Engage Library

Leaders of Volunteers understand the importance of engaging diverse demographics to attract volunteers. But are we dedicating the same energy to connecting with and mentoring the next generation of leaders? This Voices article by Tracey O’Neill, Co-Section Editor, explores the…

In this two-part series, Ethics co-section editor Erin R. Spink explores how to build an Ethical Volunteering Policy in the workplace. In Part 1, Spink shares conversations, considerations and questions to reflect on as she explores the importance of such a policy and why to…

Several recent studies examine volunteering trends from a variety of countries, using the latest available data. What do these studies reveal about volunteer participation and the factors that contribute to current trends in global volunteering? This Research to Practice takes a…

What if Volunteer Management software developers had a crystal ball? What would they see and hope for in the next decade? And, looking back, what visions did they have for software today, and how have those expectations been realized or not? In this Ahead of the Curve, author…

The COVID-19 pandemic proved a watershed moment for Volunteer Engagement the world over. For many, it marked the end of a time where volunteers were plentiful, funding readily available and program stability an almost certainty. COVID meant that many organisations had to…

In this Points of View, editors Erin R. Spink and Rob Jackson try something new. Instead of presenting their personal musings on topics, trends and issues that they see as relevant to the Volunteer Engagement profession, they turn their gaze inwards and examine an article…

On any given day, The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Missouri welcomes thousands of guests through its doors. During their visits, guests might encounter several of the museum’s more than 400 volunteers at multiple points. These museum volunteers – ranging from…

In honor of the start of our 25th year at Engage (formerly e-Volunteerism), authors Rob Jackson and Erin R. Spink revisit the first ever Points of View from our journal's founding co-editors, Susan J. Ellis and Steve McCurley. Never known to mince words or shy away from a spicy…

After 13 years of dedicated service to Engage, Laurie Mook, PhD, is stepping down as editor of the Research to Practice section. An engaged professor and scholar, Mook’s own body of research has contributed significantly to the study of volunteering and Volunteer Engagement…

In today’s rapidly changing and unpredictable world, managing volunteers comes with distinct challenges. Volatile social and political climates, frequent technological disruptions, and the ongoing impact of global events such as pandemics and social movements have created an…

Volunteering is at the heart of most social change, and volunteers form a crucial part of electoral politics and campaigning. But imagine being co-leader of a local campaign group during a critical referendum to recognize the First Nations peoples in the Australian constitution…

For as long as there's been a formal practice of Volunteer Management, there's also been a notion that professional Volunteer Managers should do a better job of training a more effective volunteer. That notion is about to change. Could it be possible that one of AI’s hidden…

The COVID-19 pandemic, the war in Ukraine, the ongoing conflict in Israel….what do these three global crises have in common when it comes to volunteers? In Ethics, author Stuart Garland explains that all three require ethical considerations for volunteer rights, welfare and…

In Voices, author Breauna Dorelus explores the deeply rewarding and unique Points of Light Conference that she and other BIPOC attendees experienced this summer in Houston. “As soon as I knew I was going to the Points of Light Conference, I also knew that this year some ideas…

Allyson Drinnon, a Volunteer Management expert and the author of this Engage feature, admits that she “stumbled into a career as a Volunteer Engagement professional without any formal training, and without a real plan.” Her professional career began at a large international…

Engaging volunteers to transition into lifelong donors is a challenge for any nonprofit organization seeking sustainable support. In Ahead of the Curve, author Sam Fankuchen explores effective strategies and mechanisms to convert volunteer commitment into long-term financial…

In this Ethics column, author Ruth Leonard reviews the ethical dimensions of how those who involve volunteers characterise their engagement mechanism. For instance, volunteer opportunities are frequently packaged up as 'products' to be marketed to 'customers.' But while the move…

Part Four of a Four-Part Series During their recent, three-part Engage series into Care Circles, author Todd McMullin with DanaLitwin and Joan Cardellino defined, described, taught and inspired readers of Engage with thepotential of harnessing this organic construct to address…

The year 2024 marks the 40th anniversary of International Volunteer Managers Day. With this in mind, Points of View co-author Erin R. Spink did a little digging. She discovered that in just three years from now, 2027 will mark the 80th anniversary of the first document that…

If you’re a reader of this section, you know that Research to Practice typically highlights research published in academic journals and shares key findings and implications for Volunteer Engagement leaders. However, in addition to sharing relevant research published in other…