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
Engaging Volunteers: A Comprehensive Literature Review
Literature Review completed for AmeriCorps by ICF International in 2021.
Capacity BuildingStaff Training literature 2021
Questionnaire Design Tip Sheet - Harvard University
A tip sheet on question wording from the Harvard University Program on Survey Research.
Capacity BuildingStaff Training surveys 2021
Outdoor Programming and Outreach Best Practices - Oklahoma City OK
Developed by the Metropolitan Library System in Oklahoma City during the COVID-19 pandemic as a guide for staff.
Capacity Building outdoor, outreach, programming, COVID-19 2021
Recruit Volunteers Online: Find Your Next 20 COVID Superheroes with Smarter Strategy
The author describes three essential strategies needed to build a presence online that can recruit the ideal volunteers you need, those that are… more
On-line Volunteer Recruitment Recruitment, online recruitment 2021
Measuring Success: Strategically Assess Your Volunteer Engagement Strategy
This one hour webinar was presented on April 28, 2021 by Jennifer Bennett, Senior Manager of Education and Training for VolunteerMatch as part of the… more
Staff TrainingVolunteerMatch Tools and Resources evaluation, Assess, Strategic, Webinar 2021
Volunteers and the Law: Legal Considerations
A good summary of legal issues from Tobi Johnson & Associates, 2021.
Staff Training law, legal 2021
A Savior No One Needs: Unpacking and Overcoming the White Savior Complex
White savior complex is a term that’s used to describe white people who consider themselves wonderful helpers to Black, Indigenous and People of… more
Staff Training diversity, equity, inclusion 2021
Getting it Right! Nine Areas Managers of Volunteers Sometimes Get Wrong
A terrific brief article by Martin Cowling to help us find our way.
Capacity Building 2021
How to Write Volunteer Recruitment Messaging that Converts
Strategies to enhance your volunteer recruitment.
Capacity Building Recruitment, Volunteer Recruitment 2021
Closed Captioning Volunteer Job List - Cedar Rapids IA
During the global pandemic the Library shifted to sharing more programs online and wanted to ensure the programs were accessible to those who utilize… more
Job Specific Volunteer TrainingCapacity Building virtual, virtual volunteer, remote, closed captioning, COVID-19 2021
Co-Creating Racial Equity in Volunteer Engagement - MAVA
The Minnesota Alliance for Volunteer Advancement has been conducting research and education on race equity in volunteerism for 5 years. This is the… more
Staff Training diversity, equity, inclusion 2021
The Ellis Archive - The Susan J. Ellis Foundation
The archive primarily consists of digitized documents from Susan J. Ellis' personal resource library. Focused on Susan’s passion -- the… more
Staff Training 2020
Virtual Volunteer Orientation - San Jose CA
This online training was developed to introduce new volunteers to the San José Public Library and provide a basic overview of the volunteer policies… more
Engaging High Impact VolunteersCapacity Building virtual volunteer, virtual, orientation, Volunteer Orientation 2020
Recognizing Racism in Volunteer Engagement - MAVA
Important food for thought from the Minnesota Association for Volunteer Administration
Staff TrainingCapacity Building inclusive, racism, Recruitment, diversity 2020
Virtual Homework Help Coach Online Training - San Jose CA
During the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic, San Jose Public Library moved it's homework help program online. This is the online training they use to train the… more
Job Specific Volunteer Training Homework Help, COVID-19 2020
Systemic Exclusion in Volunteer Engagement
The vast majority of managers of volunteers absolutely abhor deliberate acts of racism and want to be more inclusive. Since they don’t engage in… more
Capacity BuildingStaff Training racism, inclusive, diversity, Recruitment 2020
Volunteer Safety Training - Orange CA
Powerpoint developed by the Orange Public Library during the 2020 Covid-19 pandemic to assist with training volunteers on safety procedures.
Volunteer Orientation COVID-19 2020
Talking Racial Equity? Make Sure You Understand These 17 Words
A good list of terms to be familiar with from Technical.ly
Capacity BuildingStaff Training racism, inclusive, diversity 2020
Building Better COVID-Related Volunteer Roles
VolunteerPro's approach to re-tooling our volunteer engagement during COVID-19. Includes a template for a Quick-n-Dirty Needs Assessment.
Staff TrainingCapacity Building job descriptions, COVID-19, needs assessment 2020
Fighting Racism Through Diverse and Inclusive Volunteer Engagement Programming (Part 1 of 2)
Thoughts on how to audit your own diversity, equity and inclusion strategy (DEI) in how you engage volunteers from Jerome Tennille, CVA, social good… more
Capacity BuildingStaff Training racism, diversity, Recruitment, inclusive 2020