over the last three years has shown that: Nonprofit leaders don�t see a compelling case to invest the resources needed to attract and utilize adults 55+ to help them achieve their missions. Organizations don�t know how to take full advantage of the work styles and experiences of older adults, nor how to accommodate their expectations for more meaningful volunteer experiences; and Nonprofit leaders lack a systematic way to compare, contrast and measure cost-effective strategies for increasing the engagement of those 55+.

3. Framework for Discovery of Local Success Promising practices were based on evidence of success in one or more of the following key outcomes: Increased participation-greater involvement through successful recruitment methods of adults 55+; Meaningful new roles-enhanced quality and greater opportunities within roles for adults 55+; Improved Quality of Life for Adults in Service-achieved better health, greater social connection, and a sense of purpose for adults 55+; Enhanced Organizational Capacity-increased capacity of an organization to meet its goals through engaging adults 55+; and Enhanced Community Impact-demonstrated a greater impact as a result of the service contributions of adults 55+.

4. Crossroads to the Future Promising Practices are flourishing in local communities: The pool of Promising Practices needs to be expanded, digested, and converted to best practices for the field. Best practices need to be analyzed and elements for success identified so they can be adopted by others. New Civic Engagement Principles are emerging. An evidence-based approach to best practices is needed to form the basis for new 21st Century program planning and development systems. The capacity of nonprofits to tap the asset of age needs strengthening! We must develop a compelling case for increased commitment and investment. We must develop the �business case� to show return on investment of increased investment and other benefits to the organizations. While there are many valuable volunteer roles, our future work is focused on designing and supporting leadership-level roles (pro bono roles) for adults 55+ that strengthen nonprofit organizations, further their core mission, and increase their operations and organizational capacity. While there are many valuable volunteer roles, our future work is focused on designing and supporting leadership-level roles (pro bono roles) for adults 55+ that strengthen nonprofit organizations, further their core mission, and increase their operations and organizational capacity.

5. Emerging Principles The learning to date: eleven areas for which we need to reframe our thinking and approaches! Re-aligning participant and organizational Interests Placing value of the Assets of Aging Intentionally create opportunities for building Relationships Foster Empowered Participation Focusing on Learning as a Pathway to Engagement Sustain increasing commitment through Leadership Development Embrace diversity by developing Cultural Competency Put Meaning into Partnership through defining reciprocity Communicate the Requirements and Benefits of Change Produce Evidence and Accountability Focus on the foundation of Community and community building

6. Guiding our current work are: