Annual Report: America’s Service Commissions

Posted by America's Service Commissions on April 16, 2018

We are pleased to present you with the 2017 ASC Annual Report, which is now available to view or download on our website.

We’re certain we don’t have to tell you that 2017 was a year for the history books: for our country, the national service sector, and for ASC as an organization. From being the first year of a new Presidential administration to that of the first solar eclipse visible in the continental United States in nearly 40 years, the year 2017 brought with it tremendous change and possibility.

Speaking of ASC specifically, this was a renaissance year for us as an association — complete with the celebration of our 20th Anniversary on Capitol Hill, the launch of a new three-year strategic plan, a professional rebranding and new website, a successful push for increased funding for state service commissions nationwide, and our overall growth in terms of membership, staff capacity, and influence.

Here is a look at what we were able to accomplish collectively in 2017 to advance state service, by the numbers:

• Launched a three-year 2017-2019 Strategic Plan with five major goals to help re-align ASC’s mission, vision, strategies, activities, and objectives for long term sustainability;
• Co-authored our first toolkit with Service Year Alliance and the Corporation for National and Community Service (CNCS) on “Expanding Service Years in States” to showcase how Governors and state leaders are leveraging and expanding service programs to get things done in their states;
• Secured a funding increase of more than $2 million in the form of Commission Support Grant and Commission Investment Fund resources for state service commissions as well as a $250,000 multi-year grant from the Charles Stewart Mott Foundation to allow ASC and a group of state commissions to strategically undertake afterschool program development work with their state afterschool networks;
• Played an even bigger role in national service grant management — with state service commissions administering 80% of AmeriCorps State/National resources across the country (up from 78% the previous year);
• Planned and executed four regional National Service Training Conferences in collaboration with our partners and host commissions (Volunteer Florida; Serve Ohio; Arizona Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith, and Family; and the Maryland Governor’s Office on Service and Volunteerism);
• Grew our staff from three to four staff, with the addition of the Director, External Affairs position;
• Unveiled a new logo, brand identity and website after nearly a year of preparation and assistance from a Causality Brand Grant valued at $17,500;
• Launched our new public policy arm, the States for Service (S4S) Coalition, which will be funded with non-federal dollars to ensure our ability to present a unified and collective voice on pressing public policy issues and legislation;
• Expanded ASC’s member services to include an exciting new Member Assistance Program (MAP) which provides year-around, 24-7 counseling and mental health services to nearly 10,000 AmeriCorps members nationwide;
• Welcomed more than 250 AmeriCorps State Service Partner programs that joined our network; and
• Celebrated our 20 year history of uniting states in service with a very special evening at the Kennedy Caucus Room on Capitol Hill.

Looking ahead to 2018, we are excited about what the coming year will bring. Moving into year two of our strategic plan, we believe we will make even greater strides toward fulfilling the promise and ability of the S4S Public Policy Coalition, growing our membership and member services, publishing new toolkits and resources, enhancing our Commissioner outreach and engagement efforts, and elevating state service commissions nationwide.

Thank you for 20 years of helping us unite states in service.

http://www.statecommissions.org/reports-financials