In this episode of the Volunteer Nation podcast, Tobi Johnson discusses the findings from the Volunteer Management Progress Report. This is part two of a two-part series focusing on volunteerism statistics for 2024, offering insights on the internal support within organizations for those leading volunteers.   

Tobi highlights the importance of leadership support, the challenges faced by volunteer managers, and the correlation between leadership backing and volunteer manager job satisfaction and retention. The episode emphasizes the need for a pro-volunteer culture to boost organizational sustainability and community engagement. 

Full show notes: 114 - Volunteerism Statistics for 2024: Insights from Our Latest Research - Part 2 

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].

In this episode of the Volunteer Nation Podcast, host Tobi Johnson delves into volunteerism statistics for 2024, sharing insights from the latest Volunteer Management Progress Report. Tobi discusses the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on volunteer capacity, the challenges of recruitment and retention, and provides a detailed look at trends in active volunteer numbers and volunteer hours.   

Additionally, Tobi highlights the importance of understanding organizational goals and progress in volunteer engagement, offering a comprehensive analysis of the current state of volunteerism. Key findings include the average number of active volunteers, monthly volunteer hours, the role of volunteer coordinators, and the need for evolving volunteer engagement strategies to address ongoing challenges in the sector to better manage their volunteer programs. 

Full show notes: 113. Volunteerism Statistics for 2024: Insights from Our Latest Research - Part 1 

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].

In this episode of the Volunteer Nation podcast, Tobi Johnson delves into the undervalued yet powerful tactic of running effective volunteer Q&A sessions. Tobi discusses the goals of a good Q&A, including making volunteers feel heard, offering relevant information, and gathering valuable insights.  

She provides practical tips for conducting high-impact Q&A sessions, such as leaving your ego at the door, setting aside ample time, showing empathy, and telling stories. She also highlights when to build Q&A sessions into your volunteer programs and various formats they can take. This episode aims to help organizations engage deeply with their volunteers and enhance their overall experience! 

Full show notes: Episode 112. How to Run a Value-Packed Volunteer Q&A 

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].

In this episode of the Volunteer Nation podcast, Tobi Johnson delves into the vital topic of new volunteer orientation. Tobi offers detailed insights on what to include and what to avoid, ensuring a successful onboarding process that fosters long-term commitment.

She emphasizes the importance of addressing both informational and emotional needs of volunteers, integrating confidence-building activities, socialization opportunities, and inspirational storytelling. Tobi also shares practical tips on avoiding common training pitfalls like information overload and stresses the importance of making confident, unapologetic asks.

Full show notes: Episode 111. New Volunteer Orientation: What to Include, What to Leave Out 

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].

In this episode of the Volunteer Nation podcast, Tobi explores the use of psychographics over demographics in volunteer recruitment, emphasizing the importance of understanding prospective volunteers' beliefs, values, interests, and attitudes to create more effective marketing strategies.
Tobi shares personal anecdotes to illustrate the power of targeted advertising, drawing parallels to recruiting volunteers who align with an organization's cause, and guides you through creating volunteer personas based on psychographics to improve recruitment appeals.
Full show notes: Episode 110. Using Psychographics to Improve Your Volunteer Recruitment Appeals 

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].

In this episode of the Volunteer Nation podcast, host Tobi Johnson discusses the widespread issue of scarcity mentality within the nonprofit sector and how it limits organizations' ability to grow and engage volunteers effectively.  

Tobi emphasizes that this mentality leads organizations to focus on constraints rather than opportunities, hindering investment in volunteers and the infrastructure supporting them. She highlights the importance of viewing spending on volunteer programs as an investment, rather than a cost and shares practical tips on shifting mindset, calling out scarcity when it appears, and ensuring organizations provide sufficient support and resources for volunteers in your non-profit. 

Full show notes: Episode 109. When a Scarcity Mentality Becomes a Habit 

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].

In this episode of the Volunteer Nation podcast, Tobi Johnson delves into the nuanced and often overlooked topic of clearly defining a volunteer and why it matters to be precise. Tobi shares insights into the definitions provided by various authoritative bodies like the Department of Labor in the U.S., the United Nations, and the implications for nonprofits in handling volunteers according to labor laws and tax regulations.  

She also advises non-profit organizations to consult with labor lawyers and CPAs for legal and tax advice to ensure they remain compliant while fostering a healthy, transparent, and respectful environment for all forms of contributors. Tobi shares her top suggestions for how your non-profit can clearly define volunteer roles, the importance of distinguishing between different types of workers, and the strategic communication necessary to maintain clarity and trust.  

Full show notes: Episode 108. Definition of a Volunteer - Why It Matters to Be Precise

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].

In this episode of the Volunteer Nation podcast, Tobi Johnson celebrates National Volunteer Week 2024, and shares insights into the history and significance of volunteerism! Tobi also highlights the challenges facing the nonprofit sector, including a decline in donor contributions, a labor shortage crisis impacting mission delivery, and decreased volunteer rates. 

Tobi emphasizes the promise and impact of an engaged community in supporting nonprofits, how the nonprofit sector can innovate volunteer engagement and the power that volunteerism has on our communities.  

Full show notes: Episode 107. Celebrating National Volunteer Week 2024! 

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].

In this episode of the Volunteer Nation podcast, Tobi Johnson shares insightful tips on how to create smarter volunteer program assessments, without the need for expensive external consultants. Tobi discusses the importance of learning from assessments to grow volunteer programs and shares her step-by-step plan for performing a DIY program audit.  
Tobi also discusses the importance of learning from assessments to grow volunteer programs and shares her step-by-step plan for performing a volunteer program assessment, discussing how to involve your volunteers, the talking points to include and much more.  

Full show notes: Episode 106. Smarter Volunteer Program Assessment 

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].

In this episode of the Volunteer Nation podcast, Tobi explores the seven habits that make volunteer managers highly effective, inspired by Stephen Covey's famous book 'The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.'  

Tobi emphasizes the importance of mindset, setting healthy boundaries, strategic thinking, knowing your numbers, sharing the workload, dedicating time to work on your program, and continuously learning and growing.  The episode is packed with insights and tips on how volunteer managers can improve their leadership skills and effectively support their organizations and volunteers! 

Full show notes: Episode 105. 7 Habits of Highly Effective Volunteer Managers 

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].