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Volunteer Nation: Daily Summaries Delivered
by Tobi Johnson, MA, CVA
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.
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The most recent episodes — sign up to get AI-powered summaries of each one.
- 5 days ago37 min
218. The Nonprofit Volunteer Management Skills I Wish I Had When I Started
Most volunteer leaders learn on the job, through trial and error, and sometimes burnout. But what if you could start with the skills that really matter? In this episode, Tobi Johnson draws on 25+ years of experience to share the essential skills she wishes she had from day one. You'll learn why self‑regulation and emotional resilience are critical for preventing burnout and leading with clarity. She also breaks down strategic planning that connects program design, metrics, and budgets, includ...
- 1 weeks ago38 min
217. What Is a Volunteer? Why It Matters to You Org
Most organizations see volunteers as free labor. That narrow view hides their true value. In this episode, Tobi Johnson explains why redefining volunteer roles unlocks hidden assets: relational capital, advocacy reach, donor pipelines, and community credibility. She covers practical steps to write clear role descriptions, reduce staff‑volunteer tension, and stay legally compliant, from U.S. Department of Labor standards to local laws. If fuzzy definitions are holding your organization back, t...
- 2 weeks ago31 min
216. Your Quick Guide to Better Volunteer Thank You Notes
A generic “thanks” isn’t enough. Personalized thank-you notes can transform volunteer retention. In this episode, Tobi Johnson shares a simple four‑step framework to write meaningful appreciation: specific actions, impact, acknowledgment, and gratitude. She also offers creative ways to recognize remote volunteers, scale appreciation, and build a culture of genuine gratitude. If you want volunteers to feel valued and stay engaged, this episode gives you an easy, actionable formula for better t...
- 3 weeks ago34 min
215. 5 Ways to Boost the Fun Factor for Community Volunteers
A volunteer program without joy can lead to burnout and turnover. But adding fun doesn't mean being less professional; it means building a genuine community. In this episode, Tobi Johnson explains why shared experiences and fun are essential for retention. She shares a story from a recent informal gathering with her own volunteer team and introduces the concept of edutainment, learning combined with entertainment. Tobi also previews the Volapalooza Festival, designed with a music‑festival vib...
- May 14, 20261h 11m
214. Defending National Service & Community Resilience with Kaira Esgate
Advocacy for volunteerism can't wait until a crisis hits. Sometimes the crisis arrives without warning, and the relationships you've built with policymakers determine whether your program survives. In this episode, host Tobi Johnson welcomes Kaira Esgate, CEO of America's Service Commissions, to discuss sudden funding cuts that threatened AmeriCorps. Kaira shares how grant terminations and staff reductions halted community projects and upended service members' lives. She also highlights the s...
- May 7, 202654 min
213. Impact Lab POV - Community-based Volunteer Networks with Kristi Sebald
Strengthening volunteer engagement isn't always about doing more with your own program. Sometimes it's about letting go of the need to hold onto every volunteer and instead building connections across your entire community. In this episode of the Volunteer Nation Podcast, part of the Impact Lab POV Series, Tobi Johnson is joined by Kristi Sebald, a guest advisor and expert in volunteer and community engagement. Kristi shares how an abundance mindset and intentional coalition building can tran...
- Apr 30, 20261h 4m
Episode 212. Impact Lab POV - Volunteer Training Programs Made Easy with Dana Litwin
Effective volunteer training is more than checking a box; it builds confident, engaged volunteers who stay longer and deliver greater impact. Yet many organizations rely on long, one-size-fits-all sessions that frustrate volunteers and miss chances to align with staff development. In this episode of the Volunteer Nation Podcast – Impact Lab POV Series, Tobi Johnson welcomes Dana Litwin, volunteer management expert, President of Dana Litwin Consulting, and past president of AL!VE. Dana shares ...
- Apr 23, 20261h 2m
211. Best Practices & Community Spirit with Volunteering New Zealand
Volunteer engagement doesn't exist in a vacuum—it's deeply shaped by community values, national infrastructure, and a spirit of collective care. In New Zealand, where over 115,000 not-for-profits operate and most are volunteer-led, best practices for volunteer management must reflect local culture and real-world challenges like low tech adoption and the need for more informal opportunities. In this episode of the Volunteer Nation Podcast, host Tobi Johnson welcomes Marg McLachlan and Heidi Qu...
About 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.
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