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Dec 59 min read

Self-advocacy, Neurodivergence, and Disability in the Workplace: an Interview with Sarah Philippe

Instead of being stuck in a scarcity mindset, he found room for abundance and inclusivity. He saw you as a full human being and not just a

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Oct 319 min read

Equity and Volunteerism: An interview with Faiza Venzant

The biggest mistake we make is not involving the communities we serve in so many aspects of our work. This isn’t unique to our profession

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Oct 512 min read

The shifts we’re seeing and implementing: six volunteer engagement practitioners chat about real-world applications

A rich, diverse, nuanced, complex activity like volunteer engagement doesn't fit in nice, neat little Excel boxes.

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Aug 298 min read

The (Mostly) Highs of Board Service: An Interview with Stephanie Warner

Asking questions is also important when deciding on whether to commit to any volunteer role, not just a board role.

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Jul 234 min read

Smooth Transitions: Five Tips for Inheriting Volunteer Relationships

Inheriting volunteer relationships can be super awkward, especially if your predecessor built strong ties.

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Jun 239 min read

How Executive Directors Can Boost Fundraising through Volunteer Engagement: A Conversation with Robyne Walker Murphy

I would say that our sector needs to expand their minds around what volunteers can do. Each volunteer is a potential ambassador, connector,

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May 295 min read

Emailing Volunteers Made Easier: An Interview with Kristi Scott

How we connect with supporters online is an ongoing process so be prepared to change.

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May 111 min read

Early Career Volunteer Engagement Professionals #AskMeAnything: Michael Nelson

If someone hasn't spoken, whether it's a language barrier or a cognitive barrier, then you can pull that person aside during the break.

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Mar 269 min read

Early Career Volunteer Engagement Professionals #AskMeAnything: Gabriela Rubio Bocangel

If there's one social media platform I wouldn't delete, it would be LinkedIn. People's emails change; they go to different organizations

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Feb 1910 min read

Early Career Volunteer Engagement Professionals #AskMeAnything: Cisil Inan

I recently made a career move to consulting and entrepreneurship. This move involved learning new things, which prompted me to look back...

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Jan 112 min read

Don't Volunteer Yet. Take Time to Decide.

I was going to a coffee meeting yesterday when I passed this The Ordinary ad on the subway platform. "Don't buy yet. Shop slowly" it...

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Dec 24, 20233 min read

I Gave a Bad Haircut: What I Learned about Failure

As we close out 2023, I am getting around to writing a long-overdue blog post. It's been hard to write because it's about failure. No one...

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Oct 15, 20239 min read

Networking Metaphors and More: An Interview with Miguel Abascal

My primary challenge was that I didn’t have a network in Canada. In Mexico, I knew everybody and everybody knew me.

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Jul 29, 20233 min read

About Me at Work: A tool to help onboard or transition employees to your leadership

I'm in a Facebook group called Nonprofit Happy Hour where this question was recently asked, "When you've started at a new job or welcomed...

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Jul 7, 20231 min read

"Striving and Thriving": A Community Forum with Asian Community AIDS Services

In May, I participated as a panellist in a community forum with Asian Community AIDS Services (ACAS). I loved this opportunity to...

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Apr 12, 20237 min read

Making Videos for Non-Profits with Volunteers: A Chat with David Phu

In 2011, David and I worked together at South Vancouver Neighbourhood House (SVNH). He was a leader for the Out of School Program and I...

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Jan 28, 20234 min read

PB&J: Why Leaders of Volunteers should create Job Aids

Earlier this week, I found my partner laughing uncontrollably. He was watching this TikTok video shared on LinkedIn:...

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Jan 19, 20236 min read

Community Organizing Insights: An Interview with Steve Boyle

Is anyone still on Facebook these days? I am and one of my reasons for staying on the OG social media platform is to follow the...

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Dec 25, 20226 min read

Book Recommendation: Unreasonable Hospitality by Will Guidara

A Christmas 2022 note: It's been more than a few months since I've shared on this blog, and a lot has happened this year. I'm not the...

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Mar 12, 20227 min read

Personal Branding Series Part 3 of 3: An Interview with Corina Sadler, CVA

Welcome to the final installation of this blog series on personal branding. For the first installation where I outline some thoughts on...

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Mar 6, 20226 min read

Personal Branding Series Part 2 of 3: An Interview with Kristen Loblaw

Welcome to the second installation of this blog series on personal branding. If you want to check out the first installation, please...

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Feb 27, 20222 min read

Personal Branding Series Part 1 of 3: A Personal Reflection

My definition of personal brand encompasses how one reflects themselves into the worlds they interact with. Different worlds can have...

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Dec 27, 20213 min read

Une petite amélioration en 2021 : A few ways this anglophone worked on her French

I'm decidely anglophone. Growing up in British Columbia, the most western province of Canada, learning French was an academic exercise....

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Oct 12, 20215 min read

Volunteering as a Bereavement Photographer: Annie’s Journey and Call to Action

Content Warning: this article mentions infant loss and miscarriage Images provided for this article are courtesy of Annie Chen, with...

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Jul 10, 20213 min read

If I could turn back time... I'd tell myself: Advocate

Today's post was inspired by a question from the VolunteerPro Insiders Facebook group: "What advice would you give to someone just...

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Jun 19, 20213 min read

Internet Inquiry: June 2021 Edition (Volunteer Appreciation Gifts)

This question came through the VoluneerPro Insiders Facebook group. To paraphrase, another leader of volunteers asked for "ideas on some...

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May 20, 20214 min read

"Ginny & Georgia": Lessons in Volunteer-Related Risk Management from Netflix Show

I've taken a few days off work to celebrate my wedding anniversary and extend the May 2-4 long weekend. So of course, it's an opportunity...

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Apr 25, 20213 min read

Internet Inquiry: April 2021 Edition (Improving Your Writing for Job Applications and Beyond)

This question came to me from a family member who has spent about 30 years climbing the career ladder in Canada but was recently...

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Mar 27, 20211 min read

7 Ways to Increase Donations by Stewarding Volunteers

Volunteer Toronto is an incredible resource for people looking to volunteer and organizations looking for volunteer engagement support in...

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Feb 14, 20216 min read

Internet Inquiry: February 2021 Edition (Gut Feelings and Volunteer Screening)

This question was posted to the Volunteer Engagement Professionals - connection & camaraderie Facebook page on January 22, 2021, and...

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Jan 16, 202110 min read

Celebs x Volunteer Engagement: An Interview with Dana Litwin

Dana Litwin, CVA is a volunteer engagement consultant from San Francisco. She is also the host and producer of "Dana's Priceless Advice...

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Jan 9, 20213 min read

Internet Inquiry: January 2021 Edition (Volunteer Feedback Surveys)

To manage expectations for everyone, be transparent about the purpose of the survey and what will happen with survey responses. Many times,

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Dec 29, 20205 min read

Celebrity Volunteers

Just like we cannot assume that every accountant wants to be board treasurer, we cannot assume that every celebrity wants to do what they do

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Dec 13, 20204 min read

Internet Inquiry: December 2020 Edition (Celebrating Volunteers' Birthdays)

Volunteer birthdays- do you celebrate them? How? Our team has started taking note of volunteers' birthdays to acknowledge and celebrate them

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Jul 28, 20205 min read

Building Relationships Through Presentations

Don't see a presentation, or a donation, or a new member, or a six-month volunteer commitment, as the end game. To maintain relationships, y

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Jun 25, 20205 min read

Canada Student Service Grant: Some Answers- Finally!

Students must complete eligible volunteer hours by October 31, limiting the time available for screening, orientation, and training, as well

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Jun 10, 20202 min read

Black Lives Matter: Learning and Unlearning

This is a blog about learning so I'm going to share my experience of learning about systemic racism, effective allyship, and Black...

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May 22, 20201 min read

O Canada: Four Uniquely Canadian Things about Volunteerism and Volunteer Engagement during COVID-19

Rob Jackson's blog is one of the Resources I Love for volunteer engagement. So, when Rob asked if I'd like to contribute a guest post, I...

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May 13, 20204 min read

Employee Partners: It's Time to Level Up

Employee Partner: a paid staff member who works with volunteers throughout the volunteer engagement cycle, to enable success for a...

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May 7, 20203 min read

Sharing My Values with a Soul-Baring Story

I am the child of immigrants from Hong Kong. On my first day of kindergarten, my mom said to me, “and one day, you’ll go to university.”

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May 3, 20205 min read

Boundaries: Cover Your A$$ and Consider Your Capacity

I live in a Toronto neighbourhood called Willowdale. I have lived in this same neighbourhood since I moved to Toronto a decade ago. I...

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Apr 22, 20204 min read

Canada Student Service Grant: I have so many questions!

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised $9 billion to support students across the country in his daily coronavirus briefing today...

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Apr 21, 20202 min read

Do or don't: calling volunteers "family"? And why you should use "community" instead

I'm on several non-profit professional groups across social media and I've always wanted to delve deeper into questions that I give brief...

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