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 |
|---|---|---|---|
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 |
8 Strategies for Creating a More Inclusive Volunteer Program
A good summary from Idealist of the Minnesota Alliance for Volunteer Administration (MAVA)'s research study which resulted in a set of… more |
Staff Training | Recruitment, diversity, equity, inclusion | 2025 |
Preparing for an Internship Program - Indianapolis IN
Attached are a treasure trove of documents that will help to establish and/or update your library's internship efforts. Many thanks to Wendy Johnson… more |
Capacity Building, Engaging High Impact Volunteers | intern, internship | 2025 |
Volunteer Recognition Beyond the Basics: Creative & Impactful Strategies
Webinar recording: Learning Goals: Explore budget-friendly ways to celebrate volunteers, from social media spotlights to personalized gestures… more |
Capacity Building, Staff Training | recognition | 2025 |
Train Volunteers with this Simple 4-Step Framework
This is a June 2025 episode of Tobi Johnson's podcast. She says: "Whether you’re building a new training from scratch or refreshing your… more |
Staff Training | Training, volunteer training | 2025 |
A Guide for Creating Inclusive Volunteer Position Descriptions
This is one part of the 2024 "Is Everyone Welcome? Tools to Broaden Volunteer Engagement" toolkit found here: https://www.idealist.org/en/orgs/is-… more |
Staff Training | inclusive, Position Descriptions, job descriptions | 2024 |
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 |
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 |
Time Management for Volunteer Engagement Coordinators: Putting Volunteers to Work to Help YOU
This one hour webinar was recorded March 7, 2024, and was presented by Jennifer Bennett, CVA, Director of Education and Training for VolunteerMatch.… more |
Staff Training | time management, Program Assistant | 2024 |
6 Strategies to Involve Young People in Your Nonprofit
Great suggestions from Nonprofit Tech for Good. |
Millennials | young volunteers | 2024 |