| 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 |
We have many great speakers this year, including Traci Lato-Smith and Amber Melanie Smith. We will have a variety of sessions for volunteer leaders who are new to the field as well as seasoned volunteer leaders. The workshop with Traci will include time to work on your own volunteer engagement, be ready to brainstorm. We are excited for our Thursday evening social to network, raffles, and more! The raffles fund our conference scholarship program for next year's conference.
If you have further questions, please reach out wvcaleadership@gmail.com.
This certification series will explore the historical foundations of service and philanthropy while providing moments for intentional, deep self-reflection. The history of volunteerism in the United States is rooted in conquest, colonization, white saviorism, and systems of control.
This series encourages participants to learn, unlearn and relearn how to confront dominant narratives of “help,” name how modern volunteerism often reenacts harm, and explore liberatory models of service grounded in justice, mutual aid, and cultural truth.
Each session offers historical context, real-world tools, and powerful frameworks to challenge the status quo and reimagine what service can look like. This curated space is designed for participants to wrestle with hard truths, current state reflections, and ways to activate real change.
Participants are expected to complete weekly homework assignments, participate in real time feedback, and utilize the series toolkit
What’s Included:
Four interactive sessions that include a hands-on Learning Lab
Full digital Participant Workbook with all tools, worksheets, and prompts
Certification in Reimagining Volunteerism from an Equity Lens
Who is this geared towards:
• Volunteer coordinators and managers
• DEI practitioners and trainers
• Executive directors and nonprofit leaders
• Community organizers and mutual aid facilitators
• White allies committed to anti-racist service
Facilitator: Brianna Miller*
You will leave with new ideas, useful tools and a Certification in Reimagining Volunteerism from an Equity Lens from MAVA.
To receive certification, participants must:
• Attend all training sessions (if you miss session, make up materials will be provided)
• Complete at least one worksheet or tool
• Submit post-series self-reflection or mini-audit
Your registration will allow you to attend all four days in the series. Attending the History of Help Training Series can be counted toward obtaining or renewing your Certification in Volunteer Administration (CVA).
Training runs from 9:00 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. (Central Time) each of the four days.
Day One - Thursday, May 7, 2026
Day Two - Thursday, May 14, 2026
Day Three - Thursday, May 21, 2026
Day Four - Thursday, May 28, 2026
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.
You will learn:
- What Service Enterprise is
- How it works
- Who can benefit from Service Enterprise
- Benefits of Service Enterprise
- How to Get Involved
Taking place virtually on May 13-14, the 2026 Virginia Volunteerism Summit is Virginia’s leading event for organizations and individuals making a difference in their communities. Hosted by Serve Virginia and the Virginia Service Foundation, this year’s Summit will re-energize your passion for service through opportunities to connect with peers and learn from experts in the field!
Keynote speakers include Nicole R. Smith, Executive Director of the Association of Leaders in Volunteer Engagement, and Cliff Fleet, president and CEO of Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. In addition to these inspiring keynote sessions, attendees will participate in multiple hands-on workshops each day as well as virtual networking opportunities and resource-sharing. Sessions will cover everything from Volunteer Management 101 to more advanced conversations about innovations in volunteerism and service, the potential of power partnerships, and more.
Attending this conference can be applied towards hours needed for professional development requirements for initial CVA Certification or CVA Renewal. The CVA (Certified in Volunteer Administration) is the only internationally recognized credential in the field of volunteer administration. If you require proof of the number of hours you engaged in professional development, please contact the organizers of this training. CCVA will not have proof of your attendance to events that they haven’t organized. To learn more, visit www.cvacert.org.
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.
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.
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.
Facilitators:
Jenny Garver, CVA – Volunteer Coordinator, Macon County Conservation District
Callie Le'Au Courtright, CPM, CVA – Parks & Recreation Supervisor, City of Des Moines
Yvonne Dunphe, CVA – Volunteer Coordinator, Five Rivers MetroParks
2026 Meeting Dates:
January 21, March 25, May 20, July 15, September 16, November 18
Time:
1:00 PM EST | 12:00 PM CST | 11:00 AM MST | 10:00 AM PST
Meetings are held virtually.
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.
Charity to Solidarity - Auditing your Volunteer Program for Optimal Allies with Meghan Maloney, CVA
Thursday May 21, 2026 from 9:00am - 10:00am EST
Register HERE
We're excited to be cohosting this session with our partners at DOVIA-LA.
This is a live virtual webinar. The session will not be recorded.
This one-hour interactive training challenges participants to move beyond traditional “charity” models and re-examine power dynamics within their volunteer programs. How can you ensure that your service opportunities meet your organization’s mission and not a volunteers’ self-serving motivations? Participants will learn how to audit their recruitment messaging, onboard volunteers with a focus on systemic context, and manage "savior" narratives with grace and clarity. Join us to gain practical strategies for building a more equitable, dignified, and sustainable volunteer culture. We can transform volunteers from well-intentioned helpers into effective allies and partners of our organizations.
The Speaker:
Meghan has a passion for the nonprofit sector and public service. She has participated in three AmeriCorps Programs (Vista, State, and National). She has over a decade of volunteer engagement professional experience. Meghan is a certified CCVA and is a graduate of the ALiVE Bootcamp Series. She has served as Vice President of DOVIA-LA and currently serves on the DOVIA-LA Advisory Committee.
Meghan is an alumna of UCLA, graduating with a B.A. double major in American Literature and History with a minor in LGBT Studies. She is a proud and rare Angeleno with roots in the Harbor area. Behind the scenes, Meghan enjoys spending time with her cats, attending live music shows, and visiting National Parks.
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.
All Volunteer Engagement Professionals are welcome to attend an industry social event, monthly at 2 PM Eastern for 45 minutes on the fourth Tuesday 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!
To submit your event, click on the link below.