Volunteer Shortages: Instead of Answers, We Need the Power of Questions

While Points of View argues that a new energy is emerging in volunteering, the picture isn’t so clear to Holly Daniels of MAVA (Minnesota Alliance for Volunteer Advancement). In this Engage feature, Daniels taps into her daily connections with Volunteer Engagement Leaders to explore the question: “Where have all the volunteers gone?” As she presents some familiar and not-so familiar theories, Daniels argues that the field needs the power of questions – and not just answers – to move forward. “The sky is not falling and people have not stopped caring about their communities,” Daniels writes. “Today’s volunteer shortage could be a signal that what volunteers require from and expect of organizations is changing and shifting.”