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Volunteer Nation

Tobi Johnson, MA, CVA

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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 volunt ...
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show series
 
In this episode of the Volunteer Nation podcast, host Tobi Johnson interviews Megan Vixie, Chief Engagement Officer at Beach Cities Health District, about volunteer manager salary levels and career paths. They discuss the importance of volunteerism, Megan's journey in volunteer engagement, and the professional career pathway survey conducted by the…
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In this episode of the Volunteer Nation Podcast, Tobi shares eight practical ways to make volunteering experiences much easier! She addresses the post-pandemic challenges of re-engaging volunteers and emphasizes the need for convenience and efficiency. Tobi covers topics such as running a more efficient program, improving contact methods, offering …
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In this episode of the Volunteer Nation Podcast, Tobi offers a unique format as she travels to England to present a workshop with the Association of Volunteer Managers, sponsored by Team Kinetic. The workshop, titled 'Beyond the Big Help Out: How to Recruit Your Volunteer Dream Team with a Solid Plan for Action,' focuses on volunteer recruitment, c…
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In this episode of the Volunteer Nation Podcast, host Tobi Johnson is in Manchester, England, speaking with Chris Martin from TeamKinetic. They explore new ways of thinking about volunteer data and tech, covering topics such as the role of AI, open data, reusable personal credentials, and techniques for efficiently tracking volunteer hours. Chris s…
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In this episode of the Volunteer Nation podcast, host Tobi Johnson offers a comprehensive guide on planning successful volunteer events. Tobi shares her insights and favorite tips on how to organize events that engage and bond volunteers, making them feel valued and connected. Drawing from her experiences attending various events and conferences, s…
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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 leaders…
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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 activ…
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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-imp…
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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 …
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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 ta…
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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 i…
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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 n…
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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 v…
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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. T…
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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, d…
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In this episode of the Volunteer Nation podcast, Tobi Johnson discusses the importance of providing a wow volunteer experience. She emphasizes that beyond traditional methods of appreciation, designing a well-run program plays a crucial role in volunteer satisfaction. Tobi also shares a personal story to illustrate the impact of outstanding service…
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In this episode of Volunteer Nation podcast, Tobi Johnson discusses how you can create win-win community service projects, and delves into the different types of community service, outlining effective strategies for designing quality projects, and maintaining good relationships with referring organizations. Tobi discusses the nuances of managing co…
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In this episode of the Volunteer Nation podcast, Tobi shares the 3 keys to an irresistible volunteer offer. Tobi highlights the need for organizations to align with the anticipatory and excited headspace of new volunteers, emphasizing the importance of adding to their experience rather than dampening it. Tobi stresses why organizations should be sh…
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In this episode of the Volunteer Nation podcast, Tobi invites Pam Kappelides onto the show to talk about the power of psychological contracts and its critical importance in understanding and managing volunteer expectations within organizations. Their discussion uncovers how mismatches between volunteer expectations and their actual experiences can …
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In the 100th episode of the Volunteer Nation podcast, Tobi Johnson takes a moment to reflect on the journey of creating 100 episodes since its start on April 11, 2022. To celebrate, Tobi revisits some of the past episodes, offering insights and highlights for new and long-time listeners alike. This milestone episode includes a special countdown of …
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In this episode of the Volunteer Nation, Tobi discusses how non-profit organizations can utilize psychology for volunteer retention strategies. She explains the importance of using positive social proof and emotive communication to encourage volunteers to keep coming back. Tobi emphasizes the need to light up the brain by generating emotions, using…
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In this episode of the Volunteer Nation podcast, Tobi Johnson discusses the crucial need for organizations to meet the needs of their volunteers in order to sustain their operations. Tobi addresses the common issue of dwindling volunteer engagement, exacerbated by the pandemic, warning that if change is not embraced, organizations risk losing even …
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In this episode of the Volunteer Nation podcast, host Tobi interviews global change management expert Martin J. Cowling. They discuss the transformative shifts happening in volunteer management, and the need for 21st-century organizations to rethink their approach to volunteers. Martin shares his insights on how organizations can better leverage th…
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In this episode, Tobi discusses how organizations can decide whether a role should be a volunteer, or paid position. She discusses the key differences between volunteer work and paid roles in areas such as legal definitions, pay structures, motivations, behavior, roles, expertise and identity. Tobi also emphasizes that the decision must be strategi…
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In this episode of the podcast, Tobi shares six tactical strategies to boost volunteer signups. These strategies involve diagnosing what's currently working and what's not, increasing the number of personal asks, tracking and radically decreasing response time. Tobi also delves into paid advertising and public service announcements to garner attent…
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In this episode, Tobi is joined by Patricia Gentry, who is the strategy advisor at VolunteerPro. They discuss the importance of moving from in-program work to strategic planning, focusing on the wider vision, the need to shift mindsets, and why building relationships, creating accountability, and cultivating self-reflection are key for leadership. …
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In this episode, host Tobi examines the mode of operating a successful volunteer initiative. Highlighting the struggle to rebuild volunteer strength amid the pandemic, Tobi elaborates on the five phases that Volunteer Pro teaches: Envisioning the Future, Building the Foundation, Growing Engagement, Sustaining Involvement, and Scaling Leadership. To…
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In this episode, host Tobi is joined by special guest Dr. Chris Lambert, CEO of Life Remodeled. Together, they dive into the transformative power of volunteerism, by working with communities, not for communities. They explore the grassroots to grass tops approach, sharing power, and educating volunteers about systemic root causes of community chall…
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It’s that time of the year, when people are setting goals and aspirations for the new year. In the spirit of intention setting and renewal, host Tobi Johnson shares some New Years resolution ideas for nonprofits in this episode, specifically about how they can better engage the community in their good works. From cultivating gratitude and setting h…
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In this episode, guest Kristina Joy Carlson and host Tobi Johnson share valuable insights on improving volunteer experiences through the power of the KIND method. From navigating turbulent times to cultivating deep commitment even in conflict, they offer practical strategies for nonprofit success and creating meaningful connections with volunteers …
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Looking for fresh volunteer recruitment ideas? Look no further. In this episode, Volunteer Nation host Tobi Johnson provides practical tips and big ideas to attract and retain volunteers, drawing from volunteer experiences and the current landscape of volunteerism as reflected in comments of a recent Washington Post article. Tobi also addresses the…
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In this episode, host Tobi Johnson sits down with special guest Helen Tourle, a senior consultant for volunteering at the National Council for Voluntary Organizations (NCVO). Together, they delve into the history of the Time Well Spent research series and findings of the most recent study, focusing on volunteer experiences among the global majority…
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In this episode, Tobi reviews the history and impact of the Volunteer Management Progress Report, a global state-of-the-industry survey spanning 9 years and encompassing insights from leaders of volunteers across 36 countries. She delves into key trends from past reports, the push for diversity, equity, and inclusion planning, correlations between …
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In this episode, host Tobi Johnson talks about the challenge of retaining episodic volunteers who step up to help during the holiday season but often disappear afterwards. Tobi shares a 4-part culture of commitment formula that sets the stage for deeper levels of commitment, discusses the importance of creating a purposeful onboarding plan even for…
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In this Volunteer Nation host, Tobi Johnson, dives deep into the art of goal-setting. She shares practical tips and real-life examples to inspire and guide you in establishing meaningful and impactful volunteer goals for your charitable cause, membership, or movement. The episode is a must-listen, even if you didn't attend our recent VisionWeek str…
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Our host, Tobi, is joined by the incredible Advita Patel, an expert in internal communications and inclusive workplaces. Together, they discuss the challenges faced by the voluntary sector when it comes to building an inclusive culture and volunteer environment and unravel strategies to overcome them. From understanding knowledge gaps to fostering …
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In this episode, Tobi and guest Alyson Gallaher dive into the world of corporate-nonprofit collaborations. They shed light on the changing dynamics of corporate partnerships, emphasizing the importance of understanding community needs and advocating for change. They discuss the significance of demonstrating impact, preparing for successful partners…
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The new year brings fresh possibilities and a clean slate - what will you do with it? Not sure? In this episode, Tobi shares how to create a vision for the future, backed up by clear blueprint for success with her signature READY, SET, GOTM nonprofit strategic planning process. She also invites listeners to ditch uncertainty and build a plan to cre…
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In this episode, sits down with Kivi Leroux Miller, an expert in nonprofit marketing to discuss the importance of collaboration between volunteer services and nonprofit marketers, offering practical insights and tactics for fostering effective partnerships. Tobi emphasizes the crucial role of marketing in volunteer recruitment and highlights the ne…
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In this episode, Tobi provides you with an exclusive sneak peek into the key concepts and insights shared in her upcoming book for volunteer leaders. Tobi shares her personal journey and insights from years of experience in the field. The book explores the vital role volunteer leaders play in building thriving communities and the significance of th…
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In this episode, Tobi Johnson dives deep into the world of nonprofit SEO and how it can revolutionize your volunteer recruitment efforts. SEO might sound like a foreign concept, but it plays a crucial role in ensuring that your organization can be easily found by potential volunteers on the world's most popular search engine – Google. Full show not…
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In this episode, Tobi sits down with Tyler Manley, an expert in skills-based volunteering from Catchafire, to delve into the topic of finding skills-based volunteers the easy way. They discuss the power and value of skills-based volunteers, as well as the resistance organizations often face when trying to engage this type of volunteer. Full show no…
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In this episode, Tobi has a fascinating discussion on engaging communities in social change with Vichi Jagannathan. Vichi shares her personal journey and experiences in working towards social change in rural communities, specifically in eastern North Carolina. Full show notes: 077. Engaging Communities in Social Change with Vichi Jagannathan Thanks…
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In this episode, Tobi engages in a thought-provoking discussion with Sandy Rees, CEO of Get Fully Funded, about innovative strategies for fundraising success. Sandy Rees is Founder and Chief Encouragement Officer of Get Fully Funded, an organization that shows small nonprofits how to raise the money they need to fully fund their budget. She makes f…
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Tobi sits down with Julia Campbell, a seasoned expert in nonprofit marketing and communications. Together, they explore proven strategies for attracting and engaging volunteers through the power of social media.Julia shares her valuable insights gained from her experience as a fundraiser and her work helping organizations reach their volunteer recr…
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In this episode, Tobi delve into the crucial topic of volunteer retention. As the pandemic has left many feeling tired and exhausted, people have become more selective in how they spend their time. They are searching for meaningful experiences that align with their priorities. So, how can organizations create volunteer opportunities that are resili…
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In this episode, Tobi deep into the world of sports and extract valuable lessons that nonprofit leaders can apply to their organizations. Just like the US Women’s World Cup team, we explore the importance of team spirit and how it translates to success in both soccer and our nonprofit endeavors. Full show notes: 073. Vital Lessons for Nonprofit Lea…
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In this episode, Tobi talks about the common mistakes organizations make when conducting volunteer surveys. Drawing from years of experience and the success of their own surveys, Tobi provides practical tips to help obtain valuable and actionable information from their volunteers. Surveys are a powerful tool for gathering feedback and insights from…
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In this episode, Tobi explores the fascinating world of partnering with funders to support volunteer engagement. We will learn about the critical role of capacity building for nonprofits, the importance of aligning strategic goals with volunteer roles, and the need for improved communication, marketing, recruitment, and volunteer experience to meet…
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In this episode, Tobi dives into the essential strategies and techniques to effectively structure and manage your volunteer program, even with limited resources. Whether you're a nonprofit executive, volunteer coordinator, or volunteer services director, this episode is packed with practical advice to help you navigate the challenges of organizing …
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