“The Y is more than a gym and swim — it’s a powerful force for good, driven by dedicated volunteers.”

👉🏻 Want a guide to the YMCA & VolunteerMatters partnership?
Download the FREE guide: https://public.volunteermatters.org/files/podcast/whitepapers/VolunteerMatters_White_Paper-YMCA+Volunteering_(ep22).pdf

Join Mark, President, and Sophia, Success Coach at VolunteerMatters, a leading volunteer management software dedicated to helping nonprofits build stronger, more impactful volunteer programs.

This episode dives deep into:
- Our decade-long partnership with YMCA
- How YMCA volunteer programs shaped our platform
- Strategies for scaling across 500+ locations
- The gold standard in volunteer safety and compliance
- Personal stories from growing up at the Y
…and more

Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction & why the YMCA matters
01:02 - The global scale of YMCA volunteerism
02:20 - From volunteer-run to professionally staffed
04:04 - “More than just a gym and swim”
05:08 - Volunteering as a gateway to the mission
06:00 - Mark’s personal story with the Y
08:10 - Our national partnership with YMCA USA
08:55 - How YMCA needs shaped our product
12:00 - Why flexibility is essential in VMS
13:50 - Empowering part-time admins
16:50 - Industry-leading safety and compliance
19:20 - Praesidium Accreditation: What it is and why it matters
21:00 - Automating onboarding, credentials & workflows
25:00 - Case Study: From 26% to 90% compliance in 2 months
30:40 - A thank-you to the YMCA

Check out VolunteerMatters on:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VolunteerMatters
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/volunteermatters/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/volunteer-matters
Twitter/X: https://x.com/VolnteerMatters
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VolunteerMatters
Website: https://www.volunteermatters.com/
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-volunteermatters-podcast/id1765384042
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/41OzyIlomp8LLrZ68fgb77?si=sg92xnBGRDuL4HDnB_F1Rg

“The number one reason volunteers don’t engage is fear of the unknown."

👉🏻 Want a guide to recruiting volunteers?
Download the FREE guide: https://public.volunteermatters.org/files/podcast/whitepapers/Promoting_Volunteer_Projects_(ep21).pdf

Join Mark, President, and Sophia, Customer Success Coach at VolunteerMatters, a leading volunteer management software dedicated to helping nonprofits build stronger, more impactful volunteer programs.

This episode dives deep into:
- How to turn attention into action
- Creating effective volunteer opportunity pages
- Tangible strategies for promoting volunteer opportunities
- …and more.

Timestamps:
00:00 - Introduction: Why promoting matters
01:22 - The big mistake: Eyeballs vs. Education
03:44 - A great volunteer project description
05:07 - Reducing fear of the unknown
06:20 - Volunteer opportunity catalog
08:53 - Clear calls to action
09:56 - Writing for beginners, not insiders
11:15 - Effective email promotion
15:28 - Use your existing volunteer database first
15:43 - Leveraging social media platforms
18:47 - Follow peer organizations for inspiration
21:10 - Community partners as promotional allies
21:58 - Promoting at in-person events
23:05 - Traditional media
23:19 - Text messaging
25:05 - Summary and recap
27:20 - Email deliverability and compliance

Check out VolunteerMatters on:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VolunteerMatters
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/volunteermatters/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/volunteer-matters
Twitter/X: https://x.com/VolnteerMatters
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VolunteerMatters
Website: https://www.volunteermatters.com/
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-volunteermatters-podcast/id1765384042
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/41OzyIlomp8LLrZ68fgb77?si=sg92xnBGRDuL4HDnB_F1Rg

“Training that needs to be repeated adds a layer of complexity most nonprofits aren’t tracking well.”

👉🏻 Want a guide to scaling volunteer training?
Download the FREE guide: https://public.volunteermatters.org/files/podcast/whitepapers/Training_Volunteers_at_Scale_(ep20).pdf

Join Mark, President, and Sophia, Customer Success Coach at VolunteerMatters, a leading volunteer management software dedicated to helping nonprofits build stronger, more impactful volunteer programs.

This episode dives deep into:
- Why volunteer training directly impacts your mission’s success
- How to balance standardization with flexibility
- The power of learning management systems (LMS) and other tech tools
- How to measure success through completion rates, feedback, retention, and repeat requirements
- …and more.

Timestamps:
00:00 – Welcome and Topic Introduction
01:00 – Why Volunteer Training Matters
01:48 – The Challenges of Scaling Training
02:56 – Maintaining Consistency in Training Content
03:50 – Adapting for Diverse Volunteer Audiences
04:50 – Delivery Methods and Oversight Challenges
05:30 – Principles of Scalable Volunteer Training
08:59 – Leveraging Technology for Training Delivery
10:00 – Assigning Ownership Over Training Content
10:50 – Training the Trainers
12:00 – Learning Management Systems and Online Tools
13:05 – Addressing Concerns Around Online Training
15:00 – Quizzing and Measuring Retention
19:00 – Key Metrics for Evaluating Training Success
21:00 – The Importance of Feedback Loops
23:00 – Recap of Training Best Practices
25:00 – Training Expiration and Recertification
29:00 – Real-World Example (YMCA)

Check out VolunteerMatters on:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VolunteerMatters
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/volunteermatters/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/volunteer-matters
Twitter/X: https://x.com/VolnteerMatters
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VolunteerMatters
Website: https://www.volunteermatters.com/
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-volunteermatters-podcast/id1765384042
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/41OzyIlomp8LLrZ68fgb77?si=sg92xnBGRDuL4HDnB_F1Rg

“The higher you go, the less you should be doing. Your job is to equip, empower, and get out of the way."

👉🏻 Want a guide to building a strong volunteerism team?
Download the FREE guide: https://public.volunteermatters.org/files/podcast/whitepapers/Volunteerism_Dream_Team_(ep1).pdf

Join Mark, President, and Sophia, Customer Success Coach at VolunteerMatters, a leading volunteer management software dedicated to helping nonprofits build stronger, more impactful volunteer programs.

This episode dives deep into:
- How to know when you're the bottleneck—and how to fix it
- The power of delegation, trust, and empowering your team
- How giving up control leads to organizational and mission growth
- …and more.

Timestamps:
00:00 – Welcome: The inspiration behind this episode
00:50 – A customer story: When leadership took over
02:23 – Micromanagement: What it is and how it harms your team
04:33 – The ripple effects: morale, time loss, and stalled innovation
05:09 – Scaling your nonprofit starts with trusting your team
07:15 – “80% done is 100% awesome” – why perfection isn’t the goal
08:48 – Staff on the ground are closer to the real problem
10:14 – Everyone has a role—strategic, marketing, HR, fundraising
10:55 – What great leadership actually looks like
12:40 – Leadership self-reflection: Are you holding things back?
13:05 – Delegation creates ownership, joy, and long-term growth
14:05 – Real talk: Letting go is hard, even for us
15:10 – What happens when leadership gets out of the way
15:50 – Don’t micromanage—trust, delegate, empower

Check out VolunteerMatters on:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VolunteerMatters
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/volunteermatters/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/volunteer-matters
Twitter/X: https://x.com/VolnteerMatters
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VolunteerMatters
Website: https://www.volunteermatters.com/
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-volunteermatters-podcast/id1765384042
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/41OzyIlomp8LLrZ68fgb77?si=sg92xnBGRDuL4HDnB_F1Rg

“Retaining volunteers is 70% less expensive than recruiting new ones—so why aren't we doing more to bring them back?"

 👉🏻 Want a guide to re-engaging volunteers?
 Download the FREE guide: https://public.volunteermatters.org/files/podcast/whitepapers/Re-Engaging_Lapsed_Volunteers_(ep18).pdf

Join Mark, President, and Sophia, Customer Success Coach at VolunteerMatters, a leading volunteer management software dedicated to helping nonprofits build stronger, more impactful volunteer programs.

This episode dives deep into:
- Why retaining volunteers is more cost-effective than recruiting new ones
- How poor tracking systems and weak communication can alienate returning volunteers
- Actionable strategies to re-engage lapsed volunteers—from personalized outreach to feedback loops
- …and more.

Timestamps:
00:00 – Introduction: Why volunteers stop showing up
00:26 – The ROI of retaining vs. recruiting new volunteers
01:04 – Why volunteer experience quality is foundational
02:16 – Returning volunteers add exponential value over time
03:44 – Many orgs don’t know who’s new vs. returning
05:05 – Why tracking volunteer data is critical
08:03 – Top reasons why volunteers lapse
11:09 – Communication gaps: the root of disengagement
13:03 – What a strong volunteer experience looks like
16:27 – Personalizing outreach to re-engage past volunteers
18:08 – Segmenting volunteers based on activity
19:00 – Fix the reasons they left in the first place
20:01 – Why real-time, iterative feedback matters
22:33 – Volunteer incentives and appreciation events
24:08 – Re-engagement powered by peer volunteers
27:27 – Episode Recap

Check out VolunteerMatters on:
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VolunteerMatters
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/volunteermatters/
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/volunteer-matters
Twitter/X: https://x.com/VolnteerMatters
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VolunteerMatters
Website: https://www.volunteermatters.com/
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-volunteermatters-podcast/id1765384042
Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/41OzyIlomp8LLrZ68fgb77?si=sg92xnBGRDuL4HDnB_F1Rg

Sophia interviews Mark, President and Co-Founder of VolunteerMatters, to uncover the inspiring origin story of the company. Mark shares his journey from custom software development to creating an impactful platform dedicated to helping nonprofits engage and manage volunteers effectively.

Key Highlights:
• How It All Began
• The Evolution of VolunteerMatters
• Overcoming Early Challenges
• Pivotal Milestones
• Vision for the Future

"You measure what you value, and value what you measure. For us, it’s always been about demonstrating the transformative impact of volunteers—not just through anecdotes, but with real, measurable data.” - Mark

Download the PDF Guide to the Origin Story of VolunteerMatters Now: https://public.volunteermatters.org/files/podcast/whitepapers/Orign_Story_of_VolunteerMatters_(ep17).pdf

Links:
Visit Our Website: https://volunteermatters.com

Follow Us:
Stay updated with VolunteerMatters on:
Facebook: https://facebook.com/volunteermatters
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/volunteermatters
X/Twitter: https://x.com/VolnteerMatters
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/volunteermatters/

Tune in to this inspiring conversation to understand the heart and vision behind VolunteerMatters, and to gain insights into building a purpose-driven organization!

Whether you're running a small program or managing thousands of volunteers, knowing how to accurately track hours is a game-changer for funding, program efficiency, and volunteer recognition.

Key Takeaways:
• Unlocking Funding Opportunities
• Celebrating Volunteer Contributions
• Boosting Operational Efficiency
• Practical Tracking Methods
• The Importance of Reporting

Listen in to learn how tracking volunteer hours can transform your volunteer program into a well-oiled machine that attracts funding, celebrates impact, and builds long-term engagement.

Learn More:
Explore our top tips for tracking volunteer hours effectively: https://public.volunteermatters.org/files/podcast/whitepapers/VolunteerMatters_Tracking_Volunteer_Hours_(ep16).pdf

Links:
Visit Our Website: https://volunteermatters.com

Follow Us:
Stay updated with VolunteerMatters on:
Facebook: https://facebook.com/volunteermatters
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/volunteermatters
X/Twitter: https://x.com/VolnteerMatters
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/volunteermatters/

Start optimizing your volunteer program with actionable insights and proven strategies—tune in now!

We address HR professionals stepping into the world of volunteer management—an increasingly common trend as seasoned HR leaders transition from for-profit to nonprofit roles. Managing volunteers is an exciting opportunity but comes with its unique challenges and differences from managing paid staff. This episode explores how to approach volunteerism with a fresh perspective and practical strategies for success.

What You’ll Learn:
• Understand the key differences between managing employees and volunteers—and why volunteers aren’t unpaid employees.
• How to respect volunteers’ time and motivation by streamlining recruitment and onboarding processes.
• The importance of front-loading applications, background checks, and training to retain motivated volunteers.
• Why creating a smooth and efficient onboarding process leads to higher retention and repeat volunteerism.
• Insights into when gatekeeping is necessary—like in high-commitment roles or leadership opportunities—and how to balance selectivity with accessibility.

Whether you’re an HR professional new to volunteerism or a nonprofit leader looking to refine your volunteer management practices, this episode offers valuable guidance to ensure you’re maximizing impact and creating extraordinary volunteer experiences.

Learn More:
Discover our free guide to approaching volunteerism with a fresh perspective: https://public.volunteermatters.org/files/podcast/whitepapers/VolunteerMatters_Volunteers_Are_Not_Employees.pdf.

Links:
Visit Our Website: https://volunteermatters.com

Follow Us:
Stay updated with VolunteerMatters on:
Facebook: https://facebook.com/volunteermatters
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/volunteermatters
X/Twitter: https://x.com/VolnteerMatters
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/volunteermatters/

Tune in now to redefine how you approach volunteer management and build a stronger, more effective program!

Episode 14 | In this episode, we discuss the incredible impact that volunteer programs can have in senior living communities. From fostering meaningful connections to improving quality of life and even creating pathways for workforce development, they break down four key benefits of volunteerism in these unique environments.

What You’ll Learn:
1. How resident-to-resident volunteering fosters purpose, connection, and longer lives for seniors. 
2. Ways family members can deepen relationships through meaningful volunteer activities in senior living communities. 
3. The benefits of bringing in external volunteers, like students, to add fresh energy and gain experience. 
4. How volunteer programs can serve as a pathway for workforce development in senior care. 
5. Practical tips for streamlining volunteer onboarding to attract and retain dedicated volunteers. 

Mark and Sophia emphasize the transformative power of fostering a culture of volunteerism in senior living communities. From improving residents’ quality of life to finding future caregivers, volunteer programs benefit everyone involved.

Learn More:
Download our free guide to building impactful volunteer programs in senior living communities: https://public.volunteermatters.org/files/podcast/whitepapers/VolunteerMatters_Volunteering_In_Senior_Living_Communities.pdf.

Links:
Visit Our Website: https://volunteermatters.com

Follow Us:
Stay updated with VolunteerMatters on:
Facebook: https://facebook.com/volunteermatters
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/volunteermatters
X/Twitter: https://x.com/VolnteerMatters
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/volunteermatters/

Tune in now to discover how volunteerism can enrich the lives of seniors and create stronger, more connected communities.

Tune in with us to explore the multifaceted benefits of corporate volunteering, providing insights into how nonprofit organizations can harness these programs to deepen impact, build stronger partnerships, and secure additional funding.

We discuss the strategic value of engaging corporations in your volunteer initiatives, shifting the perspective of corporate relationships from a one-way transaction to a mutually beneficial partnership.

Key Discussion Points:
• The Value of Corporate Volunteering
• A Two-Way Transaction
• Generational Shifts
• Strategic Benefits for Nonprofits
• Corporate Support Mechanisms - Matching gifts, volunteer grants (“dollars for doers”), volunteer paid time off (VTO), and sponsored volunteer events.
• Best Practices for Corporate Volunteer Programs - Tracking metrics, reporting impact

Whether you're looking to establish corporate volunteering opportunities or take your existing program to the next level, this episode is packed with actionable advice to maximize your impact and create lasting relationships with corporate partners.

Ready to Transform Your Corporate Volunteer Program? Discover our free guide to corporate volunteering best practices: https://public.volunteermatters.org/files/podcast/whitepapers/VolunteerMatters_Corporate_Volunteering.pdf

Links:
Visit Our Website: https://volunteermatters.com

Follow Us:
Stay updated with VolunteerMatters on:
Facebook: https://facebook.com/volunteermatters
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/volunteermatters
Twitter: https://x.com/VolnteerMatters
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/volunteermatters/

Tune in now to learn how corporate volunteering can elevate your mission!