Smarter Impact Starts Here
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...
Navigating the Murky Waters of Delegation
In the last week, I’ve interviewed three different volunteer engagement professionals about volunteer retention as their organizations are in various stages of reopening and recovery from the pandemic-related restrictions on volunteer engagement. Interestingly, they all shared one strategy: All are engaging volunteers as leaders in new ways.
Days of Service – Let’s Evolve the Vision
In anticipation of today, the 2021 Martin Luther King Jr. Day, designated as a National Day of Service, I was interviewed by Meghan McCarty Carino for National Public Radio about how organizations have adjusted their MLK Day of Service plans given the pandemic. As is...
A Grateful Note to End 2020
The end of the calendar year is traditionally a time of reflection – looking back on the year’s achievements, challenges, joys, and losses. While 2020 is no different in that regard, our reflections are paired with an urgent desire to put this difficult year behind...
