About CCVA
Governance
CCVA is governed by a board of directors -- individuals with extensive experience in the field of volunteerism and volunteer resources management who bring the perspectives of a number of the large national/international organizations which support this field. The board also includes several members who have earned the CVA credential.
Committees & Staff
The CVA credentialing program is supported by several active committees of practitioners . These individuals volunteer to assist with test item writing, selection of primary references, peer assessment of candidate portfolios, candidate support, and recertification. Committee membership is open to anyone with current CVA status.
The Council is staffed by a part-time Executive Director, and also contracts with a certification consultant for technical assistance, test diagnostics and guidance regarding program operation.
Historical Background
Early Development
The CVA (Certified in Volunteer Administration) credential was developed by the Association for Volunteer Administration (AVA) in the early 1980's as a professional development tool for individual practitioners who mobilize and manage volunteers. From the beginning, this certification program was intended to be:
- applicable to all types of settings and organizations
- competency-based
- international in scope
Under the auspices of AVA the program grew slowly but steadily, certifying over 400 individuals in the U.S. and Canada. In 2000, AVA undertook a major revision of the program in order to:
- update the process to meet the needs of current practitioners
- reassess the core competencies on which it was based
- ensure compliance with accepted best practices in professional certification
After a successful pilot of the new process in 2001, the program continued to grow with very positive feedback from the field. It was managed by a part-time contractor and over 50 volunteer committee members who made decisions regarding test items, scoring of portfolios, selection of reference materials, and recertification. An additional 255 professionals were credentialed from January 2001 to August 2006.
Crisis and Transition
In January 2006 the AVA Board of Directors learned that the organization was in severe financial trouble. When it became clear that AVA might be forced to dissolve as an organization, efforts immediately began to preserve the CVA ("Certified in Volunteer Administration") credentialing program and find a way for it to survive the crisis.
A number of options were discussed among many individuals who had a strong vested interest in the program. Being ever mindful of the need to ensure long-term sustainability, the decision was made to permanently house the program in a new, independent entity that will be truly representative of the entire field. This is a model used by several other professional certification programs, resulting in the program being jointly "owned" by many organizations, rather than one.
In June 2006, the AVA board transferred ownership of the CVA program and the "Professional Ethics in Volunteer Administration" publication to the new Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration, with the understanding that they be "preserved and maintained ... for the benefit of the profession."
This is the beginning of an exciting new chapter in the history of the CVA credential. Its new home has been created out of the conviction that a collaborative approach will sustain current momentum, preserve high standards of excellence and professionalism, and yield the greatest degree of long-term value and credibility.
It is important to note that, during this period of chaos and transition, the program continued to operate without interruption. Over 120 candidates registered for the 2006 cycle, the exam was conducted on schedule, portfolios were reviewed and all materials were updated. This signaled a high level of commitment to the program and reinforced its perceived value by practitioners in the field.
The Council is Established
CCVA was incorporated as a nonprofit organization in Virginia in June 2006 with the following mission:
CCVA promotes and certifies excellence in volunteer administration to advance the capacity of communities to effectively engage volunteers.
By the end of August 2006, the CCVA founding board had met to elect officers, clarify the Council's vision, and basic structure, draft bylaws and initial policies, and develop a strategic framework. Soon thereafter a budget was approved, the strategic plan was finalized, the former program manager was under contract as part-time Executive Director, the tax exempt application was prepared to submit to the IRS, and a website was launched.
The following values and principles were adopted to guide CCVA decision making and actions:
- We are committed to the spirit of voluntarism and to the growing of skilled leaders in the field of volunteer administration.
- We will be transparent, fiscally sound, and ethically grounded.
- We will balance the rigor of research with the reality of effective practical application in various settings where volunteer administration is practiced.
- We will act in the spirit of good will, and the presumption of good will in others.
- Collaboration and inclusivity will be our modus operandi, and consensus is our preferred decision-making tool.
- We seek global wisdom and expertise in volunteer administration to develop international partners and candidates.
Consistent with its vision, CCVA has now begun to expand the Board of directors. Individuals are being invited to serve who will bring the perspective of major national/international organizations that support the field of volunteerism and volunteer management. The creation of this new, independent "federated" home will ensure that the CVA program continues to grow with widespread investment, visibility and support, and is truly responsive to the changing needs of the entire spectrum of our profession.
Strategic Direction
The board of directors has established the following goals to guide CCVA's future work:
- Provide an Excellent Credentialing Program: Building on the history and development of various certification programs in volunteer administration, function as a catalyst towards a continually improving certification program of the highest quality.
- Articulate Competencies: Ensure that the CCVA certification process is built on a competency model that reflects the most current practices in the field.
- Advance Ethical and Practice Standards: Position CCVA as an organization committed to a) stewarding the past and current work on ethics in volunteer administration, and b) leading work on standards of excellence for the profession.
- Link the Profession with Higher Education: Stimulate the education of volunteer administrators that is continually attentive to current research, trends in the field, and best practices.
- Monitor External Changes and Embrace Strategic Alliances: Recognizing that the CVA credential originated in the now-defunct Association for Volunteer Administration, monitor the evolution of organizations in the field of volunteer administration and build collaborative linkages.
- Build CCVA's Reputation: Develop CCVA into an organization that is well known and respected in the field of volunteer administration. Promote the CVA program as a credentialing process of significance and integrity.
- Build CCVA's Infrastructure: Develop CCVA into an organization that can sustain its work financially, govern itself with excellence, and administratively support its activities.