The VolunteerMatters Podcast

VolunteerMatters
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  • NON-PROFIT
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

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.

  1. JUL 16

    The Y Changed Our Lives—Now We Help Them Change the World | Ep 22

    “The Y is more than a gym and swim — it’s a powerful force for good, driven by dedicated volunteers.” 👉🏻 Want a guide to the YMCA & VolunteerMatters partnership? Download the FREE guide: https://public.volunteermatters.org/files/podcast/whitepapers/VolunteerMatters_White_Paper-YMCA+Volunteering_(ep22).pdf Join Mark, President, and Sophia, Success Coach at VolunteerMatters, a leading volunteer management software dedicated to helping nonprofits build stronger, more impactful volunteer programs. This episode dives deep into: - Our decade-long partnership with YMCA - How YMCA volunteer programs shaped our platform - Strategies for scaling across 500+ locations - The gold standard in volunteer safety and compliance - Personal stories from growing up at the Y …and more Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction & why the YMCA matters 01:02 - The global scale of YMCA volunteerism 02:20 - From volunteer-run to professionally staffed 04:04 - “More than just a gym and swim” 05:08 - Volunteering as a gateway to the mission 06:00 - Mark’s personal story with the Y 08:10 - Our national partnership with YMCA USA 08:55 - How YMCA needs shaped our product 12:00 - Why flexibility is essential in VMS 13:50 - Empowering part-time admins 16:50 - Industry-leading safety and compliance 19:20 - Praesidium Accreditation: What it is and why it matters 21:00 - Automating onboarding, credentials & workflows 25:00 - Case Study: From 26% to 90% compliance in 2 months 30:40 - A thank-you to the YMCA Check out VolunteerMatters on: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VolunteerMatters Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/volunteermatters/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/volunteer-matters Twitter/X: https://x.com/VolnteerMatters Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VolunteerMatters Website: https://www.volunteermatters.com/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-volunteermatters-podcast/id1765384042 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/41OzyIlomp8LLrZ68fgb77?si=sg92xnBGRDuL4HDnB_F1Rg

    33 min

  2. JUN 4

    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: https://public.volunteermatters.org/files/podcast/whitepapers/Promoting_Volunteer_Projects_(ep21).pdf Join Mark, President, and Sophia, Customer Success Coach at VolunteerMatters, a leading volunteer management software dedicated to helping nonprofits build stronger, more impactful volunteer programs. This episode dives deep into: - How to turn attention into action - Creating effective volunteer opportunity pages - Tangible strategies for promoting volunteer opportunities - …and more. Timestamps: 00:00 - Introduction: Why promoting matters 01:22 - The big mistake: Eyeballs vs. Education 03:44 - A great volunteer project description 05:07 - Reducing fear of the unknown 06:20 - Volunteer opportunity catalog 08:53 - Clear calls to action 09:56 - Writing for beginners, not insiders 11:15 - Effective email promotion 15:28 - Use your existing volunteer database first 15:43 - Leveraging social media platforms 18:47 - Follow peer organizations for inspiration 21:10 - Community partners as promotional allies 21:58 - Promoting at in-person events 23:05 - Traditional media 23:19 - Text messaging 25:05 - Summary and recap 27:20 - Email deliverability and compliance Check out VolunteerMatters on: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VolunteerMatters Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/volunteermatters/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/volunteer-matters Twitter/X: https://x.com/VolnteerMatters Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VolunteerMatters Website: https://www.volunteermatters.com/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-volunteermatters-podcast/id1765384042 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/41OzyIlomp8LLrZ68fgb77?si=sg92xnBGRDuL4HDnB_F1Rg

    30 min

  3. MAY 21

    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: https://public.volunteermatters.org/files/podcast/whitepapers/Training_Volunteers_at_Scale_(ep20).pdf Join Mark, President, and Sophia, Customer Success Coach at VolunteerMatters, a leading volunteer management software dedicated to helping nonprofits build stronger, more impactful volunteer programs. This episode dives deep into: - Why volunteer training directly impacts your mission’s success - How to balance standardization with flexibility - The power of learning management systems (LMS) and other tech tools - How to measure success through completion rates, feedback, retention, and repeat requirements - …and more. Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome and Topic Introduction 01:00 – Why Volunteer Training Matters 01:48 – The Challenges of Scaling Training 02:56 – Maintaining Consistency in Training Content 03:50 – Adapting for Diverse Volunteer Audiences 04:50 – Delivery Methods and Oversight Challenges 05:30 – Principles of Scalable Volunteer Training 08:59 – Leveraging Technology for Training Delivery 10:00 – Assigning Ownership Over Training Content 10:50 – Training the Trainers 12:00 – Learning Management Systems and Online Tools 13:05 – Addressing Concerns Around Online Training 15:00 – Quizzing and Measuring Retention 19:00 – Key Metrics for Evaluating Training Success 21:00 – The Importance of Feedback Loops 23:00 – Recap of Training Best Practices 25:00 – Training Expiration and Recertification 29:00 – Real-World Example (YMCA) Check out VolunteerMatters on: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VolunteerMatters Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/volunteermatters/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/volunteer-matters Twitter/X: https://x.com/VolnteerMatters Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VolunteerMatters Website: https://www.volunteermatters.com/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-volunteermatters-podcast/id1765384042 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/41OzyIlomp8LLrZ68fgb77?si=sg92xnBGRDuL4HDnB_F1Rg

    30 min

  4. MAY 7

    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: https://public.volunteermatters.org/files/podcast/whitepapers/Volunteerism_Dream_Team_(ep1).pdf Join Mark, President, and Sophia, Customer Success Coach at VolunteerMatters, a leading volunteer management software dedicated to helping nonprofits build stronger, more impactful volunteer programs. This episode dives deep into: - How to know when you're the bottleneck—and how to fix it - The power of delegation, trust, and empowering your team - How giving up control leads to organizational and mission growth - …and more. Timestamps: 00:00 – Welcome: The inspiration behind this episode 00:50 – A customer story: When leadership took over 02:23 – Micromanagement: What it is and how it harms your team 04:33 – The ripple effects: morale, time loss, and stalled innovation 05:09 – Scaling your nonprofit starts with trusting your team 07:15 – “80% done is 100% awesome” – why perfection isn’t the goal 08:48 – Staff on the ground are closer to the real problem 10:14 – Everyone has a role—strategic, marketing, HR, fundraising 10:55 – What great leadership actually looks like 12:40 – Leadership self-reflection: Are you holding things back? 13:05 – Delegation creates ownership, joy, and long-term growth 14:05 – Real talk: Letting go is hard, even for us 15:10 – What happens when leadership gets out of the way 15:50 – Don’t micromanage—trust, delegate, empower Check out VolunteerMatters on: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VolunteerMatters Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/volunteermatters/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/volunteer-matters Twitter/X: https://x.com/VolnteerMatters Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VolunteerMatters Website: https://www.volunteermatters.com/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-volunteermatters-podcast/id1765384042 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/41OzyIlomp8LLrZ68fgb77?si=sg92xnBGRDuL4HDnB_F1Rg

    17 min

  5. APR 23

    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: https://public.volunteermatters.org/files/podcast/whitepapers/Re-Engaging_Lapsed_Volunteers_(ep18).pdf Join Mark, President, and Sophia, Customer Success Coach at VolunteerMatters, a leading volunteer management software dedicated to helping nonprofits build stronger, more impactful volunteer programs. This episode dives deep into: - Why retaining volunteers is more cost-effective than recruiting new ones - How poor tracking systems and weak communication can alienate returning volunteers - Actionable strategies to re-engage lapsed volunteers—from personalized outreach to feedback loops - …and more. Timestamps: 00:00 – Introduction: Why volunteers stop showing up 00:26 – The ROI of retaining vs. recruiting new volunteers 01:04 – Why volunteer experience quality is foundational 02:16 – Returning volunteers add exponential value over time 03:44 – Many orgs don’t know who’s new vs. returning 05:05 – Why tracking volunteer data is critical 08:03 – Top reasons why volunteers lapse 11:09 – Communication gaps: the root of disengagement 13:03 – What a strong volunteer experience looks like 16:27 – Personalizing outreach to re-engage past volunteers 18:08 – Segmenting volunteers based on activity 19:00 – Fix the reasons they left in the first place 20:01 – Why real-time, iterative feedback matters 22:33 – Volunteer incentives and appreciation events 24:08 – Re-engagement powered by peer volunteers 27:27 – Episode Recap Check out VolunteerMatters on: YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@VolunteerMatters Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/volunteermatters/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/volunteer-matters Twitter/X: https://x.com/VolnteerMatters Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/VolunteerMatters Website: https://www.volunteermatters.com/ Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-volunteermatters-podcast/id1765384042 Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/41OzyIlomp8LLrZ68fgb77?si=sg92xnBGRDuL4HDnB_F1Rg

    31 min

  6. APR 9

    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 nonprofits engage and manage volunteers effectively. Key Highlights: • How It All Began • The Evolution of VolunteerMatters • Overcoming Early Challenges • Pivotal Milestones • Vision for the Future "You measure what you value, and value what you measure. For us, it’s always been about demonstrating the transformative impact of volunteers—not just through anecdotes, but with real, measurable data.” - Mark Download the PDF Guide to the Origin Story of VolunteerMatters Now: https://public.volunteermatters.org/files/podcast/whitepapers/Orign_Story_of_VolunteerMatters_(ep17).pdf Links: Visit Our Website: https://volunteermatters.com Follow Us: Stay updated with VolunteerMatters on: Facebook: https://facebook.com/volunteermatters LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/volunteermatters X/Twitter: https://x.com/VolnteerMatters Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/volunteermatters/ Tune in to this inspiring conversation to understand the heart and vision behind VolunteerMatters, and to gain insights into building a purpose-driven organization!

    27 min

  7. MAR 26

    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 Opportunities • Celebrating Volunteer Contributions • Boosting Operational Efficiency • Practical Tracking Methods • The Importance of Reporting Listen in to learn how tracking volunteer hours can transform your volunteer program into a well-oiled machine that attracts funding, celebrates impact, and builds long-term engagement. Learn More: Explore our top tips for tracking volunteer hours effectively: https://public.volunteermatters.org/files/podcast/whitepapers/VolunteerMatters_Tracking_Volunteer_Hours_(ep16).pdf Links: Visit Our Website: https://volunteermatters.com Follow Us: Stay updated with VolunteerMatters on: Facebook: https://facebook.com/volunteermatters LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/volunteermatters X/Twitter: https://x.com/VolnteerMatters Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/volunteermatters/ Start optimizing your volunteer program with actionable insights and proven strategies—tune in now!

    33 min

  8. MAR 12

    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 unique challenges and differences from managing paid staff. This episode explores how to approach volunteerism with a fresh perspective and practical strategies for success. What You’ll Learn: • Understand the key differences between managing employees and volunteers—and why volunteers aren’t unpaid employees. • How to respect volunteers’ time and motivation by streamlining recruitment and onboarding processes. • The importance of front-loading applications, background checks, and training to retain motivated volunteers. • Why creating a smooth and efficient onboarding process leads to higher retention and repeat volunteerism. • Insights into when gatekeeping is necessary—like in high-commitment roles or leadership opportunities—and how to balance selectivity with accessibility. Whether you’re an HR professional new to volunteerism or a nonprofit leader looking to refine your volunteer management practices, this episode offers valuable guidance to ensure you’re maximizing impact and creating extraordinary volunteer experiences. Learn More: Discover our free guide to approaching volunteerism with a fresh perspective: https://public.volunteermatters.org/files/podcast/whitepapers/VolunteerMatters_Volunteers_Are_Not_Employees.pdf. Links: Visit Our Website: https://volunteermatters.com Follow Us: Stay updated with VolunteerMatters on: Facebook: https://facebook.com/volunteermatters LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/company/volunteermatters X/Twitter: https://x.com/VolnteerMatters Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/volunteermatters/ Tune in now to redefine how you approach volunteer management and build a stronger, more effective program!

    30 min
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About

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.

Information

  • Creator
    VolunteerMatters
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    22
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © 2025 The VolunteerMatters Podcast
  • Show Website
    The VolunteerMatters Podcast