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 (so far) and takes less than 10 minutes to watch!

It's Happening... I'm Writing a Book

If you're interested in being part of my beta reader group, please hit reply and let me know. Your input means a bolder, better book. So tell me what you want what you really really want! Cue Spice Girls 🪩

Check Out: Advice for Boards who say, "We support decent work, we just can’t afford it"

I'm a big fan of Ontario Nonprofit Network's whitepaper "Volunteers and Decent Work: What's the Connection?" And, self-advocacy for leaders of volunteers is one of the things I'm super passionate about (see this recorded webinar).

That's why I love Nic Gagliardi's blog post that explores why the nonprofit sector continues to exploit nonprofit workers, practical ways to advance decent work on a tight nonprofit budget, and why fair compensation is a governance issue that Board members need to take seriously.

Where You'll Find Me

July 30: Attending Angela Williamson's "Delegate Don't Dump- If you wanna grow, you gotta let go!" workshop with Volunteer Fairfax. This is a FREE event.

August 6: Volunteering to support PAVRO and Volunteer Toronto's CVA Study Group by facilitating the first live discussion. The group runs from July to October- perfect timing for anyone wanting to challenge the October exam!

September 17: Presenting a workshop with Maysam Fadel on "Systems Thinking to Build Strategic Influence for Leaders of Volunteers". Thanks to Volunteer Toronto for hosting this in-person session in Downtown Toronto!

November 8: Presenting a workshop on "Ethical Storytelling in Fundraising and Advocacy" at the Halton Non-Profit Congress.

On YouTube: Debriefing about what I learned from the 2025 Points of Light Conference through three casual videos.

Recorded for a Charity Shift Live Conversation: Chatting about corporate volunteer engagement that delivers genuine value for all parties involved. Read the key takeaways or watch the recording!

Recapped by The Good Growth Company: Sharing the 10 Things Social Impact Organizations Need to Know about Volunteer Engagement, which you can find summarized in a journal entry.

Thanks for reading,

Jessica

p.s. Need expert support with an icky or stressful volunteer engagement issue? Book a one-hour private coaching session with me to uncover ethical solutions that will help you sleep better at night.