About Outcome (Impact-based) Work Plans

What are outcome/impact-based Work Plans?

Work plans with Outcome/Impact Based Activities must address the activities, volunteers, and volunteer stations that are intended to make an impact on an identified community need.  These are commonly called “impact based work plans” or “PFI work plans.”  Here are highlights from the Instructions for the Senior Corps Grant Application (Part IV, Section A).

An outcome/impact-based Work Plan is a task plan with action steps to address a specified community need. In the grant application, these work plans form the basis for a proposed project An activity, or set of activities, carried out though a program that receives assistance under the Act, and which results in a specific identifiable service or improvement that otherwise would not be done with existing funds, and that does not duplicate the routine services or functions of the employer to whom participants are assigned. plan: the need the volunteers will address, what they will do, and what their service should accomplish during the multi-year grant period – from the shorter to longer terms.

Work plans follow a standard format, in which you should describe how the project will develop assignments for and placement of the senior volunteers to meet priority community needs.

Work Plans capture the focus of the volunteers’ services in standard categories. Select Service Categories from the drop down selection list  to select the focus of the volunteers’ services for each work plan.

How many Work Plans are needed?

The way in which volunteers will be deployed determines the number of work plans need ed Executive Director . Applicants should prepare a separate work plan for each service category. You may submit more than one work plan for a given service category. Most applications contain between eight and twelve separate work plans, including Performance Measures Work Plans.

All volunteers who serve or will serve in outcome/impact-based assignments must be accounted for in the work plans in this section.

For RSVP A Senior Corps program that coordinates volunteer service efforts for those 55 and older through a nationwide network of more than 65,000 nonprofit organizations and public agencies serving as placement sites, or “volunteer stations.” The activities of the volunteers who serve through RSVP vary according to community needs. , 50 percent of the volunteers must be placed in outcome/impact-based assignments.  

For FGP Foster GrandParents, a category of Senior Corps volunteers. One of the three National Senior Service Corps programs. Foster Grandparents devote their service to children with special orexceptional needs. and SCP Senior Companion Program. One of three National Senior Service Corps programs. Senior Companions help other seniors live independently in their own homes and receive a stipend. , 90 percent of volunteers/VSYs must be placed in outcome/impact-based assignments.

Which sections of the Work Plans must be completed?

The following sections must be completed for all outcome/impact-based work plans:

• Community Needs Statement: Develop for each service category. This needs statement should explain the compelling need that will be impacted upon through senior service.

Fill in:

• The total number of Senior Corps volunteers contributing to meet this need

• The total number of volunteer stations serving as placement sites to address this need

• For Foster Grandparent projects: the estimated number of children/youth to be served

• For Senior Companion projects: the estimated number of clients to be served

• For RSVP – if possible, estimate the total number of people to be served.

• An Action Plan with steps should be developed addressing the following elements for each community need:

• Service Activity – Provide specific descriptions of the activities the volunteers will undertake to help meet the identified need

• Anticipated Inputs – Describe the resources that will be available to help meet the identified need by creating or sustaining the service effort, such as the number of volunteers/VSYs, volunteer hours, financial and staff resources, or special training

• Anticipated Accomplishments (Outputs) – In measurable terms, describe the immediate results of the volunteer service in meeting the need, such as numbers served, numbers of products produced, etc.

• Anticipated Impacts (Intermediate Outcomes and End Outcomes) – Describe the anticipated longer term or permanent change or improvement expected in the community due to services of the volunteers. This change should be measurable and directly related to the defined community need. Be specific!

• Planned Period of Accomplishment: Indicate the dates by which the task or result will be accomplished in month/year format, such as “01/06” for January 2006.

For explanations of these elements, program A coordinated group of activities linked by common elements such as recruitment, selection, an d training of participants, and staff, regular group activities, and assignment to projects organized for the purpose of achieving the mission and goals of national service, and carried out with the assistance provided under the Act. managers should refer grantees to the Senior Corps Toolkit: Performance Measurement Initiative.