Organize a Service Project
Have a great idea for a service project? Here’s how to get it off the ground.
STEP 1 Define your project goals.
Whip out your Sharpies — it’s brainstorming time. Working with a few like-minded friends, or on your own, write down your goals for the project. Think about:
- What would success look like for your project? (be as specific as possible.)
- Who/what do you hope will be positively impacted by the project?
- What do you hope people will learn or take away from the experience?
- What do YOU hope to learn or gain from the experience?
Once you have your list, hang a copy by your desk or somewhere else where you can easily access it. As you move forward with organizing the project, refer back to your goals on a regular basis to make sure you stay on track.
STEP 2 Identify your partners.
Two minds are better than one, and 50 minds can be even better. Before you begin your project, figure out who your key project partners will be. This list could include co-organizers, other potential volunteers, representatives from the community being served, people who might attend an event related to your project, and organizations that could provide support, resources, help you spread the word, or provide an umbrella to work under.
STEP 3 Timeline it.
Timelines help to break down big visions into manageable steps. When creating a timeline, work backwards — either from an event, or from your ultimate goal. Write down all the things that need to happen between now and the event/goal and estimate how much time (days? weeks? months?) it will likely take to work on each step. Be realistic! As you identify the steps on the way towards your goal, brainstorm the people who could take charge of moving them forward.
Just like your goals sheet, keep your timeline close by as you plan the service project, and check in regularly to make sure you are meeting your benchmarks.
STEP 4 Think funding.
Whether you’re organizing a one-time event or a series of connected projects, create a budget that lists all the potential costs that you think will be associated with it. Then brainstorm the various ways you might secure the funding (e.g. holding a fundraiser, soliciting monetary or in-kind donations, writing grants, asking friends/family to contribute, asking partner organizations to contribute.)
STEP 5 Spread the word.
Whether your are raising awareness about an issue, or planning a specific event or campaign, good marketing is key to your success. Take a look at your goals sheet: who are the people and communities you want to impact, and what are the best methods for reaching out to them?
- Personal e-mails: Your friends are your biggest marketing allies. Send them personal e-mails/invites about your project or event and ask them to forward the info to other friends.
- E-mail lists: Are there e-mail lists related to your issue? If so, join the list and share the info with its members.
- Social networking: Create a Facebook event/page, and regularly post info about your event or project on Twitter.
- Viral marketing: Make a short video about your project/event that you can post on YouTube, and point people towards the link.
- Partner organizations: Ask any organizations you are partnering with to spread the word to their lists. Provide them with an email or info that they can simply forward along to their members.
- Press coverage: Know any bloggers or journalists? Pitch them a story idea related to your project or event.
- Delegation: The more marketing voices you have, the better. Encourage everyone working on the project to reach out to their lists and contacts.
STEP 6 Follow up.
After your project is over, make sure to tie up all loose ends and send thank you notes to everyone who was involved. Then, either alone or with your co-organizers, take a few moments to reflect on the experience. Did you achieve your goals? Why or why not? What went particularly well, and what could be done better next time? What lessons do you want to take away from the experience? Get the information down while it is still fresh in your mind — and use it to improve your next project.
