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
Feb 29, 2024 • 37min
99. Volunteer Retention Strategies - Two Big Mistakes
Explore how non-profits can use psychology for volunteer retention, focusing on social proof and emotive communication. Learn about the importance of generating emotions, using clear imagery, and highlighting beginnings and endings. Discover the two key mistakes organizations make in retaining volunteers, and find out how to effectively engage volunteers through emotional appeals and positive messaging.
Feb 22, 2024 • 32min
98. How to Meet Volunteer Needs with 7 Solid Pivots
Tobi Johnson discusses the importance of meeting volunteer needs to sustain operations, with 7 pivotal mindset shifts in volunteer management. Topics include rebuilding volunteer capacity post-COVID, aligning roles with skills, flexibility in volunteer support, budgeting for success, and redefining volunteer engagement for sustainability.
Feb 15, 2024 • 59min
97. Transforming How We Lead Volunteers with Martin J Cowling
Global change management expert Martin J. Cowling discusses the transformative shifts in volunteer management, including selling the impact of volunteering, reconstructing roles for wider engagement, maximizing flexibility, embracing diversity, and measuring the impact on individuals, organizations, and communities. They also explore the influence of social media on volunteering, the need for reimagining communities and legacy organizations, and the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in volunteer management.
Feb 8, 2024 • 38min
96. Volunteer Work or Staff Position? How to Decide!
Toby Johnson discusses the distinction between volunteer work and staff positions, exploring legal definitions, pay, motivation and behavior, roles and expertise, and identity. The importance of understanding the differences between volunteers and paid staff in non-profit organizations is highlighted, along with the impact of staff attitudes towards volunteers on volunteer retention. The chapter also explores the importance of creating volunteer roles that tap into volunteer talents and strategically deploying personnel in volunteer roles.
Feb 1, 2024 • 27min
95. 6 Ways to Immediately Boost Volunteer Signups
Learn tactics to boost volunteer signups by diagnosing issues, increasing personal asks, tracking response time. Use paid ads, website pop-ups, and make presentations to garner attention. Utilize a calendar booking system and highlight signup opportunities on your website.
Jan 25, 2024 • 1h 6min
94. How to Make the Shift from Doer to Nonprofit Leader with Patricia Gentry
Patricia Gentry, strategy advisor at VolunteerPro, joins Tobi to discuss transitioning from doer to nonprofit leader, imposter syndrome and rescuer mentality, shifting to a transformational approach, building accountability, and embracing emerging trends in digital marketing.
Jan 18, 2024 • 30min
93. The 5 Phases of Successful Volunteer Coordination
In this episode, host Tobi explores the five phases of successful volunteer coordination, including Envisioning the Future, Building the Foundation, Growing Engagement, Sustaining Involvement, and Scaling Leadership. She emphasizes the importance of a comprehensive volunteer strategy and having a system for clarity and standardization. Learn about attracting and retaining volunteers, developing a philosophy of volunteer involvement, and improving the volunteer experience.
Jan 11, 2024 • 48min
92. How to Mobilize Volunteers by the Thousands with Dr. Chris Lambert
Dr. Chris Lambert, CEO of Life Remodeled, and host Tobi discuss the transformative power of volunteerism and the grassroots to grass tops approach. They explore engaging communities, repurposing vacant school buildings, aligning volunteer roles with organization goals, and creating authentic experiences for volunteers. They also delve into the power of mindset and hope in mobilizing volunteers.
Jan 4, 2024 • 30min
91. 6 New Years Resolution Ideas for Nonprofits
Learn about New Year's resolution ideas for nonprofits, including finding balance, setting intentions, identifying wins, setting boundaries, and choosing meaningful resolutions for the new year.
Dec 28, 2023 • 46min
90. Improving Volunteer Experiences & Raising More Funds with Kristina Carlson
Kristina Joy Carlson discusses improving volunteer experiences through the KIND method. They explore cultivating deep commitment, creating meaningful connections with volunteers and donors, and boosting fundraising results. They also highlight the potential for volunteers to unite people from diverse backgrounds for common causes, transcending divisions. A must-listen for anyone passionate about exceptional volunteer experiences and positive change.
