These+kids+changed+our+organization+-+Factors+that+enable+community+partners+to+build+organizational+capacity+through+service-learning

**“These kids changed our organization”: Factors that enable community partners to build organizational capacity through service-learning.**

Joanna Geller, Ph.D. Candidate, Vanderbilt University [joanna.d.geller@vanderbilt.edu] Natalia Zuckerman, Consultant, Common Cents [natalie.z.zuckerman@gmail.com] Adam Seidel, Program Director, Common Cents [aseidel@commoncents.org]



**Keywords:** Organizational development, community-based organizations (CBOs), partners, collaborations, students

**Track:** Community outcomes and impact

**Format:** Research paper
 * Date & time: **Thursday 9:30-10:40
 * Location: **Salon 10

**Summary:** Ample research has linked service-learning to a wealth of desirable outcomes for individual students and schools (Melchior, 1997; Billig, 2005; Furco, 2001; Scales et al., 2000), but little is known regarding how service-learning impacts the organizational development of community partners (Worrall, 2007). Thus the purpose of this study was to a) understand how and to what extent organizations benefited from partnering with students, and b) to examine whether //organizational capacity// (i.e. organization size) or //employee// //vision// (i.e. belief in the abilities of children) had a greater impact on the extent to which organizations maximized the impact of their partnerships. All community-based organizations (CBOs) that received a grant from K-12 students engaged in the youth philanthropy and service-learning program, the Penny Harvest, were invited to complete a survey consisting of both open- and close-ended questions. 172 CBOs responded. Data were analyzed using multiple regression and systematic coding of open-ended responses in a matrix.

Analyses of open-ended responses indicated that many organizations were maximizing the impact of their partnerships in multiple ways. For example, due to partnerships with schools, they were able to continue funding special projects that adults had stopped funding; infuse energy into their constituents through engaging youth in service projects; motivate students to continue supporting their organizations into adulthood; impress donors by garnering support from young people; and expand their support networks by including parents, teachers, and principals. These data offer a testament to the capabilities of children and the reciprocal benefits of school/community partnerships. Quantitative data indicated that both //organizational capacity// and //employee vision// were important predictors of organizational development, although each predictor served different purposes. This study helps the service-learning community understand how we may better support CBOs who wish to form meaningful partnerships with schools.

**References:** Billig, S. H., Root, S., & Jesse, D. (2005). The relationship between quality indicators of service- <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">learning and student outcomes: Testing professional wisdom. In S. Root, J. Callahan, &

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">S. H. Billig (Ed.), //Improving service-learning practice: Research on models to enhance impacts// (pp. 97–115)//.// Greenwich, CT: Information Age Publishers.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Furco, A. (2001). Is service-learning really better than community service? A study of high <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">school service program outcomes. In Furco, A. & Billig, S. (Eds.), //Service Learning:// <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">//Essence of pedagogy//. Greenwich, CT: Information Age Publishers.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Melchior, A. (1997). //National evaluation of Learn and Serve America school and community-// <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">//based programs//. Interim Report, April.

<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">Worrall, L. (2007). Asking the community: A case study of community partner perspectives. <span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif; font-size: 140%;">//Michigan Journal of Community Service Learning, 14(1)//, 5-17.

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