In this recap of our Sips & Strategy event, you’ll learn how digital tools are transforming volunteer management, strategies to turn volunteers into donors, and insights from nonprofit leaders on building stronger, more flexible volunteer programs.
The Future of Volunteer Engagement: Key Takeaways for Volunteer Organizers
Nonprofit leaders and volunteer organizers from across the country gathered virtually for our first ever Sips & Strategy: Coffee + Conversations for Volunteer Organizers! This interactive event blended thought leadership with community building—and yes, actual artisan coffee and chocolate tasting—to spark new ideas and fresh connections in the volunteer engagement space.
Hosted by Kelly Cristaldi and Arielle Meizen of Golden, alongside special guests Tobi Johnson (host of the Volunteer Nation podcast) and Jeremy Pitman of Microsoft, the session offered both inspiration and practical strategies for the future of volunteer programs.
The afternoon unfolded in three parts: a candid panel discussion, breakout conversations with peers, and a guided coffee and chocolate tasting that fueled authentic networking in a relaxed and energizing way.
Insights from Our Expert Panel
To set the tone, our panelists tackled big questions about where volunteer engagement is headed, what challenges organizations must address, and how technology and strategy are reshaping the way nonprofits connect with their communities.
Each panelist brought a distinct perspective offering attendees both inspiration and practical tips to take back to their own organizations.
Volunteers as Donors: Breaking the Taboo
One of the most discussed themes was the transforming volunteers into financial donors. For many nonprofits, asking volunteers for financial contributions still feels uncomfortable. But as Tobi Johnson reminded attendees:
“Volunteers aren’t day laborers, and donors aren’t cash machines. If we treat people in a transactional way, then we’re going to get a transactional relationship—which doesn’t last very long.”
The data backs this up: three-quarters of volunteers also donate to the organizations they serve. Johnson urged organizations to stop hesitating and instead ask authentically, tying appeals to the programs volunteers already know and love.
Arielle Meizen echoed this:
“I don’t know where that came from—that we don’t want to ask our volunteers to give. They know your organization better than a lot of people do, and it makes sense to ask.”
Meanwhile, Jeremy Pitman shared his personal perspective from volunteering with Team Rubicon:
“If Team Rubicon came back and asked me for funding without acknowledging the days I spent volunteering, I’d feel a disconnect. But if they recognized my service first and then tied the ask to the impact I saw, I’d feel invested.”
The message was clear: volunteers want to give—but only if they feel seen, respected, and recognized for their full contributions.
Breaking Down Silos: A Call for Integration
The conversation then turned to organizational silos, which often separate fundraising, marketing, and volunteer management. This disconnection leads to missed opportunities.
As Johnson put it bluntly:
“Your technology is far below what it needs to be to meet today’s challenges. Every organization needs a tech stack, and if we keep saying, ‘we don’t have the resources for tech,’ we’re going to be left behind.”
Meizen added that silos often start with data:
“The data is living in silos today, and it really holds your team back from providing a great experience. If you can’t have that holistic view of how people interact with you, you can’t be your best.”
Solutions ranged from revisiting organization charts and strategic plans to simple fixes like using tools such as Slack for team communication. But the underlying message was that volunteer engagement can’t sit outside an organization’s larger strategy—it needs to be integrated into mission delivery.
Hot Takes: Elegant Experiences and Truth-Telling
One of the most memorable soundbites came from Pitman, who reframed volunteer engagement through a consumer lens:
“Volunteering is a marketplace. People are bringing you one of their most valuable things—time. If your systems don’t respect that, it’s not an elegant experience.”
That phrase—an elegant experience—struck a chord with attendees. It elevated the conversation beyond efficiency or seamlessness to something more aspirational: how nonprofits can design volunteer programs that feel truly valued and rewarding.
Johnson, known for her candor, delivered another truth bomb:
“We can either continue the narrative that we’re misunderstood and under-resourced—or we can choose to build our influence skills. Leaders in volunteer engagement need to stop waiting for validation and start claiming their seat at the table.”
These hand-holding, “truth-telling” moments became defining features of the event, challenging attendees to confront hard realities while inspiring them to take bold steps forward.
Breakout Rooms: Innovation Without Burnout
In smaller breakout groups, attendees dove deeper into practical challenges.
- Recruitment: Some organizations, like St. Jude, are experimenting with direct mail campaigns to reach new volunteers. Others are leveraging partnerships with corporations and faith communities to expand opportunities.
- Innovation: Participants discussed how to adopt technology in baby steps, moving beyond Excel spreadsheets without overwhelming teams.
- Burnout Prevention: Groups emphasized the need to identify core problems first before rushing to implement solutions, keeping sustainability in mind.
As Johnson summarized:
“Innovation doesn’t mean burning out. Sometimes the smartest move is the simplest integration or the smallest experiment.”
Key Takeaways: What We Learned Together
While every attendee left with their own insights, several big-picture themes emerged from the event:
1. Volunteers Are Donors—If You Ask the Right Way
Research shows that three-quarters of volunteers also give financially to the organizations they support. But the panelists stressed that the how of the ask matters: recognition and authenticity must come first. As Jeremy Pitman explained, acknowledging a volunteer’s service before inviting them to give creates a stronger emotional connection. Volunteers don’t want a transactional relationship—they want to feel part of the mission.
Action Step: Align your appeals with the programs volunteers already serve in. Frame the ask as a chance to deepen their impact, not replace the time they’ve already given.
2. Integration Is Non-Negotiable
Many organizations still operate in silos, with volunteer management, fundraising, and marketing functioning separately. Tobi Johnson’s challenge was clear:
“Your technology is far below what it needs to be to meet today’s challenges. Every organization needs a tech stack.”
When data lives in separate systems, it prevents staff from seeing a complete picture of engagement—and weakens both volunteer and donor experiences.
Action Step: Audit your org chart and your systems. Look for ways to integrate data and strategy across departments. Even small steps, like adopting collaborative tools or aligning volunteer engagement goals with the strategic plan, can build momentum.
3. Volunteer Experiences Must Be “Elegant”
Pitman reframed volunteer engagement as a marketplace exchange: volunteers give their most valuable resource—time—and in return expect a meaningful, seamless experience.
“Volunteering is a marketplace… If your systems don’t respect that, it’s not an elegant experience.”
This idea pushed attendees to think beyond efficiency and into the realm of designing experiences that feel valuable, rewarding, and worth repeating.
Action Step: Map out the volunteer journey at your organization. Where are the friction points? Where could a simple tech upgrade—like automated confirmations, calendar integrations, or clear onboarding—create a smoother, more “elegant” experience?
4. Honest Truth-Telling Builds Better Leaders
A recurring theme was the importance of owning influence rather than waiting for validation. Johnson noted that too many volunteer managers stay stuck in the narrative of being misunderstood or under-resourced.
“We can either continue the narrative that we’re misunderstood—or we can choose to build our influence skills.”
This “truth-telling” moment resonated strongly with attendees, reminding leaders that communication and influence are core leadership skills, not optional extras.
Action Step: Invest in your professional development. Build skills in communication, negotiation, and influence so you can advocate effectively for volunteer engagement within your organization.
5. Innovation Doesn’t Equal Burnout
Breakout groups highlighted the tension between needing to innovate and the risk of overwhelming staff. Johnson advised that innovation can (and should) happen in small, sustainable steps: moving beyond spreadsheets, trying lightweight integrations, or experimenting with micro-volunteering opportunities.
Action Step: Start with one experiment. For example, test a new recruitment channel, pilot a volunteer appreciation campaign, or trial a new scheduling tool. Build from there rather than overhauling everything at once.
6. Community Is the Secret Ingredient
From breakout rooms to the interactive chat, attendees repeatedly emphasized that volunteers crave community and belonging. Meizen reminded the group:
“Not all volunteers are created equal. Some are looking for belonging, some for personal connection, and some for obligation. If you know why they’re with you, you can ask smarter and build stronger relationships.”
Action Step: Build intentional moments of community into your volunteer programs. This could be peer learning groups, casual appreciation events, or shared rituals that help volunteers feel part of something larger.
Final Word
This event reminded us that volunteer engagement isn’t just a program—it’s a movement. By blending honest conversation with creative experiences, the event offered both practical strategies and inspiring challenges for the road ahead.
As Meizen closed:
“So many of you are doing more with less, and the creativity is inspiring. You’re adapting, innovating, and widening the door for volunteers to belong. We see you, we support you, and we’re inspired by you.”
For nonprofit leaders, the path forward is clear: embrace change, invest in tech, and create meaningful, elegant experiences that honor the time, talent, and generosity of volunteers.
What to do Next?
If you’re interested in learning more about how to make your volunteer programs run more efficiently, get a personalized demo of Golden!
Ready to level up your professional development? Check out VolunteerPro as a trusted resource for professional development and implementation support and the Volunteer Nation Podcast!
