Smarter Impact Starts Here
Be Bold… Lessons for Volunteer Engagement Professionals
by Beth Steinhorn, President, VQ Volunteer Strategies This morning, after nine months of research, design, and preparation, I excitedly sat in the launch of a three-day training for engagement specialists of the American Red Cross – all designed around the theme of...
Reinvent the Wheel or Develop Something New?
To Reinvent the Wheel – or to Develop Something Totally New? That is the question. These days, when someone asks a question about a best practice or tool, all it usually takes to find the answer is a quick online search… or, perhaps, a phone call to colleagues. But...
X, Y, and Introducing Generation Z!
Many different things can indicate “coming of age” … but when it comes to a generation as a whole, one factor could certainly be the act of receiving a distinct generational name. That just happened for the generation after Millennials – those born after 1996 – who...
Dear VQ… I want to be an Executive Director
A few days ago, I received an intriguing message from a volunteer manager who had been in one of my conference sessions last year. It was the first time I had received this question – but I must believe that many others are aspiring to leadership positions and have...
Power of the Personal Ask
One of the top challenges expressed by volunteer engagement professionals is recruitment – whether finding the right volunteers or inspiring and equipping others (volunteers or staff) to recruit new volunteers on behalf of the organization. When volunteer directors...
Scholarship Opportunity for Points of Light Conference 2019
Once again, we are excited to announce the return of the Jill Friedman Fixler Professional Development Scholarship for Points of Light Conference. In the years since her death, Jill's family has generously partnered with Points of Light to honor her memory with a...
Showcase YOUR Impact at Points of Light 2019
Colleagues, there's still time to showcase YOUR impact! YOU are invited to contribute to the Volunteer Engagement Plenary, “Embracing Your Role as a Catalyst for Impact.” Help us demonstrate how volunteering creates ripples of impact through not only the...
Planning: Your Path to Leading the Way
Boulder, Colorado is nestled in the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. Like many cities, Boulder had volunteer programs in many of the city agencies – from libraries to parks & recreation. That worked well for the city, or so they thought, until everything changed over the course of one week in September 2013, when Boulder experienced unprecedented rain. The resulting flooding was catastrophic, destroying 1500 homes, rendering roads impassable, and killing eight people. As the rains were still falling, Boulder residents stepped up to volunteer – as did thousands arriving from far off states. But the city was not ready to engage them. As a result, developing a city-wide engagement strategy became an integral part of the city’s resiliency planning.
Reunion Day! A Time for Stories
Today was one of my favorite days: “Reunion Day!” I spent all day with the ten teams that participated in the 2018 HIVE Initiative. HIVE (High Impact Volunteer Engagement) is an initiative of the New Hampshire Center for Nonprofits (in partnership with Volunteer New...
Recognition vs. Acknowledgment
With fires blazing across the American West, hurricanes approaching our coastlines, and floods rising in the Midwest, I am grateful again for the first responders and the thousands of volunteers who leave the comforts of their homes to help others find safety and...
