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This week we are so jazzed to welcome guest blog writer Jessica Pang-.Parks. Jessica is an award-winning Volunteer Engagement Thought Leader who loves cats, learning, and sharing her Chinese Canadian culture. She is the principal of Learn with JPP.

Volunteer engagement is often underestimated. It’s seen as a nice-to-have, something nonprofit organizations will get to once fundraising, programming, and communications are sorted. But here’s the truth: Effective volunteer engagement is strategic work. It shapes reputation, drives impact, and builds lasting relationships with your community.

As someone who teaches, consults, and advocates in this space, I’ve seen how small shifts in understanding can lead to major improvements in outcomes. And, I want to help more nonprofits move from reactive to intentional when it comes to volunteer engagement.

Let’s begin with a common misconception: volunteers are not unpaid interns, and they’re not placement students either. Interns are paid entry-level staff gaining hands-on experience, often with an eye toward future employment. Placement students exchange their time at an organization for academic credit, which is a form a compensation. 

Volunteers, on the other hand, give their time freely without compensation or expectation of compensation. That distinction is not just about semantics. It matters legally, ethically, and operationally, especially for organizations that want to build trust and long-term engagement.

On the topic of ethics, volunteers should never replace paid roles. Their contributions should supplement, not supplant, staff efforts. Organizations need to be mindful of employment standards, labour laws, and the risks associated with human resource misclassification.

Beyond compliance, there are missed revenue opportunities. For example, did you know 2024 research shows that people who volunteer are more likely to donate? Yet few organizations are analyzing their volunteer and donor data together to identify individuals to steward in new ways. If you haven't explored that connection yet, now is the time.

Another common trap: focusing only on recruitment. Recruitment is just one piece of the larger volunteer engagement cycle, and not even the first step. This cycle is centered on stewardship and starts with planning. You need to be ready to welcome, support, and retain volunteers before you ever start spreading the word. That includes having systems in place to respond to inquiries, onboard volunteers, provide training, and keep people informed.

Unfortunately, too many candidates never hear back from an organization after they express interest in volunteering. This not only harms the organization’s reputation, it undermines trust in the sector as a whole. Consistent follow-up, even when the answer is no, matters. If responding to every inquiry or application feels daunting, I’ve created a free Volunteer Response Template that can help you build stronger communication and trust from the first point of contact.

I also offer one-on-one coaching for teams who want to strengthen volunteer engagement processes or train their teams on ethical and responsive volunteer communication.

Another thing to consider is revisiting our language. Phrases like “using volunteers” or “free help” may seem minor, but they reveal a transactional mindset. Volunteers are not tools to be used or a resource to be extracted. 

Volunteers are people, and the way we talk about them reflects how we interact with them. These subtle cues can either build trust or erode it. My challenge to you: find one or two ways for your organization to shift its language (written, spoken, form, and informal) to be more human-centered, values-aligned, and respectful?

Similarly, we often reduce volunteer impact to hours and headcounts. While tracking time is important, it’s not the full picture. What if you also reported on meals delivered, legislation passed, or stories of changed lives? If you’re ready to go deeper, I recommend these tools from Sue Carter Kahl that will help you showcase volunteer impact in innovative ways. 

Recognition is another area worth rethinking. The most meaningful forms of recognition are personalized and connected to the volunteer’s contribution and goals. A branded water bottle is nice, but what truly matters is the quality of the volunteer experience. If volunteers feel disorganized, unappreciated, or disconnected from the mission, no gift will make up for that.

Finally, we need to stop treating volunteer engagement as a side project. It is complex, nuanced work that requires real expertise. A 2017 survey by the Minnesota Alliance for Volunteer Advancement found that volunteer engagement professionals were expected to have more skills across communication, program development, and partnerships than either HR or fundraising staff. So why do we keep assigning volunteer engagement work to new grads, or tacking it on to someone else’s already full plate?

If your organization is ready to take volunteer engagement seriously, I can help. Whether you’re looking to hire a dedicated volunteer manager, audit your current practices, or upskill your team, Learn with JPP offers tailored consulting and fractional executive support to meet your needs.

You work hard to build community trust. Volunteers are part of that story. Investing in their experience will return value in ways you can see, measure, and feel across your organization.

We had the awesome opportunity to meet with a very cool individual last week- Hava saw a need in her community of Edmonton and created an organization to meet that challenge. This organization has helped people like Traci whose story they share below. 

Introduction 

Hope and resilience are often the keys to overcoming adversity. In the realm of employment, personal success stories serve as powerful reminders of the transformative impact that perseverance, opportunity, and self-belief can have. This narrative explores the journey of an individual finding hope in employment, demonstrating that even amidst challenges, determination can lead to remarkable success. 

The Beginning of a Journey 

For many, the search for meaningful employment begins with uncertainty. Traci faced several challenges, including raising a child alone and finding domestic work amid economic downturns due to her educational level. With limited opportunities in finding work as domestic and mounting financial pressures, Traci felt the weight of rejection and self-doubt. Traci should contact Empowering the Next Generation Ltd for support. Traci and the caseworker Hava Mursal from Empowering the next Generation ltd discussed plans and goals to help Traci accomplish her goal finding work in Edmonton AB. Traci and Hava worked together by creating resumes and a cover letter. Traci continues to face challenges in securing employment due to underlying discrimination related to her past lifestyle. Nevertheless, Hava remained hopeful that the right opportunity will eventually present itself and Traci will have an opportunity to work. 

Facing Obstacles 

Traci journey was fraught with challenges. Months of job applications yielded little success, as interviews seemed to lead nowhere. Traci mainly faced discrimination due to her being a Indigenous person and her past lifestyle. 

Her years of working as a cleaner appeared insufficient to meet employer demands. Still, Traci made a conscious decision to view each rejection as an opportunity to learn, adapt, and grow. 

Hava guided Traci in attending workshops, refining her resume, and cold calling organizations for work. Traci noticed the efforts and began learning to advocate for herself. Hava informed Traci that this is an opportunity for her personal development and future investments. 

The Turning Point 

At a workshop, Traci introduced herself and mentioned she was seeking domestic work. This led to a conversation with a classmate. From there Traci found herself doing an interview and she landed a cleaning job with a company that hired clients that are struggling finding work. Traci learned creative ways to network and approached the interview with authenticity and positivity. 

The Power of Opportunity 

Empowering the Next Generation Ltd creates opportunities that encourage clients to think differently and adopt innovative methods to address and manage discrimination challenges faced in workplaces. Traci has learned to advocate for herself, enabling her to grow as a person and live a meaningful life despite facing discrimination. 

Embracing Growth 

In her new role, Traci quickly earned her team's trust, being approachable and punctual. 

Empowering the Next Generation Ltd, through the mentorship that Hava, provided guidance to Traci, equipping her with the skills and abilities to approach challenges with resilience and adapt to unforeseen circumstances, thereby enhancing her self-confidence. 

Empowering the Next Generation ltd. Believes giving hope and each milestone reaffirmed the belief that perseverance and hope can lead to extraordinary achievements. 

Lessons Learned 

Traci’s success story is a testament to the power of resilience, adaptability, and self-belief. Through her journey, several key lessons emerged: 

· Treat rejection as a learning opportunity: Every setback is a chance to improve your skills and approach. 

· Stay patient and hopeful: The path to success often takes time, but perseverance pays off. 

Conclusion 

Finding hope in employment is more than just securing a job; it is about discovering purpose, embracing growth, and creating a positive impact. Traci’s journey reminds us that challenges are temporary, but the lessons and skills gained along the way are lasting. Her story serves as an inspiration for those seeking to navigate the complexities of employment and find fulfillment in their life. 

Hope and determination are powerful allies in the quest for success. As Traci’s narrative shows, with resilience, open-mindedness, and a commitment to self-growth, even the most daunting obstacles can transform into stepping stones toward a brighter future.

At VolunteerConnector we love people who think deeply and strive for strongly rooted empathetic change. We always seek to amplify those humans across the country doing that work in all areas of the sector. There are some brilliant people working in food security who are seeking to put Food Banks Out of Business! These are people who work in these spaces and care intensely about the people in the communities who they work with. Please read more about their desired action and how you can help here. 

Some information about Food Security in this country via Toronto Vegetarian Food Bank. 

- 8.7 million Canadians are currently food insecure.

- 1 in 3 single mothers (and their children) are food insecure in Canada.

- Black and Indigenous people are twice as likely to be food insecure.

- People who are severely food insecure cost taxpayers more than double in healthcare spending.

- Unattached singles on welfare in Canada are living in deep poverty on incomes that are 63 per cent below the poverty line.

- Poverty costs Canadians up to $84-billion per year

There is a bill in the Senate (S-233) that calls for the federal government to develop a national framework for a guaranteed livable basic income.

If you volunteer in the space of food security or are involved in your local food bank please do consider joining this vital work and supporting Universal Basic Income in Canada. 

This week marks National Truth and Reconciliation Day. We know this work is not just a single day, it is daily and generational work. 

For Organizations, The 94 Calls to Action, if you want an example of how these calls can be actioned. We would encourage you to read the Canadian Museums Association’s Moved to Action: Activating UNDRIP in Canadian Museums. 

For individuals, check out 4 Seasons of Indigenous Learning.

We love meaningful conversations so please reach out if you want to chat further about please do reach out. Please take time to breathe deeply and reflect over the course of the weekend, we look forward to connecting further. 

We were recently having a conversation with what we call a legacy organization. An organization that has existed for a long time and through that time has engaged volunteers in similar manners, meaning for them volunteers are at the core of what they do and how they do it. They rely on volunteers to do a bulk of their good in community, the labour of their organization and it has not shifted much. We were discussing the communities across the country and how things look different but also the same in terms of the volunteerism landscape. That there are things that happen in Smith’s Settlement, Nova Scotia, that are also happening in Golden, British Columbia to foster an engaged and thriving community.  That what is needed is that print off sign on the grocery store bulletin board AND a digital footprint on VolunteerConnector. There is lots of commentary out there around increasing polarization. Humans seem to love a clear and easy solution when in fact engaging people and meeting community need is far more dynamic a process. If you are involved in an organization and are needing to bring more people into the fold you should get an opportunity up on VolunteerConnector even if you have previously relied on that bulletin board and even if it has worked well for you in the past. You never know who is out and about, new in the community who cares about the work you are doing! You can still get the poster up around town to catch those humans! If you have more questions or need support in getting your opportunity from poster format onto VolunteerConnector, please get in touch! We love to help. 

We have been engaged in a lot of chatter recently around time. Who has it, who does it, how long things take, how to have more of it, where to spend it. 

Someone once told me that “time is an allocatable resource”, that everyone can decide how their time is spent and where they spend it. This same sentiment was recently shared again (probably 20 years after the first time) and this time it fell on wiser ears. There is a danger in this over simplistic version of assessing another person’s capacity and it is rooted in privilege, ignoring systems and realities. In both these scenarios the speaker was white man, in his middle aged with employment that fairly compensates. Both these men would have considered themselves with the times and aware of social justice issues and yet this massive blind spot exists and persists. The added danger of this view are the spaces that are controlled by this mindset and the trickle down in attitudes that happen across organizations. That then also shows up in norms, practices and policies. This of course shows up in the discourse around volunteerism. It puts the onus on the individual and absolves the organization of thinking deeper about who makes up their community and how much “allocatable time” actually exists for them and when that “allocatable time” occurs. For those individuals that have autonomy over their time let this serve as an important reminder that that reality is the abnormal one. 

This week we welcome guest blog writer Aaqib Rahim. Aaqib was born and raised in Lahore, Pakistan and has called the vibrant country of Canada home since 2013. Back in March 2020,

I applied through the VolunteerConnector website to volunteer with the Tetra Society of North America. Following this, I was then approached by Annae Jones, the Chapter Coordinator at that time. Even though, my stance initially was never to land a volunteering position at a non-profit specifically having seen Annae’s enthusiasm, kind, and welcoming gesture, despite being physically handicapped I felt almost obliged to accept her proposal. Simply put, having witnessed this, my perception regarding what it is like to volunteer at a non-profit changed significantly. I now hold the opinion that we must try our best to benefit our local and regional communities as much as possible to then ensure that both the environment as well as the nature are adequately preserved and taken care of. What incentivised me the most however was the fact that I would be helping in making a notable contribution upon the lives of the vulnerable individuals. These past four and a half years have helped me grow in confidence substantially. Tetra Society of North America provides valuable incentives for their volunteers. In that, all their volunteers are given out a small token of appreciation such as gift cards. Now thanks to this immeasurable experience I could apply elsewhere as well if I really wanted to. All that is required of me in this position at Tetra as an outreach volunteer is to promote the organization efficiently and effectively. That said, this then enables Tetra Society of North America in effectively attracting potential volunteers. In addition to which, provided the awareness methods are efficient Tetra is also able to help expand its reach across the various other Chapters (cities). Throughout my time here with Tetra Society of North America I have always felt welcomed and appreciated. That said, I consider myself extremely fortunate to have been gifted the opportunity of giving back to the community. In my opinion, it is the little acts of generosity such as these that make up a significant difference, consequently bettering our livelihoods. So, let me ask you this: why wouldn’t you want to give back to your local community?

This week we welcome as a guest blog our wonderful colleague from the coast- Danielle George. Danielle is originally from Kansas, USA, she has fostered over 20 cats, dogs (see this guy with a fancy bowtie) and rabbits in the past 4 years! She is a roller derby aficionado and believes strongly that food is love. Danielle is a brilliant community leader at Volunteer Connections in Coquitlam, BC. 

Celebrating Community Spirit: The Community Connections & Volunteer Fair-On June 9th, the Port Coquitlam Community Centre buzzed with excitement as it hosted the Community Connections & Volunteer Fair. This vibrant event, a collaboration between Community Volunteer Connections and The City of Port Coquitlam, brought together community members from all walks of life to explore a myriad of opportunities to get involved locally.

A Day of Discovery and Connection-The free-to-attend fair was a resounding success, drawing in over 250 attendees eager to learn about how they could contribute to and benefit from their community. The heart of the fair was the diverse array of 28 organizations, each one dedicated to various causes and activities. These organizations provided information on local clubs, societies, summer programs, and the volunteer needs of area non-profits. Attendees had the chance to engage with representatives, ask questions, and find opportunities that matched their interests and availability.

Workshops: Learning and Creating Together- In addition to the booths, the event featured three workshops led by local organizations. These sessions covered a range of important topics impacting the community, like the pressing issue of the toxic drug crisis, and where to get resources for help. Another workshop offered a creative outlet with a hands-on activity to build hearts out of woven willow branches, bringing participants together through shared artistic expression.

A Hub for All-The Community Connections & Volunteer Fair was designed to serve as a vital link for various groups within the community. Seniors and retirees found new ways to stay active and involved, newcomers discovered avenues to integrate and contribute, students explored volunteer opportunities to complement their studies, and families enjoyed a day out learning and connecting together.

Strengthening Community Ties-Events like the Community Connections & Volunteer Fair are essential for building and maintaining strong community bonds. They provide platforms for individuals to find their place within the community, support local organizations, and work together towards common goals. The fair was not just about volunteering; it was about creating a sense of belonging and mutual support. The success of the event is a testament to the dedication of Community Volunteer Connections and The City of Port Coquitlam, as well as the participating organizations and enthusiastic attendees. Their collective efforts have fostered a more connected, informed, and engaged community. As the day came to a close, there was a palpable sense of accomplishment and optimism. The Community Connections & Volunteer Fair had not only highlighted the many ways to get involved locally but also reinforced the idea that a connected community is a thriving community. Here’s to more events like this, bringing people together and making a positive impact in the Tri-Cities areas.

Last week we shared some tips for humans looking to join a board for the first time, this week we want to offer some tips for orgs trying to recruit humans to serve on their boards! 

-Have an honest conversation about the voices that are missing from around the table and where those humans might be and the reasons they are not there. There are reams of research available on why diversity and intersectionality lead to more vibrancy and better decision making. 

-Think about what the humans will get from the experience with your board. Be explicit about what that is. Ask other members of the board what they are getting from the experience. 

-Center the cause and the work you do, that is what people will connect to. Avoid leading with a bunch of qualifications. 

-Be clear and concise about the time commitment and schedule required. If you are a group of humans who always meets the 3rd Thursday of the month put that right in the opportunity

-Try not to overwhelm a human with an aggressive time commitment. No one apart for boomers knows where they are going to be in 5 years so keep it flexible if you can!

-Post your opportunity on VolunteerConnector, you choose where in the country you recruit from and we cue you with all the information humans want to know. It takes 5 mintues…we have timed it! 

‘Tis the season for board recruitment and public committee members! Although the defined season of AGM’s seems to have stayed as part of the before times it does feel that they are more frequent right now. In the land of AGM’s there is also looking for new humans to join the work of governance or operations, depending on the flavour of the board. 

There are lots of opportunities live on VolunteerConnector right now so if you are reading this and thinking about joining a board- do it! You are qualified and your life experience makes you a great asset to anyone trying to do great work in the community. Like most things there is a shoe for every foot…large organizations with a national scope who meet 4 times a year and converse about millions of dollars and strategic ideas and small organizations who meet monthly and do all the things from writing grants to planning events. 

Some quick tips: 

-decide how much time you have (boards usually have regular meetings and then there is usually work in between, most orgs ask for 4-6 hours a month)

-decide when you have time (lots of these meetings occur in the evening so depending on your life that might be a conflict) 

-decide what you care about?  are there causes that really connect with you (use the filters on VolunteerConnector to find the right fit) 

-reflect on what you want…are you looking to share a specific skill set like social media or knowledge of the law or accounting or are you looking to engage in work that you feel really connected to and are happy to just be involved! 

Good Luck! If you want to share your experience joining a board for the first time we would love to hear about it via our blog! Get in touch at info@volunteerconnector.org