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.

Curious to learn more? Eavesdrop on my convo with Faiza Venzant.

Check Out: My Essay for Community-Centric Fundraising on Principle 5 in Action

A few years ago, I learned about the Community-Centric Fundraising (CCF) movement. A key reason I was drawn to CCF is Principle 5: Time is valued equally as money.

Yet, in most nonprofit organizations, volunteer engagement is not valued as equally as donor engagement. Read the full essay "Principle 5 in Action: Why Volunteer Engagement Deserves Equal Investment and how to Start Investing in it" on the CCF website.

Check Out: A Conversation about Why You Lose Volunteers Before They Start

I've been a longtime fan of Meridian Swift's work. In the course I teach with Fleming College, her writing on volunteer sustainability vs. volunteer retention is required reading. I have gifted Meridian's 2019 book "The Disruptive Volunteer Manager" to several colleagues and refer back to it regularly myself.

So, it's no surprise that I loved Meridian's conversation with Laura Rundell about why some volunteers give up, quit, or ghost organizations before their first official shift. Yes, this article is behind a paywall with Engage.

So, if you don't have an Engage membership yet but would like one, please reply to this email and let me know! Learn with JPP Consulting will gift an annual Engage membership to the first three newsletter subscribers who request it.

No strings attached. I don't get any affiliate fees from Engage, either. I'm just an avid reader and occasional contributor who wants more folks to have access to writing that will both inform and challenge their volunteer engagement practices.

Where You'll Find Me

On LinkedIn: Chatting about Angels and Heroes with people from all over the world.

Learning Online: As part of Cohort 12 of The Trauma of Money program. I can't wait to share some of the things I learn with you!

April 15: Attending The Walrus Talks Reimagining Volunteerism in Toronto.

April 22: Learning from Elisa Kosarin at a webinar on "Behavior-Based Interviewing for Greater Volunteer Recruitment and Retention". This is a free event!

April 23: Learning at "The Importance of Self-Care and the Role of Volunteering in Health and Well-Being" webinar. This is a free event!

June 3-6: Attending the Points of Light Conference in New Orleans and presenting a session on "Reimagining Volunteer Redirection for Sustainable Community Impact". It will be my first time at Points of Light. If you'll be there too, please message me so we can connect in person!

Thanks for reading,

Jessica