Training Materials
Learn more about best practices in volunteer recruitment and engagement, and how to get the results you need.
NOTE: These are examples from public libraries and should be reviewed and modified to ensure fit with local policies and culture.
| Title | Keyword | Tags | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
Multi-Generational Panel on Volunteering
This March 2025 panel of volunteers from varying generations provides some keen insights into engaging each group. This event was produced by the… more |
Baby Boomers, Staff Training | generations, Gen X, Gen Y, Gen Z, Millenials | 2025 |
Creating an Effective Volunteer Impact Story
A good volunteer impact story does more than describe what someone did — it shows why what they did mattered. It connects actions to outcomes, and… more |
Staff Training, Capacity Building | public relations, leadership buy-in | 2025 |
Engaging Gen Alpha to the Silent Generation: Volunteer Strategies for Nonprofits
This brief article gives a great description of each generation along with what defines them and tips for engaging each in volunteering. |
Baby Boomers, Staff Training | generations, Gen X, Gen Y, Gen Z, Millenials, Gen Alpha | 2025 |
Neurodiversity Inclusion Tips
Have you considered neurodivergent applicants in your organization's recruitment strategy? An estimated 15-20% of the world’s population identifies… more |
Staff Training | neurodivergent, neurodiversity, inclusion, diversity, inclusion | 2025 |
Where Do I Go From Here? Engage Volunteers in New Ways
This 1 hour webinar was presented for the Get Involved initiative by Jennifer Bennett, Director of Education and Training at VolunteerMatch on… more |
Capacity Building, Staff Training | Recruitment, strategic planning | 2025 |
Social Media and Volunteer Engagement
This is the 30 minute recording of Jennifer Bennett’s March 2025 presentation on utilizing social media in your library volunteer engagement efforts… more |
On-line Volunteer Recruitment | social media, Recruitment | 2025 |
Ten AI Use Cases for Volunteer Managers
For folks new to AI, including myself, I found this September 2025 webinar from Civic Champs to be a very helpful overview of what AI can do. The… more |
Capacity Building, Staff Training | Artificial Intelligence, AI | 2025 |
6 HR Strategies for Nonprofits to Enhance Volunteer-Staff Collaboration
A quick read with ideas on maximizing volunteer-staff interactions. |
Staff Training, Engaging Staff and Unions | Staff Resistance, staff buy-in, volunteer staff relations | 2025 |
Volunteer Recruitment Workshop Series
This 2025 series of 5 Idealist webinars was recorded and are stored together with their slides and handouts. Topics include: Position Descriptions,… more |
On-line Volunteer Recruitment, Staff Training, Capacity Building | Recruitment, Position Descriptions, job descriptions | 2025 |
9 Proven Volunteer Retention Strategies
Strategies for improving your volunteer retention rate. |
Staff Training, Capacity Building | retention | 2025 |
Managing Volunteer Risks -- Where Are You Now?
In this blog, Volunteers Insurance Service Association, Inc. (VIS) suggests that to know where you need to be in managing your organization’s risk of… more |
Staff Training | Risk Management | 2024 |
Engaging the Volunteer of the Future
This 1 hour webinar was presented by Jennifer Bennett, Education & Training Director for VolunteerMatch in January 2024. In this webinar you’ll… more |
Capacity Building, Staff Training, Millennials | Millenials | 2024 |
Working Together: Developing Neurodivergent and IDD (Intellectually and Developmentally Disabled) Inclusive Volunteer Opportunities
This webinar was recorded on June 6, 2024. Speakers: Cecily Ponce de Leon, Plano Public Library; Jungwon DeVone, Somerset County Library System; and… more |
Staff Training | neurodivergent, disabilities, special needs | 2024 |
Bibliography on Volunteer Engagement
Bibliography and Web Resources on Volunteer Engagement developed by Carla Lehn |
Capacity Building, Staff Training | bibliography, Lehn | 2024 |
Surveys in Volunteer Engagement
On February 8, 2024, this Get Involved live Zoom discussion focused on Surveys in Volunteer Engagement. The group discussed types of surveys and… more |
Staff Training | surveys | 2024 |
Books and barks: Library pet programs for everyone
This quick read points to a variety of programs libraries have started focused on "furry friends." Take a look! |
Staff Training, Job Specific Volunteer Training | Pet Therapy, dog, reading | 2024 |
| Capacity Building, Staff Training | disabilities, inclusive | 2024 | |
The Human Side of Recruitment
This webinar was presented by Beth Steinhorn of VQ Strategies on July 10, 2024. Recruitment is more than simply posting online ads. Ultimately,… more |
Staff Training, Interviewing Volunteers | Recruitment, pitch, interview | 2024 |
Disability Awareness and Inclusive Behaviors
This is a section of another publication that provides some great guidance. It starts on Page 9 of "Serving Patrons with Disabilities in Small and… more |
Staff Training | inclusive, inclusion, disabilities | 2024 |
Tips for Selecting a Volunteer Management Database
Wendy Johnson of the Indianapolis Public Library presented this session for the Get Involved Initiative in July 2024. If it's time to investigate a… more |
Staff Training, Capacity Building | volunteer management system, vms, database, Tracking, Reporting | 2024 |