Volunteer Nation

Do your coworkers understand and celebrate the value of volunteers within your organization? If the recurring questions we receive here at VolunteerPro are any indication, the answer may be “not yet.” We often see comments in the Volunteer Insiders (our free Facebook group) and in our VolunteerPro Premium Membership community that are tinged with a little bit of frustration.  Leaders of volunteers want to know how they can bring their co-workers along, the ones who don't understand the value of volunteers, treat them as second-tier help, or are downright resistant to having them in their departments. Lack of support and buy-in from paid staff is actually one of the top five challenges cited by leaders of volunteers each year in our Volunteer Management Progress Report. It is a pervasive concern for many, and it’s not something we can wave a magic wand at and solve overnight.  The good news: changing the viewpoint of your coworkers and executive leadership to help them see the value of volunteers definitely won’t happen overnight, but it CAN happen with intentional relationship building and influence.  In this episode, Tobi shares five steps for building that relational influence so that, as a leader of volunteers, you can effectively advocate for your team, collaborate to place volunteer talent within your organization, and get the respect and support your volunteers deserve.   Full show notes: 009 - Helping Nonprofit Employees See the Value of VolunteersThanks 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.

It is a common occurrence in sports: an athlete who seems to constantly struggle on one team gets traded and suddenly becomes a high-scoring star player. People are surprised by the perceived turnaround of the athlete but in reality, it is evidence of the importance in finding the right team to maximize your knowledge, skill, and talent.That’s what this week’s episode is all about. More specifically, it will help you answer the question: what team should the volunteer manager or volunteer services department be on? In other words, where should volunteer services live on your org chart?Full show notes: 008 - Where Should Volunteer Services Live at Your NonprofitThanks 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.

This week we’re talking about “community capital,” the incredible unique value that every volunteer brings to the organizations in which they choose to serve.   It’s easy to see volunteers as simply an extra pair of helping hands, but they are so much more! Each volunteer carries within them a lifetime of experience, education, personal and socioeconomic background, and relationships. These all combine to create a unique worldview and a powerful singular value called “community capital.”  In this episode, Tobi explores the true value of volunteers from all walks of life through the lens of this community capital and invites you to consider how the contributions of individual volunteers benefit the community as a whole. Full show notes: 007 - The Power of Volunteers as Community CapitalThanks 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.

This week we’re talking about how to show appreciation for your team with a 4-Part Power Thank You letter for volunteers. When we talk about volunteer appreciation, so often we think of banquets, branded gifts, or fancy plaques. However, appreciation doesn’t have to cost a dime, and we shouldn’t wait until an annual banquet to celebrate our volunteers and their service to our programs. You can show gratitude for your team every day with a simple thank you letter for volunteers.  Many volunteers don't want nonprofits to spend limited resources on plaques, pins, or slick email campaigns. Volunteers don't really want stuff, but they do want to be acknowledged, and it’s important to cultivate a culture of appreciation. There's an abundance of research that tells us this. Gratitude boosts optimism and resilience. Expressing and experiencing gratitude gives us greater tendencies towards positivity. Gratitude and respect in the workplace can help workers feel embedded in their organization, welcomed and valued. Research shows that gratitude creates more gratitude, and even inspires more giving.  Writing thank-you notes may seem daunting at first, but it’s easy once you get started. In this episode, I give you a simple but effective 4-part template to use when expressing your own powerful thank you to volunteers, as well as easy ways to implement an intentional culture of daily appreciation within your organization.  If you're a nonprofit leader, volunteer coordinator or a volunteer yourself, we hope this podcast will help you acknowledge the efforts of volunteers, both large and small. There is power in positive feedback. Show volunteers you believe in them in words and actions, and create a grateful, happier, and more productive workplace as well.Full show notes: 006 - The 4-Part Power Thank You Letter for VolunteersThanks 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.

Think of your nonprofit website like a party and imagine yourself as a newcomer.  Is the party you just entered so chaotic, confusing, and disorganized that you don’t know where to go or what to do?   Or is it so quiet and empty that the only thing you want to do is leave?  Or perhaps, is it a place where you feel welcomed, know exactly what to do, and were introduced to others?  This is how your nonprofit website should feel to prospective volunteers. Unfortunately, most nonprofit websites are not optimized to build relationships with visitors and convert them into potential volunteers.  In this episode, Tobi shares eight mistakes commonly made on nonprofit websites when it comes to attracting new volunteers, based on key assumptions about the audience and volunteers in general. She also offers tips on what to do instead to improve the experience of your website visitors.The good news is, whether you are the website designer at your organization, or you have input into what's included, this podcast episode will help you design a better experience for the party that people want to attend, stay at, and connect.  Full show notes: 005 - 8 Ways Your Nonprofit Website is Failing to Attract VolunteersThanks 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 episode, we’re ditching the spreadsheets and talking about how the right volunteer management software can actually expand your organization’s reach, add value, and maybe even attract new volunteers. This week’s guest is Tony Goodrow of Better Impact. With years of experience and a wealth of knowledge, Tony shares nine good reasons to replace your manual scheduling and data tracking with dedicated software, and he addresses how to overcome some of the barriers holding you back from taking that leap. Tobi shares her experience as a local volunteer in her community, and the difference good volunteer management software makes from that perspective.  We’re addressing budget concerns, fear of change, and what software automation really means for volunteer managers. (Hint: it helps, not hurts!)  If volunteer management software seems a little scary, or you’ve wondered how to take that next step, this podcast is for you! Full show notes: 004 - Why Volunteer Management Software Matters with Tony GoodrowThanks 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’re talking about the scarcity mindset, how it blocks your potential, and how it can affect your volunteer program.  At nonprofits, a scarcity mindset can pervade how budgets, resources, and staffing are approached. It blocks an organization’s ability to grow volunteer involvement and scale its impact. It can affect our self-care and can result in burnout and turnover.  Because it is so pervasive, it can also be very hard to pinpoint. It simply becomes part of an organization’s culture and way of being.  It feels “normal.” In this episode, Tobi will help you identify facets of the scarcity mindset with a Scarcity Self-Assessment, including nine common ways limiting beliefs might be showing up in your volunteer program or organization.  She will also give you five practical ways to counteract scarcity mindsets by cultivating an attitude of abundance. Equipped with a fresh perspective and enabling beliefs, you will be better equipped to maximize the full potential of your volunteer team and get greater traction on your big goals. You will transform scarcity into abundance. You might recognize some of your own thought patterns in this episode but be encouraged! Moving from a scarcity mindset to abundance is possible, and this episode will help inspire you along your journey. Full show notes: 003 - Moving From a Scarcity Mindset To AbundanceThanks 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.

Welcome back to Volunteer Nation!  This week we’re talking about how to recruit volunteers to your organization by build a following first.  In this episode, you'll learn specific volunteer recruitment tips on how to grow and engage with your community. You’ll hear some surprising stats on today’s social media engagement rates (they’re probably not what you thought!) that can help you use your time wisely. Also, you’ll get several ideas for list-building “freebies” (or “lead magnets”), and we offer six specific examples of types of freebies you can use pique the interest of potential volunteers and education them about your good cause so that you can recruit volunteers more easily from a ready pool of people who already know, like, and trust you. Finally, to help you plan your entire communications strategy to recruit volunteers, we suggest five different types of content you can share with your list on a regular basis t continue to cultivate their interest in joining you during your next volunteer recruitment call to action.Full show notes: 002 - How To Recruit Volunteers by Building a Following FirstThanks 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.

Welcome to Volunteer Nation!  I’m your host Tobi Johnson and after over 25 years working in nonprofits, public sector agencies, and grassroots campaigns there’s one thing I’ve learned – you can’t go it alone. If you truly want to bring about BIG change for the better, you need a strong, dedicated community in your corner. But it isn’t always easy, is it? That’s why I created this podcast. Each week I share practical tips and advice to help your cause, charity, campaign, or company build, grow, and scale exceptional volunteer talent. If you’re ready to harness the power of people to fuel your good work, you’re in exactly the right place. The COVID-19 Pandemic has had a significant impact on volunteer-involving organizations and on the rates of volunteerism around the world. But there is a light at the end of the tunnel. In this episode, I share how sometimes a bad thing can be a catalyst for a better way. I also share eight reasons volunteers are important, if not essential, in today's world. Hit subscribe and join the Volunteer Nation!Full show notes: 001 - Welcome to the Volunteer Nation PodcastThanks 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.