Subscribe to RSS / XML Feeds

Identify Needs and Targets

All AmeriCorps programs are required to establish outcome objectives, including the creation of a strategy for achieving these objectives that form the foundations for programs' self-assessment and CNCS's progress assessments. The assessments help a program determine the extent to which it has a positive impact on communities and people served by the projects, as well as on participants who take part in the projects.

A self-assessment will help your program identify its needs and the short-term objectives that will help to meet long-term program goals. Areas to explore in your self-assessment include:

  • AmeriCorps members: Is the program effectively addressing recruitment, training, development, reflection, and transition of members?
  • Service recipients: Are services meeting their needs?
  • Program leadership: What professional development opportunities are needed?
  • Community leaders and champions: Are influential people in the community who can provide support aware of your program and its accomplishments?
  • Communications: Is the program effectively communicating its needs, goals, and
    accomplishments to stakeholders?
  • Collaborations and partnerships: What groups might you work with that would help further your goals and those of the potential partner?
  • Resource development: What additional resources—financial and in-kind—are needed to meet project goals?

Once you have identified the needs of your program, it is time to identify the target audiences with whom you want to share the AmeriCorps story to help meet the needs of your program. Who are your target audiences/key stakeholders? What information can you provide to help build buy-in?

Target audiences might include:

  • Potential members such as high school or college students, baby boomers, and retirees.
  • Community members such as potential nonprofit partners or groups working on similar issues or with a similar target audience.
  • Influential people such as elected officials, potential funders, business or community leaders, or state commissioners.
  • The media, including local newspapers, magazines, web sites, and public affairs
    programs.
  • The general public, including your neighborhood, network, or community.

Part of identifying your audience is also identifying why this audience is potentially important to your AmeriCorps program, and why it is important that they learn about AmeriCorps and its impact on local communities.

Once you've identified your audience and why you want to share your AmeriCorps story with them, you will then need to make a plan for how, when, and where you will share your story. This website provides some creative ways to share your AmeriCorps story with various audiences.