Claim OwnershipVolunteer Nation
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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 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. Hit subscribe and let’s DO this!
180 Episodes
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In this episode of the Volunteer Nation Podcast, Tobi Johnson explores smart, research-backed frameworks for designing meaningful volunteer service awards. Instead of relying on traditional recognition tactics, she shows how to align awards with what truly drives volunteers—their motivations, timelines, and the impact they create. Tobi introduces fresh ideas such as immediate recognition and milestone-based acknowledgements, while also breaking down six proven motivational factors that ...
In this episode of the Volunteer Nation Podcast, Tobi Johnson dives into the topic of transformative service experiences with guests Frederick J. Riley, Executive Director of Weave the Social Fabric Project at the Aspen Institute, and Jackie Woven, Executive Director of Main Street Eureka Springs. They discuss practical strategies for building, growing, and scaling volunteer talent within communities, emphasizing the importance of local, relational, and mutual engagement. The trio expl...
In this episode of the Volunteer Nation Podcast, Tobi Johnson dives deep into the critical issue of compassion fatigue and secondary traumatic stress among program volunteers. These frontline heroes play vital roles in tutoring, hospice, crisis support and more, but without proper training, boundaries, and support, they risk burnout and emotional harm. Tobi shares six practical ways nonprofit leaders can use to support volunteer wellness, from boundary-setting to debriefing practices an...
In this episode of the Volunteer Nation Podcast, Tobi Johnson dives into the 7 common rookie mistakes non-profits make when managing volunteers and shares practical strategies to help volunteer managers reduce stress and rediscover the joy in their work. Tobi highlights the power of maintaining a positive mindset, setting clear boundaries, and focusing on community-building over paperwork. She also shares actionable tips for creating effective systems for delegation, engaging episodic v...
In this episode of the Volunteer Nation Podcast, Tobi Johnson discusses the importance of strategic volunteer appreciation. Moving beyond traditional gifts and certificates, she explores how to recognize and value volunteers in ways that are meaningful and aligned with core human needs and organizational goals. Tobi provides 12 innovative appreciation ideas categorized into meeting volunteer needs for safety, connection, and purpose, and aligning with organizational goals such as progr...
In this episode of the Volunteer Nation Podcast, Tobi Johnson dives into why it’s time to move beyond traditional volunteer metrics like hours logged and retention rates. She unpacks the difference between outputs and outcomes, sharing practical examples and actionable strategies for measuring and showcasing the true impact volunteers have on communities and organizations. Tobi explains how tracking outcomes can inspire volunteers, improve program quality, strengthen recruitment messag...
In this episode of the Volunteer Nation Podcast, Tobi Johnson shares expert tips on how to craft volunteer emails that truly connect and convert. From attention-grabbing subject lines to warm, welcoming salutations and easy-to-read content, Tobi breaks down the key elements that make emails more engaging and effective. You’ll learn why personalization matters, how to structure your emails for maximum impact, and the small details, like a creative sign-off or a compelling P.S. that can m...
In this episode of the Volunteer Nation Podcast, Tobi Johnson shares valuable insights on how nonprofits can improve volunteer websites to attract and engage more volunteers effectively. Addressing common issues such as unclear value propositions, excessive choice options, stock imagery, and poor mobile experiences, Tobi discusses practical strategies to create a compelling and user-friendly volunteer hub. She emphasizes the importance of clear calls to action, authentic visuals,...
Do you find it uncomfortable giving feedback to volunteers? You're not alone! In this episode of Volunteer Nation, Tobi Johnson walks you through how to deliver clear, confident feedback to your volunteers in a way that fosters growth, maintains trust, and avoids discomfort. Whether it's reinforcing great behavior or correcting issues, Tobi shares real examples and practical scripts you can start using right away. You'll learn the difference between corrective, confirming, and th...
In this episode of Volunteer Nation, Tobi Johnson dives into the heart of what makes a volunteer team truly thrive: community. Drawing from both personal experience and well-established sociological principles, Tobi explores five essential pillars that foster a sense of belonging and connection among volunteers and between volunteers and staff. This episode is a must-listen for volunteer leaders who want to create a more collaborative, motivated, and mission-driven team. Whether you're ...
In this episode of Volunteer Nation, Tobi Johnson dives into the key findings from the Giving USA 2025 report and uncovers the powerful link between volunteerism and philanthropy. Tobi explores how individual donors and volunteer leaders are shaping the future of nonprofit fundraising, and why community support has never been more essential. Whether you're a nonprofit leader, volunteer coordinator, or board member, you'll walk away with actionable tips for harnessing the power of volunt...
In this episode of Volunteer Nation, Tobi Johnson dives into the essential human needs that drive a meaningful and rewarding volunteer experience—safety, connection, and purpose. Tobi explores how creating a predictable, emotionally safe environment lays the foundation for trust. She explains why fostering strong peer connections is just as crucial as delivering information, and how helping volunteers see the direct impact of their efforts brings deeper meaning to their service. F...
In this episode of Volunteer Nation, Tobi Johnson addresses a persistent and deeply rooted challenge in the nonprofit sector: the lack of buy-in and active support for volunteers across entire organizations—not just within volunteer departments. Drawing from the VolunteerPro Impact Lab seminar and a decade of data from the Volunteer Management Progress Report, Tobi urges nonprofit executives to reframe volunteer support as a staff performance issue, not a matter of personal "buy-in." Sh...
In this episode of Volunteer Nation, Tobi Johnson is joined by Sam Fankuchen, founder and CEO of Golden, about how nonprofit organizations can stay resilient and keep civic engagement alive amid uncertainty, disasters, and radical funding cuts. They discuss current stresses in the nonprofit sector, particularly around funding uncertainties, and share practical tips for organizations to pivot and adapt their missions to serve community needs effectively. Sam introduces Golden's $500 mil...
In this episode of Volunteer Nation, Tobi Johnson shares a simple yet powerful four-step framework to help you train volunteers more effectively. Drawing on decades of experience in instructional design and facilitation, Tobi breaks down what makes training truly impactful and what to avoid. Whether you're building a new training from scratch or refreshing your current approach, this episode will help you streamline your process, boost volunteer confidence, and focus on what really matt...
In this episode of Volunteer Nation, Tobi Johnson is joined by Allyson Ferrari, Director of Connections at Lighthouse for the Blind and Visually Impaired, to explore how organizations can make volunteering more inclusive and accessible. Together, they dive into practical strategies for building, growing, and scaling volunteer talent by designing opportunities that welcome people with disabilities. From addressing legal and logistical challenges to embracing neurodiversity and co-creatin...
In this episode of Volunteer Nation, Tobi Johnson unpacks a powerful mindset shift in the nonprofit world: moving beyond volunteer compliance and toward building a thriving volunteer community. Tobi explores the delicate balance between ensuring accountability and fostering genuine connection, trust, and shared purpose among your volunteers. Through real-world insights and practical examples, she contrasts the limiting effects of compliance-heavy approaches with the energizing impact of...
In this episode of Volunteer Nation, Tobi Johnson sits down with Jennifer Sirangelo, President & CEO of Points of Light, to explore why volunteerism is not just a “nice to have”, it’s a necessity. Jennifer shares her inspiring journey into the nonprofit world and offers a behind-the-scenes look at Points of Light’s mission to position volunteer management as essential infrastructure. Together, they unpack key insights from the groundbreaking report From Nice to Necessary, which outl...
In this episode of Volunteer Nation, Tobi Johnson dives into one of the most powerful, yet often overlooked, tools for volunteer engagement: human connection. Tobi reminds us that it's not tech tools or training manuals that drive true engagement, it's trust, belonging, and meaningful relationships. Tobi unpacks why emotional closeness matters in volunteerism and shares six practical ways to cultivate connection, from hosting informal social gatherings to designing team-based roles, co-...
In this powerful follow-up episode of The Volunteer Nation Podcast, Tobi Johnson continues her insightful conversation with Jenni Field, diving deeper into the leadership principles that drive meaningful change, especially for those managing volunteers. Together, they unpack the nuanced differences between authenticity and vulnerability in leadership, highlighting how empathy, flexibility, and consistent action can earn trust and credibility with both volunteers and colleagues. To...
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