Volunteer Matters
Creative ways to recognize volunteers who help your organization
It’s that time of year again. Leaders of volunteers are thinking about the upcoming holidays and wondering what gifts to get their beloved volunteers. I...
Scaling impact through collaboration
I have always been a massive advocate for collaboration between organizations. Working together has always been at the heart of making meaningful change and is,...
Navigating dementia in volunteers
In the world of volunteering, we encounter a diverse range of people, each bringing their unique strengths and challenges. Over the years, I've encountered...
The benefit of shaking things up and looking at your world differently
It's important to see volunteers differently. I have a walk I take most days, along the North Thompson River near my home in Kamloops. I always go the same...
When families volunteers the benefits are far reaching
How many families volunteer in your organization? As we all know, social impact organizations thrive on the dedication and enthusiasm of volunteers. But it can...
Ways to deal, and help others deal, with change
More than in any other, people in the social impact sector need to deal with change. That can be hard. While the results of a successful change can be...
Choosing a volunteer management system
A new client and a new request to find a volunteer management system (VMS). It is one of the most common requests I receive. Choosing a new software platform...
Peer-to-peer recognition in volunteering
I’m a big believer in the power of peer-to-peer appreciation. It doesn’t seem to be a common practice, though. A card from the board of directors....
When it comes to leading, managing is not enough
Do you find yourself caught up in the day-to-day minutia of getting things done? Are you constantly head-down trying to accomplish individual tasks? Once you...
Volunteer training can be all fun and games
Do volunteers cringe when you bring up the subject of training—especially repeat or refresher training? Let's face it, volunteer training can...
A 'community of practice' for volunteer leaders can be beneficial
Building a thriving community of practice for volunteer leaders We don’t often think about “communities of practice” in the volunteering...
Seven ways to show 'tangible gratitude' toward volunteers
"Tangible gratitude" is one of the four "appreciation languages" I encourage leaders of volunteers to use. Appreciation of volunteers is...
Riding the volunteer merry-go-round
When I was small, a group of us kids would go to the local park, pile onto the merry-go-round and someone would spin us faster and faster and faster, until we...
Sharing volunteers will help attract more volunteers to the sector
Does your organization hoard volunteers? I had a conversation recently with Mushka from the volunteer management software Volunteero. Among many things, we...
Seven steps to effective succession planning
Succession planning in a social impact organization is crucial to ensure a smooth transition of leadership, whether at the senior staffing level or the board...
How we define community affects volunteering
How do you define community? In my work, I’ve had the pleasure of watching how volunteering can transform our communities. It not only helps the causes we...
Ways to increase your volunteer numbers
What could you do if you had a veritable sea of volunteers? If you had an almost unlimited supply of people who wanted to help your cause, how would your...
The 'customer's journey' is a lot like the volunteer lifecycle
I’ve been thinking a lot about the volunteer lifecycle lately, and trying to come up with a simple way of explaining it. During a conversation I had with...
8 Lessons for creating an amazing volunteer environment
I recently re-watched Patty McCord’s TED talk “8 Lessons on Building a Company People Enjoy Working For,” and the suggestions she made were...
When it comes to leadership styles , they are all good
I’ve been reading a number of articles and posts recently about different leadership styles. Most of the articles split the styles into those that are...