Calendar of Events
Events in the month of October 2026
You will learn:
Register Here!
About Karen Connetta
Karen Connetta has been a Volunteer Program Coordinator with the Collier County Museums for over four years and was a Volunteer Supervisor with a local hospice for over 10 years. Karen manages a team of more than 250 volunteers who support five local history museums. Karen has developed a deep appreciation for the compassion and commitment of volunteers and is dedicated to creating meaningful volunteer experiences while supporting community engagement and education, while helping preserve local history and memorable experiences for visitors of all ages. Karen is a dedicated volunteer to her church, loves spending time with family and is thoroughly enjoying being a Grammie to her 9-month-old granddaughter.
In this 30 minute call, we will highlight:
Click here to join the community and participate in our upcoming meeting.
Leaders in non-profit organizations and community groups increasingly understand that volunteers can be a critical resource for delivering on a mission. Effective people management and community engagement is imperative – whether they be paid or unpaid. As a result, employers expect that those individuals tasked with mobilizing and coordinating volunteer engagement demonstrate a thorough knowledge of effective practices and an understanding of how to apply that knowledge in support of real-world organizational priorities.
Our theme, The Future We Build Together, emphasizes co-creation, shared leadership, and collective momentum. It recognizes that when organizations across the charitable sector unite, we advance equity, resilience, and lasting change.
We will gather at a critical moment. Across the nation, communities are experiencing uncertainty and confusion. Our organizations are navigating deep divisions, political volatility, and rapidly-shifting funding landscapes. The charitable sector sits at the center of this turbulence. Now more than ever, we must come together to strengthen our institutions, deepen trust, and lead with clarity and courage.
Independent Sector’s National Summit is designed to help organizations build capacity, expand networks, foster collaboration, and elevate the collective voice needed for the road ahead.
Most volunteer engagement problems get diagnosed as recruitment problems, training problems, or communication problems. Many of them are culture problems, and until culture is measured, it stays invisible.
This session introduces the Multi-Focus Model of organizational culture, developed from Geert Hofstede's research and used worldwide to measure the culture an organization actually has, and applies it to something the field has never measured: the gap between paid staff and volunteers inside the same organization. We will work through three of the six dimensions that matter most in volunteer-engaging organizations. Control, which is how much structure, predictability, and discipline the organization runs on. Approachability, which is how quickly a newcomer is genuinely absorbed. Management philosophy, which is whether pressure to complete the task gives way to concern for the person. Staff and volunteers routinely sit far apart on all three, and that distance produces the friction volunteer managers absorb daily without being able to name it or evidence it to leadership.
Leaders in non-profit organizations and community groups increasingly understand that volunteers can be a critical resource for delivering on a mission. Effective people management and community engagement is imperative – whether they be paid or unpaid. As a result, employers expect that those individuals tasked with mobilizing and coordinating volunteer engagement demonstrate a thorough knowledge of effective practices and an understanding of how to apply that knowledge in support of real-world organizational priorities.
About Charlotte Nal
--With more than 16 years of experience in volunteer management, I’ve dedicated my career to empowering individuals to engage meaningfully in their communities. My work has focused on building strong volunteer programs that not only inspire service, but foster deeper, long‑term commitment.”
All Volunteer Engagement Professionals are welcome to attend an industry social event, monthly at 2 PM Eastern for 45 minutes on the fourth Thursday of each month. Feel free to leave early or come late as your schedule allows. Connect and network with your peers for live discussions - ask questions and let us know what's on your mind!
Leaders in non-profit organizations and community groups increasingly understand that volunteers can be a critical resource for delivering on a mission. Effective people management and community engagement is imperative – whether they be paid or unpaid. As a result, employers expect that those individuals tasked with mobilizing and coordinating volunteer engagement demonstrate a thorough knowledge of effective practices and an understanding of how to apply that knowledge in support of real-world organizational priorities.
Join Volgistics and Verified First for a practical session on why volunteers ghost — and the specific friction points you can fix without adding headcount or budget. We'll walk through where drop-off actually happens, how to spot it in your own data, and the follow-up habits that turn a first-time volunteer into a long-term one.
What you'll take away:
-Where your volunteers are actually leaking out.
-How to map the sign-up → first shift → third shift path, find your real drop-off point, and stop guessing which stage is costing you people.
-The friction that quietly pushes new volunteers away. Long intake forms, slow screening, unclear expectations, and radio silence between shifts — what to cut, what to keep, and what to automate.
-A retention motion you can run with the staff you already have. What to send, when to send it, and how to make onboarding fast enough that a volunteer's enthusiasm doesn't expire before their first shift does.
P.S. Can't make it? Register anyway and we'll send you the full recording after the event!
Register Here
Join your peers for discussions for those who manage food banks, hunger organizations, or nutrition programs. This COP will meet Monthly on the first Tuesday @ 3 PM Eastern.
Click here to join the community and participate in our upcoming meeting.
Communities of Practice are an AL!VE member benefit; however, anyone is welcome to attend their first meeting with out being a member. Email info@volunteeralive.org for a free trial. You can learn more about membership here.
Whether you are currently a consultant, trainer, coach, or volunteer engagement professional looking to expand your work with organizations, this session will give you a clear understanding of the AL!VE Service Enterprise Licensed Provider opportunity. Join us to learn more about the role and how you can work with organizations as they build the systems, strategies, and organizational support needed to engage volunteers more effectively.
During this session, we will cover:
Register Here
Click on an event to learn more or scroll down to view all
Thursday, October 1, 2026
Discover how Service Enterprise builds organizational capacity through strategic volunteer engagement. Learn how it transforms volunteer engagement into a powerful strategy for mission impact. This proven, research-backed approach helps organizations build capacity, strengthen sustainability, and achieve measurable outcomes by fully leveraging people power. Learn how investing in and adopting Service Enterprise creates stronger organizations, greater return on resources, and lasting community impact.You will learn:
- What Service Enterprise is
- How it works
- Who can benefit from Service Enterprise
- Benefits of Service Enterprise
- How to Get Involved
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
Volunteers are essential to nonprofit work, but how they fit into the nonprofit workforce is not always straightforward. Independent Sector considers volunteers a vital part of the sector’s workforce, yet stakeholders hold a range of views. Some see volunteers primarily as engaged community members or donors of time, while others raise questions about how volunteer labor may affect paid positions and wages. Perspectives also differ on whether stipended volunteers should be counted as part of the nonprofit workforce. Join Independent Sector for a lively discussion on findings from the Nonprofit Sector Workforce Survey and what they reveal about volunteerism and organizational practice. This conversation will explore how nonprofits understand, engage, and support volunteers, and why the way we talk about volunteering matters. This virtual event is the first in a series of ideas exchanges designed to use insights from Independent Sector's comprehensive review of nonprofit workforce issues and findings from the 2026 Nonprofit Sector Workforce Survey to engage in candid, forward-looking dialogue across the sector.Register Here!
Tuesday, October 6, 2026
| Date | Tentative Topics – any topic can be brought up in any session – we’re in charge 😉 |
| Feb 3 | Difficult Situations |
| Mar 3 | Planning for Appreciation |
| Apr 7 | Staff Buy-In |
| May 5 | The Tools We Use |
| Jun 2 | Schools/Unis |
| Jul 7 | Corporate Partnerships |
| Aug 4 | Volunteers for HAM |
| Sep 1 | Recognition |
| Oct 6 | Preparing for the Holiday RUSH |
| Nov 3 | Self-care/VM Day Celebrating US |
| Dec 1 | Managing Expectations |
| Jan 5 | NY Dreams |
Wednesday, October 7, 2026
Volunteers are the heart of every mission, but meaningful recognition doesn't have to come with a high price tag. You will discover practical, creative, and budget-friendly ways to show appreciation that strengthens relationships, increases volunteer satisfaction, and encourages long-term engagement. From personalized thank-you gestures and public recognition to low-cost events and digital appreciation ideas, you'll leave with actionable strategies you can implement right away.About Karen Connetta
Karen Connetta has been a Volunteer Program Coordinator with the Collier County Museums for over four years and was a Volunteer Supervisor with a local hospice for over 10 years. Karen manages a team of more than 250 volunteers who support five local history museums. Karen has developed a deep appreciation for the compassion and commitment of volunteers and is dedicated to creating meaningful volunteer experiences while supporting community engagement and education, while helping preserve local history and memorable experiences for visitors of all ages. Karen is a dedicated volunteer to her church, loves spending time with family and is thoroughly enjoying being a Grammie to her 9-month-old granddaughter.
Thursday, October 8, 2026
AL!VE Welcome Webinar Sessions will be held the second Thursday monthly at 1 PM Eastern for 30 minutes. In this 30 minute call, we will highlight:
- Member benefits
- Resources & where to find them
- Association goals for 2026
- Discuss what's happening in the field on a regional or national level
- Bring your own topic - have a question you need to discuss? We're happy to connect.
Thursday, October 8, 2026
Come one, come all, the Animal Welfare COP is open to any Volunteer Administrator who would like to learn more from their peers across the nation with the focus on animal welfare organizations such as animal shelters, zoos, aquariums, sanctuaries, rescues, and more. Though just because we focus on these kinds of organizations does not mean the information and ideas we discuss and share cannot be used within a different organizational track. We start every meeting with a shared topic and then allow time for attendees to share their questions, goals, issues, concerns, and wins. Click here to join the community and participate in our upcoming meeting.
Friday, October 9, 2026
Take the next step in your career as a leader of volunteers and become certified in Volunteer Administration (CVA).Leaders in non-profit organizations and community groups increasingly understand that volunteers can be a critical resource for delivering on a mission. Effective people management and community engagement is imperative – whether they be paid or unpaid. As a result, employers expect that those individuals tasked with mobilizing and coordinating volunteer engagement demonstrate a thorough knowledge of effective practices and an understanding of how to apply that knowledge in support of real-world organizational priorities.
Tuesday, October 13, 2026 - Thursday, October 15, 2026
Independent Sector’s National Summit 2026 will unite nonprofit, philanthropic, and corporate giving professionals from across the country to imagine — and build — a better future together.Our theme, The Future We Build Together, emphasizes co-creation, shared leadership, and collective momentum. It recognizes that when organizations across the charitable sector unite, we advance equity, resilience, and lasting change.
We will gather at a critical moment. Across the nation, communities are experiencing uncertainty and confusion. Our organizations are navigating deep divisions, political volatility, and rapidly-shifting funding landscapes. The charitable sector sits at the center of this turbulence. Now more than ever, we must come together to strengthen our institutions, deepen trust, and lead with clarity and courage.
Independent Sector’s National Summit is designed to help organizations build capacity, expand networks, foster collaboration, and elevate the collective voice needed for the road ahead.
Tuesday, October 13, 2026
October Al!VE Academy, October 13, 2026, Starting at 12:00 PM EST (90 Minutes)Most volunteer engagement problems get diagnosed as recruitment problems, training problems, or communication problems. Many of them are culture problems, and until culture is measured, it stays invisible.
This session introduces the Multi-Focus Model of organizational culture, developed from Geert Hofstede's research and used worldwide to measure the culture an organization actually has, and applies it to something the field has never measured: the gap between paid staff and volunteers inside the same organization. We will work through three of the six dimensions that matter most in volunteer-engaging organizations. Control, which is how much structure, predictability, and discipline the organization runs on. Approachability, which is how quickly a newcomer is genuinely absorbed. Management philosophy, which is whether pressure to complete the task gives way to concern for the person. Staff and volunteers routinely sit far apart on all three, and that distance produces the friction volunteer managers absorb daily without being able to name it or evidence it to leadership.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
Take the next step in your career as a leader of volunteers and become certified in Volunteer Administration (CVA).Leaders in non-profit organizations and community groups increasingly understand that volunteers can be a critical resource for delivering on a mission. Effective people management and community engagement is imperative – whether they be paid or unpaid. As a result, employers expect that those individuals tasked with mobilizing and coordinating volunteer engagement demonstrate a thorough knowledge of effective practices and an understanding of how to apply that knowledge in support of real-world organizational priorities.
Tuesday, October 20, 2026
Volunteer professionals are being asked to do more than ever. Organization leaders want clear outcomes. Communities expect flexibility. Technology is no longer optional. Resources are stretched thin. And volunteer engagement is at the center of it all.
At this year's Volunteer Management Hybrid Conference on Tuesday, October 20th 2026, you will connect with peers who are navigating these same realities and asking the hard questions about what comes next. Together, you will explore practical approaches to building more resilient, sustainable volunteer engagement strategies, and walk away with clearer direction, stronger frameworks, and the confidence to lead through change.
Click here to register an learn more.
Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Come and talk about your grant and information given out by AmeriCorps Seniors at their 3 monthly technical calls. Connect with other grantees to understand the continuing changes coming out from AmeriCorps and how to better serve your volunteers. Monthly calls, join us when your available. Wednesday, October 21, 2026
Volunteers already believe in your mission—your job is simply to show them how their impact can grow through giving. By highlighting the tangible outcomes of your programs and celebrating the contributions they already make, you can naturally invite them to take the next step. This presentation will explore practical, relationship-centered strategies for nurturing volunteers into long-term donors who feel genuinely connected to your cause.About Charlotte Nal
--With more than 16 years of experience in volunteer management, I’ve dedicated my career to empowering individuals to engage meaningfully in their communities. My work has focused on building strong volunteer programs that not only inspire service, but foster deeper, long‑term commitment.”
Thursday, October 22, 2026
All are welcome to join our monthly networking industry social for anyone involved in Volunteer Engagement.All Volunteer Engagement Professionals are welcome to attend an industry social event, monthly at 2 PM Eastern for 45 minutes on the fourth Thursday of each month. Feel free to leave early or come late as your schedule allows. Connect and network with your peers for live discussions - ask questions and let us know what's on your mind!
Monday, October 26, 2026
Take the next step in your career as a leader of volunteers and become certified in Volunteer Administration (CVA).Leaders in non-profit organizations and community groups increasingly understand that volunteers can be a critical resource for delivering on a mission. Effective people management and community engagement is imperative – whether they be paid or unpaid. As a result, employers expect that those individuals tasked with mobilizing and coordinating volunteer engagement demonstrate a thorough knowledge of effective practices and an understanding of how to apply that knowledge in support of real-world organizational priorities.
Tuesday, October 27, 2026
Volunteer drop-off rarely announces itself. People don't quit — they just stop showing up, usually somewhere between signing up and their third shift. And when the national retention average sits around 65%, that means roughly one in three volunteers doesn't come back next year. Most programs treat that as a recruiting problem and go looking for more names. It's usually a process problem hiding in plain sight.Join Volgistics and Verified First for a practical session on why volunteers ghost — and the specific friction points you can fix without adding headcount or budget. We'll walk through where drop-off actually happens, how to spot it in your own data, and the follow-up habits that turn a first-time volunteer into a long-term one.
What you'll take away:
-Where your volunteers are actually leaking out.
-How to map the sign-up → first shift → third shift path, find your real drop-off point, and stop guessing which stage is costing you people.
-The friction that quietly pushes new volunteers away. Long intake forms, slow screening, unclear expectations, and radio silence between shifts — what to cut, what to keep, and what to automate.
-A retention motion you can run with the staff you already have. What to send, when to send it, and how to make onboarding fast enough that a volunteer's enthusiasm doesn't expire before their first shift does.
P.S. Can't make it? Register anyway and we'll send you the full recording after the event!
Register Here
Tuesday, October 27, 2026
With new federal requirements linking Medicaid and SNAP eligibility to “community engagement” activities—including volunteering—organizations may see a surge in individuals seeking volunteer placements to meet compliance standards. Join us to discuss how HR1 could reshape the volunteer ecosystem and how to best prepare for these new volunteers.
During this roundtable discussion, we will examine how HR1 could shift volunteer motivations, increase administrative and documentation demands, and introduce new considerations for handling volunteers facing challenges to meet required hours. We will discuss our roles as leaders of volunteers to design appropriate volunteer opportunities, maintain a healthy volunteer culture, and support staff who may suddenly find themselves navigating new compliance questions.
This information should help leaders anticipate operational impacts, identify emerging risks and opportunities, and begin planning for a volunteer landscape where nonprofits and government organizations play an additional role in the social safety net. We hope that participants will leave with clearer expectations, shared insights, and actionable next steps for preparing their programs for an HR1‑driven future.
Click Here to Register
Wednesday, October 28, 2026
Whether you want to move up, leave your current job, switch careers or were recently laid off and looking for your next job, join us to network, vent, share stories and encourage each other along this journey.Join your peers for discussions for those who manage food banks, hunger organizations, or nutrition programs. This COP will meet Monthly on the first Tuesday @ 3 PM Eastern.
Click here to join the community and participate in our upcoming meeting.
Communities of Practice are an AL!VE member benefit; however, anyone is welcome to attend their first meeting with out being a member. Email info@volunteeralive.org for a free trial. You can learn more about membership here.
Thursday, October 29, 2026
We all encounter ethical dilemmas in our daily work with and for community, but rarely do organizations focus on ethics related to volunteer engagement. This session provides an opportunity for practitioners to understand the difference between personal, organizational and professional ethics. The core values and principles identified by the Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration (CCVA) will be shared. Participants will learn a process for ethical decision-making that can be applied in any situation, and then practice this using real-life scenarios related to volunteers. Finally, several specific strategies will be offered for increasing awareness of ethics within an organization and helping both volunteers and staff become more effective at handling ethical dilemmas.Thursday, October 29, 2026
Have you ever considered becoming a consultant and helping organizations strengthen their volunteer engagement practices? Are you currently a consultant and want to join a group of consultants to bounce ideas off of and connect with for additional support?Whether you are currently a consultant, trainer, coach, or volunteer engagement professional looking to expand your work with organizations, this session will give you a clear understanding of the AL!VE Service Enterprise Licensed Provider opportunity. Join us to learn more about the role and how you can work with organizations as they build the systems, strategies, and organizational support needed to engage volunteers more effectively.
During this session, we will cover:
- What the Service Enterprise capacity building and accreditation program is and how it helps organizations leverage volunteers as a strategic resource
- What a Service Enterprise Licensed Provider does
- How Licensed Providers provide training, coaching, and guidance to organizations going through the Service Enterprise accreditation process
- The training, tools, resources, and support AL!VE provides to Licensed Providers
- What it looks like to work with AL!VE as a Licensed Provider
Thursday, October 29, 2026
Join us for our upcoming "AL!VE Volunteer Spook-Tacular Social!" We're celebrating our incredible AL!VE volunteer community with frightfully fun games, eerie-sistible treats, and great company. Test your Trick-O-Trivia knowledge, and win prizes for best costume (pets are highly encouraged), best home decor backdrop and more! Bring your best spooky spirit!Register Here
We welcome any event related to volunteer engagement professionals!
To submit your event, click on the link below.
To submit your event, click on the link below.