Community Voice Mail
Briefly describe the mission and programs of your organization.
Access to communication is a necessary tool for survival - yet is often overlooked as a means to help people in need. COMMUNITY VOICE MAIL is a nationwide program that empowers people in crisis and transition by providing the tangible tool they need to succeed: a consistent telephone number. Assigning its users a unique 7-digit telephone number, CVM provides free 24-hour voice mail access to people in need. Enrollment takes only 3 minutes- and users leave empowered with a crucial bridge to a more stable life. Typical uses of CVM include securing jobs, finding housing, obtaining healthcare and fleeing domestic abuse. DOUBLING OUR IMPACT: By providing case managers and social service agencies with a reliable way to reach clients through CVM, we effectively double the impact of our service. 
How would you characterize your organization's experience with the Internet? Are you just beginning, are you very experienced, or somewhere in between? Are you satisfied with how the Internet has helped your organization achieve its mission?
Utilizing the Internet to communicate our mission is a key component of our success. Through a redesigned website (www.cvm.org), we now effectively communicate our mission, service areas, key goals, and impact on society and individuals. After relaunching our website in August 2003, we were able to implement a quarterly Enewsletter, an "email a friend" function, online giving tool, and a brief video profiling actual end users of Community Voice Mail. The response has been overwhelmingly positive. The impetus for the web redesign was a Groundspring workshop on web-based giving. I learned valuable content and layout tips that really enhanced the final look of our new site. Our previously "dead" website now receives multiple sign-ups each week for newsletters as well as referrals using the "email a friend" option. We've built our online donor base from zero to about 400 names in a short time. Groundspring is a great tool for organizations that need high level results on a non-profit budget.
Describe the case study that you wish to present. What goal did you set out to meet by using a Groundspring Internet service? Did you meet that goal? How did you measure if you reached the goal?
OUR PROBLEM: Despite 10 years of service in 34 sites across the U.S., very few people are aware of our program. With limited funds, we needed to freshen our brand, establish an online giving program, and "spread the word" about Community Voice Mail.
THE SOLUTION: Redesign our website, and then launch it with improved tools: email sign-up, email a friend, online giving capability, and effective communication of our mission, goals and program. Our constraints: a tight timeframe and budget. By utilizing cost-effective Groundspring solutions, we are able to collect email addresses, utilize them for quarterly emails and process online donations with minimal fees.
RESULTS: We've built our online donor base from zero to 400 names via nothing more than electronic "word of mouth". We've chosen to cultivate constituents through information and a call to action to help us "spread the word" about our mission - sidestepping a direct mail appeal until this fall. We are optimistic about responses to a future ask, and plan to continue to maximimize our online presence via Groundspring tools.
Please tell us what you think about Groundspring's Internet services...preferably something quotable.
Groundspring's pricing structure and user friendly tools keep the Internet accessible to non-profits of any size and scope. A great one-stop shop with affordable, effective tools. Thanks, Groundspring!
