National Peace Corps Association

-A bigger, better Peace Corps with increased funding to support 10,000 volunteers and the programs and policies they need to thrive during their service and beyond

-A thriving community with a network of 250 affiliate groups with the capacity to engage 225,000 members who are empowered to act on their ideals

-Amplified development impact through partnerships that increase access to financial/technical resources, expanding impact opportunities for individuals and groups

A bigger, better Peace Corps: In 2017, NPCA expanded the Peace Corps community's capacity for advocacy impact through an innovative email-campaign tool and multiplying face-to-face meetings with Members of Congress, resulting in record-breaking signatures on the annual Peace Corps Funding Letter as well as unprecedented healthcare legislation.

A thriving community: In 2017, 16 new groups formed, expanding the size and diversity of our affiliate network. NPCA provides these nascent groups with mentoring in organizational development as well as technical support, while promoting and championing their causes. Affiliate groups seek greater impact, and for this they need improved member engagement and connectivity with other groups. Enter NPCA's website and community builder platform. Following the 2016 rollout, the demand to join the platform has been overwhelming, with dozens of affiliate groups already in the pipeline.

Amplified development impact: In 2017, NPCA expanded the Community Fund-a bold resource-mobilizing, cause-oriented investment vehicle that catalyzes the Peace Corps community as a movement for peace and prosperity. The Community Fund focuses resources for PCV and RPCV development initiatives in three impact areas: water and sanitation, girls' empowerment and education, and microenterprise.

To achieve our ambitious goals, NPCA will implement an unprecedented organizational capacity-building action plan, extending the flagship capacity-building investments as follows:

-Board Development-Led by a board of directors that includes experts in the fields of advocacy, social entrepreneurship, and public-private partnerships, NPCA will adopt a realigned governance and management structure

-Staff development-Over the next five years, we will expand our skeleton staff by hiring innovative and entrepreneurial professionals in administration, finance, communications, and IT that will permit us to make our community the best it can be

-Technical development-we will acquire essential new technology to innovatively engage our growing community, particularly millennials and generation Xers. We will also build an improved cloud-based informational backbone to fuel productivity

Our organization strives for:

-A Peace Corps of 10,000 strong. Key Strategies: 1) Building Peace Corps community capacity for sustained advocacy and 2) Engaging with Congress, the Office of Management and Budget, the White House, and the private sector to achieve a larger Peace Corps budget and the legislation needed to improve and expand its operations. Impact: 3,000 more PCVs annually who can effectively advance sustainable human development and cross-cultural understanding and a corresponding surge in RPCVs with potential for lifelong commitment to Peace Corps ideals.

-A Network of 250 affiliate groups engaging 125,000 individuals acting on their ideals. Key strategies: 1) Increase the number of affiliate groups, 2) Provide technical and organizational support to affiliate groups, and 3) Facilitate leadership of community-based and nation-wide campaigns on issues that members care about most, so as to build our community's capacity for collective action. Impact: A thriving community mobilized to act on their ideals of greater prosperity, understanding, and peace.

-Exponentially increase our Peace Corps community's impact. Key strategies: 1) Partner with like-minded organizations who will engage (R) PCVs in their projects and programs, 2) Build a powerful vehicle to attract and disperse funds, and 3) Ensure that these community-based initiatives have the technical support they need for success, so that more individuals, corporations, and foundations will have expanded opportunities to advance Peace Corps ideals.