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FMN Project Codes Explained

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Cover photo: Marilyn Schroeder

Looking for a Project Code?
With 2023 entering the final quarter, this is a good time to review FMN Projects Codes, how to find them, and how to use them in Better Impact (BI).

All VMN chapters are required to develop and maintain a project catalogue in accordance with VMN guidelines. The FMN catalogue taxonomically lists all FMN approved projects. The FMN Project code structure varies in some ways when compared to other Chapters and FMN project codes have a unique format that helps with annual reporting.

The FMN Project Catalog in BI is an up to date, on-line, searchable list of FMN volunteer opportunities organized by areas of interest. A viable resource at your fingertips that lists approved projects for volunteering as an FMN. The full catalog of Project Codes may be viewed from your initial BI screen by clicking on the Opportunities tab and selecting Opportunity List.

The organizing construct is based on VMN Operating Manual guidelines. FMN has nine project categories and one CE component:
1. Admin
2. Birds
3. Community Outreach
4. Habitat creation and restoration
5. Native plants and invasive removal
6. Parks
7. School Engagements
8. Water and wetlands
9. Wildlife Surveys
CE = All Continuing Education (All CE hours are recorded under this)

FMN Project Codes beginning with C = Citizen Science; codes beginning with E = Education/Outreach; and codes beginning with S = Stewardship. C, E, and S codes are distributed throughout the 9 FMN Categories depending on the project description and purpose.

The four-part Project Code format was developed by the FMN IT team when VMN rolled out BI state wide. This format allows the organization of Project Codes to facilitate automated analysis of data for annual reporting requirements. The 4 parts are:
1. FMN category – | 2. Project Code: | 3. Project Title – – | 4. Project Org

Following are 4 examples to illustrate format and usage:

1. Birds – C034: Bluebird Trails – – VA Bluebird Society

Project code C034 covers monitoring bluebird boxes exclusively along the Bluebird Trail as prescribed by the Virginia Bluebird Society (VBS). Activities must be organized by VBS and data reported to VBS. The Project Org is VBS. However, Fairfax county parks also provide bluebird box monitoring opportunities. So for activities on park property, hours would be charged to Parks code C106 with data reported to FCPA. Understanding the Project Org is important.

2. Parks – C106: FCPA Citizen Science Programs — Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA)
Project code C106 covers most citizen science projects on FCPA park property as identified in the project description. Monitoring vernal pools, duck boxes, and bluebird boxes are examples. Data is reported to FCPA by the volunteer. The Project Organization is FCPA. Reading Project description is helpful in choosing the correct code to use.

3. Community Outreach – E543: Education and Outreach — FMN
Project Code E543 is for educational, community outreach projects (tabling, teaching, instructing) as defined in the project description. The Project Organization is FMN.

4. Parks – S179: Virginia State Park Stewardship Projects — Department of Conservation & Recreation (VDCR)
Project code S179 is used for Stewardship projects on State park property. For example, the physical planting of native plants, the removal of invasive plants, or shoreline cleanup. VDCR is the sponsor Project Org for the code.

Project Org (part 4 of a code) is the value entered into the Project Organization field in the BI template when recording your service hours. Just copy that value into the Project Organization field. No need to guess. Project Organization entry should always match part 4 of a Project Code; never needs to be ‘n/a’.

Photo: Jerry Nissley

There are multiple Project Codes under each category and admittedly, some appear duplicative between categories. We are working to improve that so if in doubt please ask.

Generally though, a Project Code can be found by understanding what category a project falls under, determining if the project is Citizen Science, Stewardship, or Educational outreach, and then reading the project title and description.

Of course, the Projects/Hours Committee will continue to be at your service to answer future questions at [email protected].

For additional insight into Project codes:

The VMN Policy Handbook may be read here: VMN Manual 

The FMN Operating Handbook may be read here: FMN Handbook

Click on the video link to view a BI Video and push ahead to 9:05 mark to see how VMN explains using the Opportunities List and Calendar to view Projects or Activities. Take note that FMN historically uses ‘unscheduled’ Project Opportunities. We only use the Calendar function to schedule CE events.

A Look Behind the Curtains – Project Codes

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Cover photo: Jerry Nissley

As experienced FMN volunteers most of us have logged into Better Impact (BI) to record hours of service or CE. Because of this, from time to time the Projects/Hours Committee receives questions via [email protected] asking about how to record hours or how to best identify service codes to use for a given project. Given that there are those occasional questions and that there have been some subtle changes to BI over time, we thought a behind the curtains look into the intricacies of FMN Project Codes may be helpful. So strap in and welcome to the most exciting ride of your life through the wild kingdom of Project Codes. [Exciting ride? Isn’t that a little over the top? Ok that’s probably gratuitous-hype but who’s going to read a boring article on ‘process and policy’? Bleh. Let’s move along.]

At chapter inception, FMN developed and continues to maintain a service/project catalogue in accordance with reporting requirements and responsibilities that all chapters have to state level VMN. The FMN catalogue lists all approved FMN projects and it is required by VMN in order to maintain insurance liabilities in case of incidents while volunteering. By recording hours in a timely fashion, the FMN volunteer provides partial but verifiable evidence to help VMN protect the volunteer in case there is an incident. Accumulated hours, reported annually to VMN, also support our sponsor agencies by providing documentation that benefits their funding profiles. The Project Catalog may also be considered a valuable, readable list of FMN volunteer opportunities organized by areas of interest. It is an informative resource at your fingertips to provide legit ideas to fuel your volunteer cravings. It’s better than ice cream! [Whoa… hold on there partner … better than ice cream? Ok, I give. That is a ridiculous thought. Let’s continue.]

As an organizing construct, FMN has nine project categories and one CE component:
1. Admin
2. Birds
3. Community Outreach
4. Habitat creation and restoration
5. Native plants and invasive removal
6. Parks
7. School Engagements
8. Water and wetlands
9. Wildlife Surveys
CE = All Continuing Education

Project codes are further classified as either Citizen Science, Education/Outreach, or Stewardship. Project codes beginning with C = Citizen Science; codes beginning with E = Education/Outreach; and codes beginning with S = Stewardship. C, E, or S codes are distributed throughout the FMN Categories (except for Admin and CE) depending on the project description and purpose.
The four-part Project Code was developed by the FMN IT team. This format allows codes to be correctly cataloged and supports automated extraction of data for annual reporting requirements. The parts are:
1. FMN category – | 2. Project Code: | 3. Project Title – – | 4. Project Org

FMN category – Project Code: Project Title – – Project Org

Here are 3 examples:
Parks – C106: FCPA Citizen Science Programs — Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA)
Project code C106 covers most citizen science projects on park property sponsored by FCPA for which FMN volunteers may contribute hours as identified in the project description .

Community Outreach – E543: Education and Outreach — FMN
Project Code E543 is for educational, community outreach project hours (tabling, teaching, instructing) contributed by FMN volunteers as defined in the project description.

Native plants and invasive removal – S861: Plant NoVA Trees – – Department of Forestry (VDoF)
Project Code S861 identifies stewardship projects organized by the organization Plant NoVA Trees for the physical planting of native plants or removal of invasive plants for which FMN contributes hours. VDoF is a sponsor of Plant NoVA Trees and VMN and the project org.

Project Org (part 4) is the value entered into the Project Organization field, which is the last required field in the template when recording service hours. [Wait, what? So you never have to guess at what to enter? That’s right.  Just copy that value in as the Project Organization and be done. Let’s move along. The article is getting way too long; we’re losing readers; almost done.]

New projects may be requested by FMN volunteers at any time by submitting a Project Proposal form. The form is available on the VMN web site buried in their vast reference libraries, so it is easier to request a form by emailing a request to [email protected]. The Hours Committee will send a blank form and a pre-filled sample form for guidance –  [no questions asked, he says sotto voce]. Once the form is returned, the Projects/Hours Committee will review it to make sure the project does not fall under the purview of an existing project. If the project is deemed unique, it will be evaluated for approval. [At which time questions will be asked? Yes. That’s what we do. But we do it for you. Hey – that could be a Projects/Hours Committee logo or catch phrase; bumper stickers, hats. Stop it! Just end the article already!]

There you have it – a peek into the BI project code structure as tailored by FMN. Of course, the Projects/Hours Committee will continue to be at your service to answer future questions, so fire away.