Smarter Impact Starts Here
New eToolkit: Engaging Virtual Volunteers
Volunteers have served virtually for decades, but now, the need for engaging volunteers to serve remotely is greater than ever, and the technology to support such engagement is more accessible and accepted than ever. Regulations and concerns over the COVID-19 pandemic...
When is the 3 o’clock Parade?
With the 2022 Points of Light Conference on Volunteering and Service confirmed as a hybrid event -- with the onsite location confirmed at Disney's Coronado Springs Resort -- I can't help but think of this blog we shared back in 2016. Enjoy this encore publication of...
Building on Skills-Based Success
Like many nonprofit supporting organizations, the NH Center for Nonprofits organizes the state’s nonprofit “Gives” day, helping to raise and distribute funds to support New Hampshire’s nonprofits. Deborah Clark, who manages the NH Gives Day, received a call in spring...
Open vs. Welcoming Volunteer Engagement
Nice leaders water down direct and constructive feedback wanting to be nice and to be liked…. Kind leaders deliver difficult information in a kind way. They treat others as they would want to be treated: fair, balanced, emotionally aware, but they also don’t let staff...
Loss and Grief in Volunteer Engagement
In the last two weeks alone, six different people said to me, “I am still grieving,” “I am mourning,” or “I am still dealing with feelings of loss.” Nearly all these comments were made in different conversations. It was notable after the second occurrence, but by the sixth, it was un-ignorable.
Family Volunteering – All Together Now!
November 20, 2021 is Family Volunteer Day – a global day of service that celebrates the power of families who work together to support their communities and neighborhoods. For generations, parents and their children have responded to the needs of neighbors,...
The Power of Pretzels
Sometime after two hours on the tarmac last Saturday, the flight attendants kindly walked up and down the aisle offering a little snack bag containing a mini bottle of water, a small pack of cookies, and, of course, pretzels. Clearly these were meant to be distributed...
Avoiding Conflict: It’s All about Expectations
As I prepare to deliver a training today on navigating sticky situations with volunteers for a statewide network of food banks, I am reminded once again of my favorite statement about conflict: Conflict occurs when we demand and expect others to behave in a way that...
Another New eToolkit: Engaging Volunteer Leaders
Volunteer leaders can build the capacity of staff throughout an organization, yet many professionals are reluctant to empower volunteer leaders because they are uncomfortable delegating responsibilities. Effectively advocating for volunteer leadership requires not...
Training Tips, Tactics, and Tools: Building a Comprehensive Training Plan
While the COVID-19 pandemic has greatly accelerated the adoption of virtual training, online training is not the only way to equip volunteers and staff for success – though it is a valuable piece of effective training. This brief video introduces the elements of a...
