Time + Talent Podcast

410. Diversifying Your Volunteer Team - It Can Be Done!

Show Notes: During the height of COVID, CASA of San Joaquin County faced the fact that over 1500 children from the County were living in foster care. These abused and neglected children had been removed from their families and placed in foster homes, group homes (now called STRTPs), or even at our county's homeless shelter. To address this challenge, CASA connects children and youth living in foster care with a community volunteer who makes an 18-24 month commitment to advocate and mentor ...

409. From AmeriCorps to Her Doctorate: One Leader's Journey

Courtney Tull joins us to talk about her work with volunteers and  her journey - so far! Starting with her work as an AmeriCorps member she found a connection with the work of leading and engaging volunteers in the community. Since that first experience, Courtney has achieved her CVA (Certified in Volunteer Administration), her Masters in Administration of Human Services, and completed her Doctorate in Social Sciences. While working for Habitat for Humanity Sussex County in Delaware, C...

408. Using Volunteer Feedback and Reflection to Boost Engagement

MobileServe helps groups like schools - from elementary to college - and companies connect with nonprofits to access service learning opportunities. They also allow those groups to gather information and feedback from the students and employees participating. Kevin Bauman joins us to talk about what they’ve learned by reviewing the information they’ve collected around impact. For volunteers - whether they’re students or adults - volunteering can offer the opportunity to make an impact, b...

407. Evolving Your Model to Empower Women

Theresa Goebel-Menting founded and directs the We EmpowHer Women’s Empowerment Series, aimed at helping marginalized women and their families overcome challenges that may be holding them back from their true potential. This program provides mentorship, support, and education for women in the Fond du Lac community. Since its inception, Theresa has provided direct supervision to members of the committee, as well as direct mentorship to participants involved.  In this interview, we chat with ...

406. Youth Volunteers as Leaders

MuslimDepiction is a nonprofit that brings awareness and teaches about the diversity and culture of the Middle East. Through the help of volunteers and their newsletter, they spread the word about the nonprofit throughout America. They are also currently raising funds to build a school in Bali for over 60 students in preschool-kindergarten. In this episode, Zainab shares how she has engaged volunteers to spread the word on their campuses, pass out flyers, print posters, advocate within the...

405. Building Flexibility Through Team-Based Direct Service

404. How One Zoo Reimagined Engagement Through the Pandemic

The Chester Zoo introduced a range of micro-volunteering activities alongside our traditional roles to engage the community in conservation action and volunteering in various ways from citizen science projects from home using motion sensor cameras in people's gardens to discover hedgehog habits to digital roles such as writing subtitles, researching and checking data to responding to letters from school children and school groups when they wrote to the zoo.  At the same time, the Chester Z...

403. Helping Veterans Fight Loneliness through Remote Volunteering

In this episode, Prince Taylor, Deputy Director, VA Center for Development & Civic Engagement at the US Department of Veterans Affairs shares how their organization moved a friendly visitor program online and adapted it for remote volunteers.   The Compassionate Contact Corps is a virtual social prescription program where trained volunteers are matched with Veterans that are experiencing loneliness or are socially isolated. The volunteer typically calls the veteran weekly for 15-60 minutes...

402. Build a Better Volunteer Handbook with a Team Approach

In 2021, during the pandemic, Holden Forests and Gardens began work on the foundation components for their volunteer engagement strategy. One of those efforts was a volunteer-led task force to redevelop their Volunteer Handbook. In this episode, Tracee Patterson Associate Director of Volunteer and Employee Engagement, Sarah Hartley Manager of Volunteer Resources, and Patrick Biliter Volunteer Handbook Review Task Force Team Leader share the work they did to evaluate and redesign their Volu...

401. Welcome to Season 4

Season 4 of the Time + Talent Podcast is here and we're finally caught up! Tobi and Jennifer are back with a second season of the year. We generally post one season per year; however Season 3 was posted earlier this year - having been delayed by COVID. Now, Tobi and Jenimfer are back on track to share innovative and inspirational stories from practitioners in the field of nonprofit volunteer and community engagement. The good news is that nonprofits are building back from COVID and a glo...

310. The Leadership Path - from Volunteer Services to the C-Suite

Kelly Furnas of Operation Kindness shares her professional journey from Director of Volunteer Services to Chief Operating Officer in less than two years and the leadership mindset and actions that made this path possible. Founded in 1976, Operation Kindness is a pioneer in North Texas for providing assistance to animals in need of medical care, companionship, and a home. In addition to pet adoptions, they provide extensive medical care for animals, a foster program, a pet food pantry, a surr...

Episode 310 - The Leadership Path - from Volunteer Services to the C-Suite

Kelly Furnas of Operation Kindness shares her professional journey from Director of Volunteer Services to Chief Operating Officer in less than two years and the leadership mindset and actions that made this path possible. Founded in 1976, Operation Kindness is a pioneer in North Texas for providing assistance to animals in need of medical care, companionship, and a home. In addition to pet adoptions, they provide extensive medical care for animals, a foster program, a pet food pantry, a surr...

309. Balancing the Needs of Employees and Volunteers

What happens when a volunteer manager needs to balance the needs of volunteers and paid staff? At the Lloyd Moss Free Clinic Andrea SpringerCollins takes a straightforward approach based in clear communication. In this episode she shares her approach and the systems she’s implemented to successfully manage these relationships. Over 25 years ago, the Lloyd F. Moss Free Clinic began with medical and non-medical volunteers offering limited services two evenings a week in the Amy Guest Wing of...

Episode 309 - Balancing the Needs of Employees and Volunteers

What happens when a volunteer manager needs to balance the needs of volunteers and paid staff? At the Lloyd Moss Free Clinic Andrea SpringerCollins takes a straightforward approach based in clear communication. In this episode she shares her approach and the systems she’s implemented to successfully manage these relationships. Over 25 years ago, the Lloyd F. Moss Free Clinic began with medical and non-medical volunteers offering limited services two evenings a week in the Amy Guest Wing of t...

308. Tapping the Potential of (Career) Volunteers

Kara McLaughlin of Mesa Community Action Network shares how “career volunteers” play a pivotal role in guiding her agency’s program development and how they grow their leadership pipeline by fostering a welcoming culture and by integrating volunteers into operations at every level. A New Leaf is a nonprofit organization, providing a broad spectrum of support services to help individuals & families in need. Whether it be the loss of a job, a medical crisis, domestic violence, homelessness, ...

Episode 308 - Tapping the Potential of (Career) Volunteers

Kara McLaughlin of Mesa Community Action Network shares how “career volunteers” play a pivotal role in guiding her agency’s program development and how they grow their leadership pipeline by fostering a welcoming culture and by integrating volunteers into operations at every level. A New Leaf is a nonprofit organization, providing a broad spectrum of support services to help individuals & families in need. Whether it be the loss of a job, a medical crisis, domestic violence, homelessness, ...

Episode 307 - Connecting with Volunteers During Times of Change

Elena Laguna of Oxfam shares how her organization navigated openings and closings of their retail shops due to COVID, which are the primary source of unrestricted funding for the organization’s work, all while maintaining a sense of community amongst their volunteers. Oxfam is an international non-governmental organization working with others to challenge inequality, overcome poverty and work with people to thrive, not just survive. For over 75 years, Oxfam has led a movement of people dedica...

307. Connecting with Volunteers During Times of Change

Elena Laguna of Oxfam shares how her organization navigated openings and closings of their retail shops due to COVID, which are the primary source of unrestricted funding for the organization’s work, all while maintaining a sense of community amongst their volunteers. Oxfam is an international non-governmental organization working with others to challenge inequality, overcome poverty and work with people to thrive, not just survive. For over 75 years, Oxfam has led a movement of people dedic...

Episode 306 - Quilting for Justice

Lauren Black from the Social Justice Sewing Academy talks about the opportunity her organization had to completely rethink the way they engaged volunteers, and to launch an entirely new volunteer engagement strategy during a pandemic. What do you do when a pandemic strikes and your organization’s mission is running workshops for kids and teens? You launch an entirely new strategy engaging individual skills-based volunteers - at least that’s what you do if you’re the Social Justice Sewing A...

306. Quilting for Justice

Lauren Black from the Social Justice Sewing Academy talks about the opportunity her organization had to completely rethink the way they engaged volunteers, and to launch an entirely new volunteer engagement strategy during a pandemic. What do you do when a pandemic strikes and your organization’s mission is running workshops for kids and teens? You launch an entirely new strategy engaging individual skills-based volunteers - at least that’s what you do if you’re the Social Justice Sewing A...

305. How Remote Volunteering Gave this Organization an Edge!

Michele Wiesner of Hire Heroes USA shares how her organization was given an “edge” when it comes to engaging volunteers during a pandemic and how they have been growing capacity through remote volunteering since 2005. Hire Heroes USA provides employment assistance services to thousands of transitioning military members each year. Through personalized service and support, they help veterans and military spouses get hired, and they help companies hire and retain them. As the director of ca...

Episode 305 - How Remote Volunteering Gave this Organization an Edge!

Michele Wiesner of Hire Heroes USA shares how her organization was given an “edge” when it comes to engaging volunteers during a pandemic and how they have been growing capacity through remote volunteering since 2005. Hire Heroes USA provides employment assistance services to thousands of transitioning military members each year. Through personalized service and support, they help veterans and military spouses get hired, and they help companies hire and retain them. As the director of ca...

304. Managing Change through Strategic Communications

Elizabeth Garrabrant from the Mid-Ohio Food Collective shares how she’s engaging new types of volunteers in new ways to meet the needs of her community during the second year of the pandemic. The Mid-Ohio Food Collective serves 20 counties in central and eastern Ohio. They run a foodbank as well as a community kitchen and market. They also operate a farm, and farmacy - providing healthy food options to ensure that community members stay healthy even while facing food insecurity. During t...

Episode 304 - Managing Change through Strategic Communications

Elizabeth Garrabrant from the Mid-Ohio Food Collective shares how she’s engaging new types of volunteers in new ways to meet the needs of her community during the second year of the pandemic. The Mid-Ohio Food Collective serves 20 counties in central and eastern Ohio. They run a foodbank as well as a community kitchen and market. They also operate a farm, and farmacy - providing healthy food options to ensure that community members stay healthy even while facing food insecurity. During t...

Episode 303 - Easy Technology Solutions for Older Adult Volunteers

Sara Bumgarner, Volunteer Services Manager & RSVP Director of the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) of the Treasure Coast shares how her organization re-purposed use of a simple online device to help volunteers and patients stay connected during COVID. The VNA of the Treasure Coast was founded over 40 years ago with the distinct mission of fulfilling the need to provide homecare for local residents of Indian River County, Florida.The VNA operates Hospice House, a 12-room state of the art faci...

303. Easy Technology Solutions for Older Adult Volunteers

Sara Bumgarner, Volunteer Services Manager and RSVP Director of the Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) of the Treasure Coast shares how her organization re-purposed use of a simple online device to help volunteers and patients stay connected during COVID. The VNA of the Treasure Coast was founded over 40 years ago with the distinct mission of fulfilling the need to provide homecare for local residents of Indian River County, Florida.The VNA operates Hospice House, a 12-room state of the art ...

Episode 302 - Why Do Volunteer Managers Adopt New Technology?

Mark Hager shares his exciting research on technology adoption in volunteer management. This research was conducted in conjunction with CCVA and focused on CVAs and how they’ve changed or adopted technology during the pandemic. Mark Hager has been leading the field in research on volunteer management and engagement for years. He has recently released an update on his original Volunteer Management Capacity Study and his new work on Technology Evolution in Volunteer Administration. He joins ...

302. Why Do Volunteer Managers Adopt New Technology?

Mark Hager shares his exciting research on technology adoption in volunteer management. This research was conducted in conjunction with CCVA and focused on CVAs and how they’ve changed or adopted technology during the pandemic. Mark Hager has been leading the field in research on volunteer management and engagement for years. He has recently released an update on his original Volunteer Management Capacity Study and his new work on Technology Evolution in Volunteer Administration. He joins ...

301. Welcome to Season 3!

Tobi Johnson, President & Founder of VolunteerPro, and Jennifer Bennett, Director, Education and Training at VolunteerMatch talk about the Season 3 themes and their thoughts on how leaders of volunteers are continuing to adapt and evolve to engaging volunteers during the ongoing pandemic. Season 3 of the Time + Talent Podcast is finally here! Tobi and Jennifer are back to share exciting and inspirational stories from practitioners in the field of volunteer management. We didn’t think we’d ...

Episode 301 - Welcome to Season 3!

Tobi Johnson, President & Founder of VolunteerPro, and Jennifer Bennett, Director , Education & Training at VolunteerMatch talk about the Season 3 themes and their thoughts on how leaders of volunteers are continuing to adapt and evolve to engaging volunteers during the ongoing pandemic. Season 3 of the Time + Talent Podcast is finally here! Tobi and Jennifer are back to share exciting and inspirational stories from practitioners in the field of volunteer management. We didn’t think we’d s...

Episode 209 - Becoming an Architect of the Volunteer Experience

During Faiza’s work with volunteers, she has radically shifted how she sees her role and the work of leading and engaging volunteers. Initially, she focused on the processes - ensuring that her work, the work of onboarding and managing volunteers, was systematic and thorough. But now she sees her role as an internal consultant and facilitator to help ensure that others in the organization are successfully engaging and building relationships with volunteers.  Faiza shares how the YMCA of Gr...

209. Becoming an Architect of the Volunteer Experience

During Faiza’s work with volunteers, she has radically shifted how she sees her role and the work of leading and engaging volunteers. Initially, she focused on the processes - ensuring that her work, the work of onboarding and managing volunteers, was systematic and thorough. But now she sees her role as an internal consultant and facilitator to help ensure that others in the organization are successfully engaging and building relationships with volunteers.  Faiza shares how the YMCA of Gr...

Episode 208 - Transforming Your Volunteer Strategy from the Ground Up

SOAR365 (formerly the Greater Richmond Arc) was founded 65 years ago by parents determined to find new and different ways to support their children with disabilities. The agency provides a range of services and employment opportunities for people of all ages with a wide range of abilities. Alison was hired a few years ago to transform their volunteer strategy. With the agency goal of “becoming Best-in-Class in all that we do,” the agency’s executive director included volunteer engagement i...

208. Transforming Your Volunteer Strategy from the Ground Up

SOAR365 (formerly the Greater Richmond Arc) was founded 65 years ago by parents determined to find new and different ways to support their children with disabilities. The agency provides a range of services and employment opportunities for people of all ages with a wide range of abilities. Alison was hired a few years ago to transform their volunteer strategy. With the agency goal of “becoming Best-in-Class in all that we do,” the agency’s executive director included volunteer engagement i...

207. Corporate Social Responsibility Its a Two-Way Street

Show Notes: Nicolle Lee from Voya Financial joins us to pull back the curtain and share her company's employee volunteer program's strategies. Voya Financial has just seen an increase in participation in their volunteer events they've also discovered additional benefits to deploying employees as volunteers in the community. In the past, Voya Financial’s Employee Volunteer Program was similar to many - legacy events that were uninspired and unfocused. But not anymore. Voya decided to re-e...

Episode 207 - Corporate Social Responsibility Its a Two-Way Street

Show Notes: Nicolle Lee from Voya Financial joins us to pull back the curtain and share her company's employee volunteer program's strategies. Voya Financial has just seen an increase in participation in their volunteer events they've also discovered additional benefits to deploying employees as volunteers in the community. In the past, Voya Financial’s Employee Volunteer Program was similar to many - legacy events that were uninspired and unfocused. But not anymore. Voya decided to re-e...

206. Strengthening the Impact of Young Professional Volunteers

Show Notes: Like many organization’s Habitat for Humanity, NYC has faced challenges when tapping into the time and talent of young professionals, but Ricardo Sebastian seems to have found the secret to success! When Ricardo took over the management of the Board he narrowed the focus of the Young Professionals Board to advocacy and fundraising and asked all current members to reapply. He wasn’t discouraged when only 3 existing members wanted to continue, and through careful and thoughtful...

Episode 206 - Strengthening the Impact of Young Professional Volunteers

Show Notes: Like many organization’s Habitat for Humanity, NYC has faced challenges when tapping into the time and talent of young professionals, but Ricardo Sebastian seems to have found the secret to success! When Ricardo took over the management of the Board he narrowed the focus of the Young Professionals Board to advocacy and fundraising and asked all current members to reapply. He wasn’t discouraged when only 3 existing members wanted to continue, and through careful and thoughtful...

Episode 205 - Digital Transformation as the New Normal - Moving Mentoring Online

Oasis Institute is the largest intergenerational K-3 mentoring program in the nation with 83 school districts and 4000 tutors. The average volunteer is a 72-year-old woman - many are former teachers, moms, grandmas, or others who have worked with children. They volunteer for an hour a week, and with an average tenure of 17 years. All tutoring took place in person before COVID-19 required a pivot. With shelter-in-place, they had to reinvent their whole program. Elizabeth worked to understan...

205. Digital Transformation as the New Normal - Moving Mentoring Online

Oasis Institute is the largest intergenerational K-3 mentoring program in the nation with 83 school districts and 4000 tutors. The average volunteer is a 72-year-old woman - many are former teachers, moms, grandmas, or others who have worked with children. They volunteer for an hour a week, and with an average tenure of 17 years. All tutoring took place in person before COVID-19 required a pivot. With shelter-in-place, they had to reinvent their whole program. Elizabeth worked to understan...

Episode 204 - Building Community Together - Online & During a Pandemic

Cedars has been supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities since 1919. They work together with the people they serve — as individuals deserving of respect, personal choice, and the chance to develop interests, skills, and independence.​ They’re residential and day programs are known for creating a life-affirming, loving environment in which personal accomplishments are celebrated, individual skills are recognized and participants are able to live creative, prod...

204. Building Community Together - Online & During a Pandemic

Cedars has been supporting individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities since 1919. They work together with the people they serve — as individuals deserving of respect, personal choice, and the chance to develop interests, skills, and independence.​ They’re residential and day programs are known for creating a life-affirming, loving environment in which personal accomplishments are celebrated, individual skills are recognized and participants are able to live creative, prod...

203. Dignity & Respect Extends to Volunteers Too

Metrocrest Services in the greater Dallas Area provides food and support services to 600-800 clients a week. Food Pantry, Rides, Home Repair, Consignment Store, Ambassador - social media, represent MCS in the community. While they had a diverse clientele, volunteers came from the surrounding suburbs and didn’t reflect the diverse community they served. Brittni really wanted volunteers to better reflect the community as well as inspire the next generation of volunteers. The community is beg...

Episode 203 - Dignity & Respect Extends to Volunteers Too

Metrocrest Services in the greater Dallas Area provides food and support services to 600-800 clients a week. Food Pantry, Rides, Home Repair, Consignment Store, Ambassador - social media, represent MCS in the community. While they had a diverse clientele, volunteers came from the surrounding suburbs and didn’t reflect the diverse community they served. Brittni really wanted volunteers to better reflect the community as well as inspire the next generation of volunteers. The community is beg...

202. The Hard Truth: Diversity & Inclusion from the Volunteer Perspective

After decades as a leader of volunteers for high-profile national charities in the UK, Helen Timbrell switched gears to work as an organizational development consultant and coach. This afforded her the opportunity to develop and collaborate on unique research, and with a PhD she has the ability to straddle both practitioner and academic worlds. Earlier this year, Helen conducted qualitative research into the experiences of volunteers and race. “What the bloody hell are you doing here? A co...

Episode 202 - The Hard Truth: Diversity & Inclusion from the Volunteer Perspective

After decades as a leader of volunteers for high-profile national charities in the UK, Helen Timbrell switched gears to work as an organizational development consultant and coach. This afforded her the opportunity to develop and collaborate on unique research, and with a PhD she has the ability to straddle both practitioner and academic worlds. Earlier this year, Helen conducted qualitative research into the experiences of volunteers and race. “What the bloody hell are you doing here? A co...

Episode 201 - Welcome to Season 2!

What do you get when you interview a slate of talented leaders of volunteers and nonprofits professionals who understand the power of community? You get Season 2 of the Time + Talent podcast! We couldn’t be more appreciative of our smart and dedicated guests this season and can’t wait to give you the rundown on what you can expect. We have deep respect for the talented people who lead volunteer programs -- their leadership skills are being tested in the current environment, but they are un...

201. Welcome to Season 2!

What do you get when you interview a slate of talented leaders of volunteers and nonprofits professionals who understand the power of community? You get Season 2 of the Time + Talent podcast! We couldn’t be more appreciative of our smart and dedicated guests this season and can’t wait to give you the rundown on what you can expect. We have deep respect for the talented people who lead volunteer programs -- their leadership skills are being tested in the current environment, but they are un...

109: The Rewards & Challenges of Nonprofit Board Diversity - Part 2

In Part 2 Dabash Negash from NYC Service shares ideas for starting a conversation and setting some goals and practices to help your organization understand and achieve better Board diversity, equity and inclusion. If you missed Episode 108 you can hear her discuss the results and findings from their survey and report on Board diversity in New York City. In Part 2 Dabash discusses ways to take action on addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion for Board members. Dabash encourages eve...

109. The Rewards & Challenges of Nonprofit Board Diversity - Part 2

In Part 2 Dabash Negash from NYC Service shares ideas for starting a conversation and setting some goals and practices to help your organization understand and achieve better Board diversity, equity and inclusion. If you missed Episode 108 you can hear her discuss the results and findings from their survey and report on Board diversity in New York City. In Part 2 Dabash discusses ways to take action on addressing diversity, equity, and inclusion for Board members. Dabash encourages eve...