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Professional Development Fund

The Maine Commission for Community Service supports professional development of managers of volunteers by awarding funds to cost-share their relevant activities.

Examples of supported activities are online courses, educational conferences, seminars, workshops, or preparation for professional certifications when they relate to the Competencies for Managers of Volunteers.

2013 Application Deadlines

Professional Development Fund applications may be submitted at any time. Below is the schedule for reviewing requests for professional development activities that begin after Jan 1, 2013 and end prior to Dec 20, 2013.

  • Applications received by January 31, 2013, notification by February 28, 2013. 
  • Applications received by March 1, 2013, notification by March 29, 2013.
  • Applications received by April 5, 2013, notification by May 3, 2013.

Priority audiences for support

Preference is given to Maine managers of volunteers

  • working in counties not covered by volunteer centers.  These counties are: Androscoggin, Aroostook, Hancock, Kennebec, Oxford, Piscataquis, Somerset, Waldo, and Washington.
  • who have not received Professional Development Funds within the past twelve months.
  • who are not supported by Corporation for National & Community Service funds.

Eligibility

Note: Funds awarded may not be used to provide the recipient with a stipend, living allowance, or reimburse an employer for salary.

To be eligible for consideration, an individual must:

  1. be employed by a Maine school or organization (public or private nonprofit or Maine affiliate of a national charity) that engages citizens as volunteers in Maine communities OR serve in a pro bono capacity with a Maine school or organization in the volunteer program with responsibilities that are equivalent to those of an employee (e.g., training, supervision, assessment of volunteers performing service)
  2. have at least two years of experience as a volunteer coordinator or in volunteer program management.
  3. have a supervisor-approved professional development plan that identifies specific skills, knowledge, or abilities related to volunteer management that require formal training or education.
  4. complete proposed professional development activity by Dec 20 of the current year, if awarded support.
  5. share information and learning about the professional development activity by contributing a blog to From the Field - Conversation on Volunteer Management, www.VolunteerMaine.org, or providing a webinar hosted by the Commission.

Application Guidelines and Instructions

  • Use this LINK to download the application and submission instructions

Staff Contact for the Fund

Pam Zeutenhorst, Program Officer
Volunteer Sector Initiatives
pam.zeutenhorst@maine.gov  
207.624.7790

The Maine Commission for Community Service is the state government partner of the Corporation for National and Community Service, the federal agency that administers AmeriCorps, Senior Corps, and Volunteer Generation programs. 

The Commission builds capacity and sustainability in Maine's volunteer and service communities by funding programs, developing managers of volunteers and service-learning practitioners, raising awareness of sector issues, and promoting service as a strategy to solve local problems.