Volunteer Nation

In this week’s episode, Tobi offers a peek behind the curtain at the process of developing new VolunteerPro curriculum – in this case, for our newly updated VolunteerPro Membership learning hub!She’s also sharing some of her key takeaways when it comes to developing online learning that will be enormously helpful to anyone tasked with developing new training for volunteers or coworkers.Full show notes: 049-Behind the Scenes at Our VolunteerPro Membership Makeover! - Tobi Johnson & AssociatesThanks 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.

In this week’s episode, we welcome guest Dr. Mary Hyde from AmeriCorps to share some fascinating results from the most recent Volunteer Engagement and Civic Life census supplement.  These results shine a light on both the enduring spirit of volunteerism in America – even during the height of the pandemic – and what the data can tell us about future trends in formal and informal volunteering.  The latest Volunteering and Civic Engagement in America survey was conducted during the Covid-19 pandemic, and while the results showed an expected drop in formal volunteering (giving time freely to help others through an organization), there was actually no drop in informal volunteering (giving time freely to help others outside of an organizational context) nationwide. These results contradict the pervasive sense that “people just don’t want to volunteer anymore.” Rather, it highlights the ongoing desire of individuals to serve their neighbors and communities in personally meaningful ways, without necessarily feeling the need to do so within the structure of a formal organization.  Full show notes: 048-New Statistics on Volunteering & Civic Life with Dr Mary Hyde - Tobi Johnson & AssociatesThanks 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.

In this week’s episode, we welcome guests Dr. Sue Carter Kahl and Dr. Nathan Dietz to discuss two fascinating new studies on the state of volunteer engagement.These reports offer the unique perspectives and feedback of nonprofit CEOs and funders and it is enlightening to view the value of volunteer service through their eyes, especially as it relates to program funding.Full show notes: 047-The State of Volunteer Engagement with Dr. Sue Kahl and Dr. Nathan Dietz - Tobi Johnson & AssociatesThanks 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.

Soccer is all about moving the ball down the field as efficiently as possible and making a goal before your opponent has a chance to catch up. And if you’ve watched one particular Premier League team this year (looking at you, Chelsea!), you’ve seen them lose many opportunities to score because they hesitate and take one too many steps before taking a shot on goal (and if you’re nearby, you may have heard Tobi yelling at the television!).Volunteers can often, unintentionally, get stuck by those same feelings of hesitation. They know they need to move toward the goal, but they’re not entirely sure of the steps to get there. So, they dribble the ball, stalling, waiting for clearer instruction on their next move from the coach or their teammates.This is where clear volunteer management systems come into play. These procedures are the playbook by which volunteers can know, and quickly act on, the next right step to accomplish the goals that your organization has established.Full show notes: 046-Save Time with Better Volunteer Management Systems - Tobi Johnson & AssociatesThanks 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.

Learn how to create a top-notch volunteer experience and improve retention. Strategies include creating a purposeful user experience, addressing emotional journey, and reinforcing the decision of new volunteers. Explore the significance of safety, satisfaction, and connection in retaining volunteers. Understand volunteer engagement and retention metrics. Discover three key strategies for improving retention: thinking like an architect, understanding human nature, and using data.

When we think about recruiting volunteers, too often we focus on pushing out a big appeal as many times as possible on as many platforms as possible. But…what if you could apply some strategy and creativity to the process to reach the right people for your call to action and offer more meaningful volunteer opportunities?In this episode, Tobi offers six creative ways to recruit volunteers along with some fresh thinking around that evergreen task: volunteer recruitment.Full show notes: 044-6 Creative Ways to Recruit Volunteers - Tobi Johnson & AssociatesThanks 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.

In this year’s Volunteer Management Progress Report, both time and volunteer recruitment were top challenges for leaders of volunteers. Just imagine if you could bring more program development and recruitment assistance onboard through AmeriCorps grants and resources – how would that change your trajectory for 2023?On this episode, we welcome expert Sharon Tewksbury-Bloom to discuss best practices for including AmeriCorps service workers in your organization’s mission, how to partner with other participating local organizations to expand your capacity, and the steps you can take when applying for AmeriCorps grants.Full show notes: 043-How to Tap AmeriCorps Grants & Resources with Sharon Tewksbury-Bloom - Tobi Johnson & AssociatesThanks 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.

We often think that, just because our marketing isn’t delivering the results we want, people in the community aren’t interested in our cause or volunteering in general. It’s an easy assumption to make, but the truth is that if you make even a few small changes in your approach, you can realize some big results.In this week’s episode, Tobi looks at five big reasons why your volunteer recruitment isn’t working, and shares some fresh ideas on what to do instead.Full show notes: 042-Why Your Volunteer Recruitment Isn't Working - Tobi Johnson & AssociatesThanks 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.

Every year the Volunteer Management Progress Report survey includes the following question: “What is your biggest challenge?” Survey participants are allowed to share answers as short or as long as needed to express their thoughts, and responses run the gamut from brief and to-the-point like “recruitment” to compelling stories of individual struggles and courage in the face of adversity.In this week’s episode, Tobi continues her conversation with VolunteerPro’s Marketing Manager Jamie Gaylor about the top challenges revealed by the answers to that question and offers her expert advice on how to overcome those issues effectively in the coming year.Full show notes: 041-Volunteer Management Trends for 2023, Part 2 - Tobi Johnson & AssociatesThanks 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.

Ever wondered how the results for VolPro’s annual Volunteer Management Progress Report are tabulated and analyzed? In this week’s episode, Tobi is joined by VolPro’s Marketing Manager Jamie Gaylor to discuss the behind-the-scenes effort that goes into producing this report each year, and what the results indicate for volunteer management trends in 2023.Full show notes: 040-Volunteer Management Trends for 2023, Part 1 - Tobi Johnson & AssociatesThanks 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.