The VolunteerMatters Podcast
Welcome to the VolunteerMatters Podcast! Tune in to listen to Mark Hopwood and Sophia Hopwood discuss important topics in the world of volunteerism. They share expert insight and real-world experience that will help you take your volunteer program to the next level.
Episodes
21 episodes
From Eyeballs to Action: How to Actually Recruit Volunteers | Ep 21
“The number one reason volunteers don’t engage is fear of the unknown."👉🏻 Want a guide to recruiting volunteers?Download the FREE guide:
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Season 1
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Episode 21
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30:03
Training That Scales: How to Train Volunteers Consistently Across Locations | Ep 20
“Training that needs to be repeated adds a layer of complexity most nonprofits aren’t tracking well.”👉🏻 Want a guide to scaling volunteer training?Download the FREE guide:
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Season 1
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Episode 20
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30:22
Trust Your People: Why Empowered Teams Outperform | Ep 19
“The higher you go, the less you should be doing. Your job is to equip, empower, and get out of the way."👉🏻 Want a guide to building a strong volunteerism team?Download the FREE guide:
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Season 1
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Episode 19
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16:30
How to Re-Engage Lapsed Volunteers and Boost Retention | Ep 18
“Retaining volunteers is 70% less expensive than recruiting new ones—so why aren't we doing more to bring them back?" 👉🏻 Want a guide to re-engaging volunteers? Download the FREE guide:
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Season 1
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Episode 18
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30:42
Origin Story of VolunteerMatters | Ep 17
Sophia interviews Mark, President and Co-Founder of VolunteerMatters, to uncover the inspiring origin story of the company. Mark shares his journey from custom software development to creating an impactful platform dedicated to helping nonprofi...
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Season 1
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Episode 17
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26:56
Tracking Volunteer Hours with Confidence | Ep 16
Whether you're running a small program or managing thousands of volunteers, knowing how to accurately track hours is a game-changer for funding, program efficiency, and volunteer recognition.Key Takeaways:• Unlocking Funding ...
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Season 1
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Episode 16
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32:54
Barriers, Benefits, and Balance: Volunteers are Not Employees | Ep 15
We address HR professionals stepping into the world of volunteer management—an increasingly common trend as seasoned HR leaders transition from for-profit to nonprofit roles. Managing volunteers is an exciting opportunity but comes with its uni...
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Season 1
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Episode 15
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29:34
Volunteering in Senior Living Communities | Ep 14
Episode 14 | In this episode, we discuss the incredible impact that volunteer programs can have in senior living communities. From fostering meaningful connections to improving quality of life and even creating pathways for workforce dev...
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Season 1
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Episode 14
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13:24
Corporate Volunteering: The Win-Win Mindset Every Nonprofit Needs to Know | Ep 13
Tune in with us to explore the multifaceted benefits of corporate volunteering, providing insights into how nonprofit organizations can harness these programs to deepen impact, build stronger partnerships, and secure additional funding....
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Season 1
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Episode 13
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18:50
How to Handle Bad Volunteers | Ep 12
Mark and Sophia tackle a tough but necessary topic for nonprofits: dealing with "bad volunteers." They break down what it means to have a "bad" volunteer, distinguishing between "bad actors"—those who may harm the organization—and "bad fits" wh...
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Season 1
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Episode 12
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28:06
The Difference Between Volunteer Orientation & Training (And Why It Matters) | Ep 11
In this episode, Mark and Sophia clarify the important distinctions between volunteer orientation and training. These two elements often get confused, but each plays a unique role in onboarding, educating, and empowering volunteers. ...
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Season 1
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Episode 11
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18:39
Volunteer Email Communications: How to Engage Volunteers Effectively | Ep 10
Mark and Sophia explore the role of email communication in volunteer management. They discuss why email remains a powerful tool to engage, recruit, and inspire volunteers across different age groups, from Gen Z to Baby Boomers, and share strate...
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Season 1
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Episode 10
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18:44
Choosing the Best Training Format for Your Volunteers | Ep 9
Mark and Sophia discuss the essentials of training volunteers effectively. They explore various training types, scheduling methods, and best practices to create confident, well-prepared volunteers who feel valued and connected to your organizat...
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Season 1
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Episode 9
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35:16
Document Uploads & Certifications for Volunteers | Ep 8
In this episode, Sophia and Mark tackle a commonly time-intensive aspect of volunteer management: collecting, reviewing, and securely storing volunteer certifications and documentation. They dive into the steps and best practices for handling e...
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Season 1
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Episode 8
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22:52
Simplify Volunteer Onboarding with Digital Agreements | Ep 7
Sophia and Mark dive into an essential topic in all volunteer programs: Volunteer Electronic Agreements. They address the growing importance of volunteer agreements, discuss best practices, and share stories and legal insights gathered from yea...
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Season 1
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Episode 7
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37:01
Volunteer Vetting: When to Background Check Volunteers | Ep 6
We delve into the critical process of conducting background checks for volunteers. Understanding when and how to implement these checks is essential for maintaining a safe and trustworthy environment within your organization. We explore the leg...
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Season 1
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Episode 6
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31:40
Allowing minors to volunteer? Listen to THIS first. | Ep 5
The Future of Volunteering: Best Practices for Minor VolunteersThis episode focuses on the critical aspects of involving minors in volunteer activities within nonprofit organizations. We discuss the legal, ethical, and practical ...
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Season 1
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Episode 5
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35:29
Mastering the Art of Volunteer Applications | Ep 4
We explore the elements that make a great volunteer application. Learn what information to ask for and how to structure your application to attract the right candidates for your organization. We dive into the psychology of first impressions and...
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Season 1
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Episode 4
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35:41
These ARE the ingredients, to an extraordinary volunteer program | Ep 3
Episode 3 | The Recipe for an Extraordinary Volunteer ProgramWelcome to this episode of our podcast, where we delve into a unique six-step recipe to maximize the power of volunteerism in your organization so you can make an even ...
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Season 1
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Episode 3
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1:01:22
Lessons Learned from Hospital Volunteer Programs | Ep 2
Exploring the Distinctive Nature of Hospital VolunteeringIn this episode, we explore the critical role of management in hospital volunteering, highlighting what makes these programs distinct within the world of volunteerism. Lear...
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Season 1
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Episode 2
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32:09
Volunteer Coordinator Quit? Do THIS now! | Ep 1
In this episode, we explore the backbone of any successful volunteer program—the team behind it.Discover who you need on your volunteerism team to maximize the impact and efficiency of your efforts. We dive deep into the roles and respon...
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Season 1
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Episode 1
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43:09