When Associations Fade: Navigating Changes for Leaders of Volunteers
In September 2024, TAVA’s Leadership Committee made the difficult decision to shut down the unincorporated Toronto Association for Volunteer Administration (TAVA). The committee members quickly discovered that this wasn’t an isolated incident but one in a series of closures that affected Volunteer Leadership professional associations across Canada, in the U.S. and in other parts of the globe.
It is difficult to determine what exactly led to the demise of the Association that had served leaders of volunteers in the Greater Toronto Area (GTA) and beyond for more than 40 years. In this Engage feature, authors and Volunteer Engagement professionals Jessica Pank-Parks and Saskia Rinkoff look back at what once made TAVA strong in order to understand its ending.
Tera Dargavel - Kitchener, ON
Thu, 10/16/2025It was unfortunate when TAVA closed. Even though I lived in Kitchener, I became a member to take advantage of the online conference and webinars that were not offered by my local volunteer association. Even though I was a member, I lived in Kitchener, and more just wanted to be a supporter/observer. If I were to take on a leadership role, it would make more sense at my local association. Thank you for this analysis - it provides great insight for the entire sector.