Welcome to the Volunteer Nation Podcast!
Weekly interviews, big hat thinking, quick wins, and smart strategy to help you
engage your community and make a bigger impact.
Welcome to the Volunteer Nation Podcast!
Weekly interviews, big hat thinking, quick wins, and smart strategy to help you
engage your community and make a bigger impact.
The Volunteer Nation Podcast
Join Tobi and her special guests each week to learn how charities, causes, campaigns, congregations, and companies leverage the power of volunteerism to create a better world.
About the Show
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!
Your Host
Tobi Johnson, MA, CVA is an internationally sought-after expert, consultant, advisor, and master trainer in volunteer engagement. She is known for her modern thought leadership, highly practical evidence-based strategies, and innovative, “big hat” thinking around engaging, supporting, and acknowledging the work of volunteers. She is the President of Tobi Johnson & Associates, a consulting firm whose mission is to help nonprofit organizations make connections with remarkable volunteers. In 2015, she founded VolunteerPro, an online training and networking community for leaders of volunteers. She is also co-host of the Time + Talent Podcast with Jennifer Bennett of VolunteerMatch.
Tobi has over 30 years direct experience in nonprofit management, program development, program coordination, training delivery and learning design across a wide range of charities and government agencies. She wrote Chapter 1 of Volunteer Engagement 2.0: Ideas and Insights for Transforming Volunteer Programs in a Changing World. Each year, her firm also conducts the Volunteer Management Progress Report, a global state-of-the-industry survey. In 2022, over 1,300 professionals from 28 countries participated.
A native of the Pacific Northwest, Tobi is a graduate of the University of Washington and has a master’s degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She now lives in East Tennessee with her husband and feline office assistant, Bailey.
Latest Episodes
094 – How to Make the Shift from Doer to Nonprofit Leader with Patricia Gentry
January 25, 2024 Episode #94: How to Make the Shift from Doer to Nonprofit Leader with Patricia Gentry Interested in becoming a more effective nonprofit leader or wondering if leadership is right for you? You're in the right place! In this episode, [...]
093 – The 5 Phases of Successful Volunteer Coordination
January 18, 2024 Episode #93: The 5 Phases of Successful Volunteer Coordination In this episode, host Tobi examines the mode of operating a successful volunteer coordination initiative. Highlighting the struggle to rebuild volunteer strength amid the pandemic, Tobi elaborates on the five [...]
092 – How to Mobilize Volunteers by the Thousands with Dr. Chris Lambert
January 11, 2024 Episode #92: How to Mobilize Volunteers by the Thousands with Dr. Chris Lambert In this episode, host Tobi is joined by special guest Dr. Chris Lambert, CEO of Life Remodeled. Together, they dive into the transformative power of volunteerism, [...]
091 – 6 New Years Resolution Ideas for Nonprofits
January 4, 2024 Episode #91: 6 New Years Resolution Ideas for Nonprofits It’s that time of the year, when people are setting goals and aspirations for the new year. In the spirit of intention setting and renewal, host Tobi Johnson shares some [...]
090 – Improving Volunteer Experiences & Raising More Funds with Kristina Carlson
December 28, 2023 Episode #90: Improving Volunteer Experiences & Raising More Funds with Kristina Carlson In this episode, guest Kristina Joy Carlson and host Tobi Johnson share valuable insights on improving volunteer experiences through the power of the KIND method. From navigating [...]
089 – Strategic Volunteer Recruitment Ideas for 2024
December 21, 2023 Episode #89: Strategic Volunteer Recruitment Ideas for 2024 Looking for fresh volunteer recruitment ideas? Look no further. In this episode, Volunteer Nation host Tobi Johnson provides practical tips and big ideas to attract and retain volunteers, drawing from volunteer [...]
088 – Research on Volunteer Participation What You Need to Know with Helen Tourle
December 14, 2023 Episode #88: Research on Volunteer Participation What You Need to Know with Helen Tourle In this episode, host Tobi Johnson sits down with special guest Helen Tourle, a senior consultant for volunteering at the National Council for Voluntary Organizations [...]
087 – Volunteer Research: Sector Trends & Our Latest Survey
December 7, 2023 Episode #87: Volunteer Research - Sector Trends & Our Latest Survey In this episode, Tobi reviews the history and impact of the Volunteer Management Progress Report, a global state-of-the-industry survey spanning 9 years and encompassing insights from leaders of [...]
086 – Converting Episodic Volunteers into Long-term Supporters
November 30, 2023 Episode #86: Converting Episodic Volunteers into Long-term Supporters In this episode, host Tobi Johnson talks about the challenge of retaining episodic volunteers who step up to help during the holiday season but often disappear afterwards. Tobi shares a 4-part [...]
085 – BIG Volunteer Goals for 2024 – Four Examples
November 23, 2023 Episode #85: BIG Volunteer Goals for 2024 - Four Examples In this Volunteer Nation host, Tobi Johnson, dives deep into the art of goal-setting. She shares practical tips and real-life examples to inspire and guide you in establishing meaningful [...]
084 – Building An Inclusive Culture at Your Volunteer Organization with Advita Patel
November 16, 2023 Episode #84: Building an Inclusive Culture at Your Volunteer Organization with Advita Patel Our host, Tobi, is joined by the incredible Advita Patel, an expert in internal communications and inclusive workplaces. Together, they discuss the challenges faced by the [...]
083 – Make the Most of Corporate Partnerships with Alyson Gallaher
November 9, 2023 Episode #83: Make the Most of Corporate Partnerships with Alyson Gallaher In this episode, Tobi and guest Alyson Gallaher dive into the world of corporate-nonprofit collaborations. They shed light on the changing dynamics of corporate partnerships, emphasizing the significance [...]