191. Who is Ultimately Responsible for Your Org's Volunteer Culture?

Dec 4, 2025

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In this episode of Volunteer Nation Podcast, Tobi Johnson breaks down a common misconception in the nonprofit world: Who is ultimately responsible for shaping your organization’s volunteer culture?

After receiving pushback from a newsletter statement, Tobi walks us through the deeper nuance of volunteer culture, how it forms, why it goes wrong, and most importantly, why the CEO, not the volunteer manager, is the true culture owner.

Whether you’re a leader of volunteers or a senior executive, this episode will give you clarity, relief, and a roadmap for healthier culture-building moving forward!

Full show notes: 191. Who is Ultimately Responsible for Your Org's Volunteer Culture?

Volunteer Culture - Episode Highlights

[02:00] - Why “Vision” = Culture
[03:00] - What Is Volunteer Culture?
[05:00] - The “Emotional Brand” of Your Organization
[07:00] - How Culture Is Formed (Often Invisibly)
[09:00] - Unintentional Culture Builders
[11:00] - Why You Need a Culture Audit
[12:00] - 7 Signs Your Volunteer Culture Is in Trouble
[14:00] - When the Loudest or Most Overwhelmed Person Is Driving Culture
[17:00] - Who is Ultimately Responsible for Volunteer Culture?
[18:00] - Role of Senior Leadership & Department Heads
[20:00] - Role of Volunteer Managers & Direct Supervisors
[22:00] - Role of Volunteers Themselves
[23:00] - What Happens When the Wrong Person Is Steering Culture
[25:00] - Why Volunteer Managers Can’t Shoulder Culture Alone

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Thanks for listening to this episode of the Volunteer Nation podcast. If you enjoyed it, please be sure to subscribe, rate, and review so we can reach more people like you who want to improve the impact of their good cause.

For more tips and notes from the show, check us out at TobiJohnson.com. For any comments or questions, email us at WeCare@VolPro.net.