Engage Library

The COVID-19 pandemic proved a watershed moment for Volunteer Engagement the world over. For many, it marked the end of a time where volunteers were plentiful, funding readily available and program stability an almost certainty. COVID meant that many organisations had to…

In this Points of View, editors Erin R. Spink and Rob Jackson try something new. Instead of presenting their personal musings on topics, trends and issues that they see as relevant to the Volunteer Engagement profession, they turn their gaze inwards and examine an article…

On any given day, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Missouri welcomes thousands of guests through its doors. During their visits, guests might encounter several of the museum’s more than 400 volunteers at multiple points. These museum volunteers – ranging from…

In today’s rapidly changing and unpredictable world, managing volunteers comes with distinct challenges. Volatile social and political climates, frequent technological disruptions, and the ongoing impact of global events such as pandemics and social movements have created an…

The COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the ongoing conflict in Israel….what do these three global crises have in common when it comes to volunteers? In Ethics, author Stuart Garland explains that all three require ethical considerations for volunteer rights, welfare and…

In this Ethics column, author Ruth Leonard reviews the ethical dimensions of how those who involve volunteers characterise their engagement mechanism. For instance, volunteer opportunities are frequently packaged up as 'products' to be marketed to 'customers.' But while the move…

Part Four of a Four-Part Series During their recent, three-part Engage series into Care Circles, author Todd McMullin with DanaLitwin and Joan Cardellino defined, described, taught and inspired readers of Engage with thepotential of harnessing this organic construct to address…

The year 2024 marks the 40th anniversary of International Volunteer Managers Day. With this in mind, Points of View co-author Erin R. Spink did a little digging. She discovered that in just three years from now, 2027 will mark the 80th anniversary of the first document that…

One of the most recognizable basics of Volunteer Engagement practice is the “3 Rs:” Recruit, Retain and Recognize. The 3 Rs are in most Volunteer Engagement job descriptions and Volunteer Management 101 texts and blogs, and remain a constant and ongoing topic of conversation…

In this Ethics column, authors and Volunteer Engagement professionals Gabriella Civico and Rita Marques examine the ethics of voluntourism. Voluntourism is defined as a form of tourism in which travelers participate in volunteering activities - ranging from tracking sea turtles…

For 17 years, author Sam Clift has worked in Volunteer Engagement, in paid and volunteer roles across museums, arts and educational settings. In his role as the Volunteer Resource Manager for the London Transport Museum, he reported a volunteer satisfaction rating of 93 percent…

Without volunteers, community sporting clubs in Australia would not exist. In 2022, according to reports, sport volunteers comprised the largest volunteer sector in Australia and contributed $4 billion annually in terms of labour to the Australian national economy. But the…

In this recorded interview and open conversation, Ethics features three Leaders of Volunteers who share their journey to find their ethical voices. Emphasizing the importance of on-the-job learning, mentorship and having a trusted circle of peers, these stories from Theresa…

Part Three of a Four-Part SeriesIn Part Three of the Engage series on "Digital Care Circles," authors Dana Litwin, CVA, and Todd McMullin re-introduce some definitions, examples and constructs for Digital Care Circles and provide more how-to’s for getting them operational in…

Volunteering occurs in a wide range of settings. And the ways that Volunteer Engagement professionals lead and support volunteers in these different arenas often require adopting some unique practices to attract volunteers and keep people engaged.In this roundtable feature, …

What does the volunteering movement want from politicians in an election year? What efforts should Volunteer Leaders make to try and influence political outcomes and government? What important issues should the sector rally around and why is advocacy in the political arena so…

The Australian volunteering landscape has experienced a fundamental shift. The declining rate of formal volunteering, COVID-19 pandemic and soaring cost of living have created a perfect storm. People are less available and less able to volunteer, despite an exponential increase…

"We do it because we are supposed to.""We get the most volunteers this day, but they never come back.""I get anxious about navigating this day." "It's clear the legacy doesn't matter anymore." These are real sentiments about MLK Day of Service and the feelings provoked by…

As organizations strive to meet funder guidelines, legal compliance and internal requirements, the notion of “risk” can become a growing spectre. This leads to rampant over-screening of volunteers that creates barriers for candidates and slows down processes in the name of ‘…

The title of this article suggests that there are two types of people or even jobs – generalists and specialists. In looking at most professions, we see a mix of the two. Yet when we look at Volunteer Engagement, we would argue that we only see generalists. While there may be…