In this episode of Volunteer Nation, Tobi Johnson addresses a persistent and deeply rooted challenge in the nonprofit sector: the lack of buy-in and active support for volunteers across entire organizations—not just within volunteer departments. Drawing from the VolunteerPro Impact Lab seminar and a decade of data from the Volunteer Management Progress Report, Tobi urges nonprofit executives to reframe volunteer support as a staff performance issue, not a matter of personal "buy-in." 

She shares practical strategies for building a culture where volunteers are valued, supported, and integrated throughout all levels of an organization. If your nonprofit depends on volunteer talent, this episode is essential listening. 

Full show notes: 168. Note to Nonprofit Execs - Supporting Volunteers is Everyone's Job 

Supporting Volunteers - Episode Highlights 

• [02:00] - Why most staff don’t see volunteer support as part of their role 
• [08:00] - The systemic issues behind poor staff engagement with volunteers 
• [12:00] - Why the issue isn’t just buy-in—it’s employee performance 
• [14:00] - The need for clear expectations and accountability from leadership 
• [15:00] - The 4 pillars of employee performance 
• [19:00] - The power of mindset: choosing abundance over scarcity 
• [21:00] - Leadership responsibilities for building a volunteer-inclusive culture 
• [22:00] - The invisibility of volunteerism in strategic conversations 

 

Helpful Links 

• VolunteerPro Impact Lab  
• Volunteer Management Progress Report 
• Volunteer Nation Episode #133 – My Secrets to Building Buy In & Reducing Resistance to Change 
• Volunteer Nation Episode #009: Helping Nonprofit Employees See the Value of Volunteers 

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 [email protected].