
Volunteer Nation
Nonprofit leadership author, coach, and expert Tobi Johnson shares weekly tips to help charities build, grow, and scale exceptional volunteer teams. Discover how your nonprofit can effectively coordinate volunteers who are reliable, equipped, and ready to help you bring about BIG change for the better. Rather than continuing to “do more with less,” achieve abundance for your organization by engaging community talent that helps you do more with more. Society is evolving and so, too, is volunteerism. With over 25 years of experience working in nonprofits, public sector agencies, and grassroots campaigns Tobi is known for her modern “big hat” thinking and straight talk about what it takes to achieve success in today’s world. You will learn how to coordinate volunteers, improve the volunteer experience, recruit volunteers, appreciate volunteers, and do it all more efficiently with the right volunteer management software and digital tools. It’s a mix of interviews and solo shows you’re not going to want to miss. So, if you’re ready to ditch the stress and harness the power of people to fuel your good work, you’re in exactly the right place. Hit subscribe and let’s DO this!
Latest episodes

Aug 3, 2023 • 25min
69. Why Are Volunteers Important ... or Are They?
In this episode, Tobi explore the question that lies at the heart of it all: "Why are volunteers important?" We'll delve into the crucial role volunteers play in the success and sustainability of nonprofits, how they bring invaluable support and expertise, and why they are essential for fulfilling missions and making a true impact on society.Full show notes: 069. Why Are Volunteers Important ... or Are They?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.

Jul 27, 2023 • 30min
68. Match Volunteers for Joy & Purpose
In this episode, Tobi dives into the art of volunteer matching and how it can transform the volunteer experience. We know how important it is for organizations to ensure that volunteers are a perfect fit in terms of mission, values, and organizational culture. Matching volunteers goes beyond simply filling shifts; it's about finding where they will flourish, harnessing their skills and interests, and aligning them with the organization's mission and values. Matching volunteers to the right roles not only brings them joy and fulfillment but also maximizes their impact.Full show notes: 068. Match Volunteers for Joy & PurposeThanks 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.

Jul 20, 2023 • 35min
67. How to Set Up a New Volunteer Coordinator for Success
In this episode, Tobi dives into the topic of setting up a new volunteer coordinator for success. With the challenges of engaging busy individuals who have stopped volunteering due to the pandemic, it is crucial for volunteer coordinators to focus on building relationships, recruiting new volunteers, and engaging with the community. Full show notes: 067. How to Set Up a New Volunteer Coordinator for SuccessThanks 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.

Jul 13, 2023 • 55min
66. Partnering with Corporate Employee Volunteer Programs with Lynn Margherio
In this episode, Tobi interviews Lynn Margherio about the importance of partnering with corporate employee volunteer programs and how this collaboration can benefit nonprofits in terms of impact and engagement. Skilled volunteers can bring immense talent, expertise, and financial support to nonprofits. However, many nonprofits are hesitant to connect with employee volunteer programs. Full show notes: 066. Partnering with Corporate Employee Volunteer Programs with Lynn MargherioThanks 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.

Jul 6, 2023 • 30min
65. Using Email to Improve Volunteer Retention – Part 2
In this episode, we continue to explore strategies to improve volunteer retention and satisfaction, we’re excited to dive deeper into the power of email as a communication tool. While face-to-face interactions are preferred, we understand that sometimes it’s not always possible to have that personal touch. That’s where technology, specifically email, comes in.Full show notes: 065. Using Email to Improve Volunteer Retention – Part 2Thanks 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.

Jun 29, 2023 • 24min
64. Using Email to Improve Volunteer Retention – Part 1
In this episode, Tobi dives into the world of communication strategies and explore how leveraging email can significantly improve volunteer retention. But before we get into the details, let's take a moment to understand why email remains a vital tool in today's ever-changing digital landscape.Email offers a unique solution, allowing you to own your list of subscribers and ensuring direct communication with your volunteers. In part one of this two-part episode, we delve into the advantages of email over social media, debunk common concerns, and discuss the benefits of targeted messaging.Full show notes: 064. Using Email to Improve Volunteer Retention – Part 1Thanks 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.

Jun 22, 2023 • 56min
63. How to Make Better Decisions with Rishma Walji
In this episode, Tobi had an insightful conversation with Rishma Walji on how to make better decisions. Knowing who you are, how you want to show up, and what's essential to you, is crucial in maintaining boundaries, preventing people from taking advantage of you, and ultimately making better decisions.Rishma Walji is trained as a Naturopathic Doctor and PhD. She spent over 20 years in clinical practice helping patients make big decisions about health, hormones and family. She's currently writing a book about intentional decision making. A lot of her work is related to awareness and emotion that can either guide or mislead our life choices. She is host of the XO Conversations Podcast and a TEDx speaker.Full show notes: 063. How to Make Better Decisions with Rishma WaljiThanks 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.

Jun 15, 2023 • 29min
62. 10 Ways to Create an Exceptional Volunteer Experience
Volunteering is an activity that brings communities together and allows people to give back in a meaningful way. However, not all volunteer experiences are created equal. To truly make an impact, organizations must focus on creating exceptional volunteer experiences that not only benefit the organization, but also empower and motivate the volunteers.In today's episode, Tobi discusses different strategies and ideas for improving the volunteer experience. From creating a culture of learning to valuing volunteers' lived experiences, the podcast covers a wide range of topics related to successful volunteerism.Full show notes: 062. 10 Ways to Create an Exceptional Volunteer ExperienceThanks 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.

Jun 8, 2023 • 31min
61. Training for Nonprofits - How We've Got it All Wrong
In today's episode, Tobi discusses about training for nonprofits and how we've got it all wrong. When we do launches and promotions at VolunteerPro, we ask our audience of followers why they didn't buy. We want to know what are the barriers that our community of leaders of volunteers and volunteer driven organizations are coming up against when it comes to enrolling in something that can help them get traction and gain better results. The top four reasons on the recent result broke our hearts. Full show notes: 061. Training for Nonprofits - How We've Got it All WrongThanks 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.

Jun 1, 2023 • 58min
60. Giving Circles and Collective Philanthropy with Sara Lomelin
In today’s episode, Tobi interviews Sara Lomelin who is an expert in Giving Circles and collective philanthropy. Here at VolunteerPro, we’re also very interested in doing that when it comes to community engagement, volunteer talent, and thinking about new ways we can engage the community in our missions, which is the most important thing right now.Full show notes: 060– Giving Circles and Collective Philanthropy with Sara LomelinThanks 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.