Topeka Habitat for Humanity Earns Prestigious Service Enterprise Certification

In July 2021, the Kansas Volunteer Commission notified Topeka Habitat for Humanity that it was the first nonprofit in the state to become Service Enterprise Certified! The prestigious award was approved by Points of Light, the world’s largest organization dedicated to volunteer service.

This certification recognizes Topeka Habitat for Humanity as a leading organization in volunteer engagement. To earn the certification, they completed an extensive organizational assessment, 19 hours of training, 10 hours of coaching, intensive planning, and implementation of change management practices.

Topeka Habitat for Humanity joined the top performing 11 percent of nonprofits nationwide by achieving this level of excellence. Meeting the certification criteria means that they are fully equipped to utilize the time and talent of volunteers to expand and enhance services.

Janice Watkins, CEO says, “Being a part of the Service Enterprise has allowed us to see the full-scale impact of volunteers across the organization and adopt a mindset of the value of volunteers, even when they cannot participate in a "traditional" sense with the building and repair of affordable housing. This opportunity allowed us to maintain a positive mindset and think forward as the global COVID-19 pandemic has impacted volunteer opportunities. With thoughtful planning, we were able to become more efficient, create new opportunities and retain engagement, despite the current environment.”

Research conducted by the TCC Group, a national program and evaluation firm, found that organizations operating as Service Enterprises outperform peer organizations on all aspects of organizational effectiveness, and are more adaptable, sustainable, and capable of scaling their work. In fact, 80% of Service Enterprise organizations report an increase in both volunteer and skill-based volunteers.