Smarter Impact Starts Here
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...
Building Leadership Support through Good Goals and Meaningful Metrics
The COVID-19 pandemic has forced many organizations to rethink how they do business, including how volunteers serve. These new practices don’t necessarily fit into traditional methods of measuring the impact of volunteer involvement – yet they are impactful. New...
Planning for the New 3 Rs of Engagement: COVID-19 Recovery, Reopening, and Return
As organizations begin to recover, reopen, and return to more normalized operations after the pandemic, developing a plan for how to safely and strategically engage volunteers will help ensure that volunteers can be partners in driving impact and achieving mission....
Finding the Right Volunteer Opportunity
Have you seen the latest issue of Civic Life Today magazine? April's issue focuses on -- you guessed it -- volunteering! VQ Volunteer Strategies contributed a checklist to help individuals find the "Right Opportunity" for volunteering. How will your organization stack...
New eToolkit on Recruiting and Retaining Volunteers Amid Uncertainty
Volunteer engagement has been evolving for years, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, organizations were forced to accelerate change at an unprecedented rate. With only a few exceptions, organizations either chose to adapt or temporarily shut down their volunteer...
