691. The Volunteer Strategy Gap (And How to Close It) - Nicole R. Smith, CVA
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In today's episode, Jon and Becky sit down with Nicole R. Smith, CVA, Executive Director of AL!VE (Association of Leaders in Volunteer Engagement), to talk about what it really looks like to treat volunteers as a strategic powerhouse, not an afterthought.
Nicole has spent her career championing the people who champion volunteers, and she's here to close the gap between organizations that say volunteers are vital and the ones that actually build systems to prove it. 💪
In this episode, you'll hear:
Why volunteer engagement is a leadership issue, not just a logistics one
What structural elements every org needs to make volunteers a core capacity
The metrics most organizations are leaving on the table
How investing in your volunteer engagement professional changes everything
If volunteers have ever felt like an untapped superpower in your org, Nicole will help you see exactly what's possible—and where to start today. 🩵
“You can’t expect volunteers to stay if the systems around them aren’t designed to support them.”
Episode Transcript
Download Full Episode Transcript Here
Episode Highlights:
Faith, Dance & Falling into Volunteer Engagement (02:29)
The Volunteer Strategy Gap: Vital but Under-Resourced (07:14)
Top-Down Support for Volunteer Managers (11:32)
Key Infrastructure: Training, Tech & Culture (15:59)
Hidden ROI: Capacity, Community & 3-6x Returns (24:35)
Nicole’s One Good Thing: Random Act of Kindness (Even for the "Undeserving") (36:45)
Powerful Quotes
“Volunteers reconnect us to the purpose behind the work.” — Nicole R. Smith
“Organizations love to praise their volunteers, but far fewer invest in the infrastructure to truly support them.” — Nicole R. Smith
“If leadership isn’t involved in volunteer strategy, everything—good or bad—will trickle down from the top.” — Nicole R. Smith
“When volunteer engagement is treated strategically, it transforms the impact an organization can make.” — Nicole R. Smith
“Volunteer engagement professionals didn’t grow up dreaming of this job—but it’s one of the most meaningful professions there is.” — Nicole R. Smith
“We celebrate volunteers, but we rarely ask what support the people leading them actually need.” — Nicole R. Smith
“If volunteers are walking out the door, we have to look at the systems—not the volunteers.” — Nicole R. Smith
“The question isn’t whether volunteers are valuable. The question is whether we’re building organizations that value them properly.” — Nicole R. Smith
“Volunteer leadership is about more than coordination—it’s about mobilizing people around purpose.” — Nicole R. Smith
“Strong volunteer programs don’t happen by accident. They happen through intentional leadership and strategy.” — Nicole R. Smith
“When you invest in volunteer engagement, you’re investing in the long-term sustainability of your mission.” — Nicole R. Smith
Nicole’s One Good Thing: Do a random act of kindness for someone you think doesn’t deserve it.
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