Beth Steinhorn, President of VQ Volunteer Strategies, discusses funding strategies for volunteer engagement, the importance of integrating volunteer engagement in grant applications, the impact of community connections on volunteer involvement, and embracing volunteer engagement as strategic leadership. The conversation highlights the need for investment in infrastructure and systemic change in volunteer engagement.
Shift volunteer engagement to a strategic framework for showcasing impact and addressing challenges.
Promote local volunteer infrastructure for community connections and relational funding approaches.
Deep dives
Championing Strategic Volunteer Engagement
Embrace the power of language by framing volunteer engagement as a strategic approach for mission fulfillment rather than a mere program. This shift in perspective can help showcase the impact of volunteers, navigate volunteer-related challenges, and elevate the role of volunteer engagement professionals as strategic leaders.
Local Volunteer Engagement Infrastructure: A Relational Investment
Highlight the significance of local volunteer engagement infrastructure in enhancing community connections. By linking volunteers with existing local structures, such as volunteer centers, individuals can humanize infrastructure beyond physical entities and promote relational rather than transactional funding approaches.
Driving Change Through Conversations and Collaboration
Encourage individuals to engage in conversations using resources like the 'Activating the Power of Strategic Volunteer Engagement' guide. By initiating discussions with colleagues, community leaders, and funders, everyone can contribute to demystifying strategic volunteer engagement, fostering collaboration, and uplifting volunteer advocacy efforts.
Unlocking Volunteer Impact Through Strategic Language
Foster the use of strategic language in portraying volunteer engagement as a vital strategy for fulfilling organizational missions. By emphasizing strategic approaches over programmatic views, professionals can unveil volunteer impact, address complex volunteer-related issues, and position themselves as strategic leaders in the field.
As President of VQ Volunteer Strategies, Beth Steinhorn partners with organizations and their leadership to increase impact through strategic and innovative engagement.
The author of multiple books and articles – including serving as co-editor of the recently published book "Transforming Disruption to Impact: Rethinking Volunteer Engagement for a Rapidly Changing World" – she is part of the national conversation about strategic
engagement, frequently provides training on the topic, and consults with organizations throughout the US and Canada.
Transforming Disruption To Impact — https://disruptiontoimpact.com
Leighty Foundation materials on investing in volunteer engagement — http://www.leightyfoundation.org/volunteer-engagement/invest-volunteer-engagement/
Initiative For Strategic Volunteer Engagement — https://strategicvolunteerengagement.org
Music by Zen_Man from Pixabay
Thanks to Awesome Panda for their work editing this episode. Find out more at https://www.awesomepandauk.com
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