My 3-min Response to Some Recent Pitches After months of chats with nonprofit folks near and far, I’ve got a new #HotTake on volunteer recognition. I recently connected with two social enterprise founders at two different events. They both created platforms where volunteers can win vacations or redeem points for gadgets. Their clients? Nonprofits. Who were they pitching? Folks just like you. Want ethical, meaningful recognition ideas? My YouTube Shorts Playlist on this topic has five videos...
2 months ago • 2 min read
The Latest from my Blog Who is a volunteer... really? In my latest blog post, I chat with Brianna Stapleton Welch from Little Free Library about how her work bridges formal and informal volunteerism: from app users who casually share books, to stewards who’ve never thought of themselves as “volunteers.” We dig into how to build flexible systems, collect meaningful stories, and honour real community contributions. It’s full of insights for anyone thinking about how people show up. Go to my...
4 months ago • 1 min read
2.5 mins on the Volunteer Wage Replacement Rate A fellow consultant once suggested I should use the volunteer wage replacement rate in my marketing. They meant well—but let’s just say I had thoughts. I break it down in this quick video. Jessica is smiling with a raised arm while talking into a microphone. Text overlay in pink font: "Why I don’t use the volunteer wage replacement rate.” Hit play to watch! As mentioned in the video, Independent Sector updated the value of volunteer time in...
5 months ago • 1 min read
1.5-minute video: Should you call volunteers "family"? I once walked into a new volunteer orientation as a volunteer. On the whiteboard, I saw “Welcome to the fam!” When I asked a staff member if the message was directed towards our group, they replied, “Of course! We treat everyone like family—including new volunteers!” Over the years, I've talked with other leaders of volunteers about referring to volunteers as "family." Watch my #HotTake on YouTube. Jessica is holding up her hand in a...
5 months ago • 2 min read
1-Minute Video: Watch Out if Spotlighting a Volunteer Global Volunteer Month is just under a month away. This worldwide celebration of volunteers happens every April. In the USA and Canada, National Volunteer Week takes place in April, too! In Canada this year, National Volunteer Week is April 27-May 3. In the USA this year, National Volunteer Week is April 20-26. As we approach April, you may be planning to celebrate exceptional volunteers through awards or social media spotlights. Before...
7 months ago • 1 min read
1.5-Minute Video: My Pro-Tip on Volunteer Gifting Hop into the way-back machine with me... It's February 2018 and the staff partner teams I'm supporting are prepping for National Volunteer Week... I was bombarded with requests for branded keychains, water bottles, and pins. I coached my colleagues on meaningful volunteer recognition and reminded them of the branded products we saw in trash cans after last year's appreciation parties. My colleague Donna didn't send in a request. What she did...
8 months ago • 1 min read
2-Minute Video with Early Access for You! Happy New Year Reader 💖 In case you missed it, I'm now making short volunteer engagement learning videos on @LearnWithJPP. Because you're subscribed to this newsletter, you'll always get my advice and insight videos first! What I share today will help you avoid massive consequences if your organization engages interns or placement students to work alongside volunteers. A blue blob with pink letters overlays an image of Jessica looking passionate with...
8 months ago • 1 min read
The Latest from my Blog I chatted with Sarah Phillipe about how she self-advocates professionally as someone who is neurodivergent and living with a disability. We discuss power and privilege, the difference between the words "neurodivergent" and "neurodiverse", and the limitations of the Americans with Disabilities Act. The tough truth? Nonprofit policies and colleagues can be ableist. Sarah shares her accessibility green flags during a job hunt, which include: A living wage A supervisor who...
9 months ago • 1 min read
The Latest from my Blog I met Faiza Venzant over a decade ago. She is a longtime thought leader in ethics and equity who had invited me to learn about these topics through different means, including a poverty simulation. We connected recently to discuss the Equity in Action Toolkit, the context around it, and some things that make me cringe. I asked Faiza a number of questions, including, "Why should leaders of volunteers prioritize equity over diversity and inclusion?" Her response: "To me,...
11 months ago • 2 min read