Last month, the Validation Training Institute earned the Platinum Seal of Transparency from GuideStar. VTI is proud to have earned the Platinum Seal by sharing our progress and results as well as financial information, to reflect the changes we are making in the world. We are focused on measuring our progress in a way that helps us achieve our mission and vision.
GuideStar is an organization that gathers, organizes and distributes information about U.S. nonprofits. Their database includes 2.7 million nonprofits and annually there are 26 million searches that take place on their platform. By having a GuideStar account, and earning their recognition for the highest level of transparency, we are giving potential funders and supporters an inside look into our organization.
It’s not just about sharing information, it’s also about reflecting the values of Validation. Validation practitioners are honest, respectful, non-judgmental, creative and empathetic. That is also how we want to work as a business, both internally and externally.
We want to respond to your needs whether you are: a family member trying to build a better relationship and communicate with a relative living with cognitive decline, a police officer trying to handle a difficult situation with a lost older woman who is confused, a memory care administrator who is creating a “person-centered” way of working, a professional caregiver who wants to professionally handle difficult situations and enjoy work.
We want to create trusting relationships with funders and potential funders. Not only by showing what we are doing with the money we raise but how effectively we use it to reach the goals we set. Despite the fact that we are an international organization with hundreds of stakeholders, our staff is comprised of a volunteer executive director, a part-time grant writer and manager. Our office is our website. Our volunteer Board of Trustees supports VTI by offering their expertise in marketing, strategic planning, web development, financial planning and research.
As we continue to grow and develop we are pleased to share each step with you, both our successes and our mistakes. We are open to your feedback and welcome you to our international network of people striving to make a difference in the lives of older adults living with cognitive decline.
Vicki de Klerk-Rubin, Validation Training Institute Executive Director