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. more info...
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.
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. more info...
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.
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. more info...
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, longâterm commitment.” more info...
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!
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. more info...
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 HR1âdriven future.
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.
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.
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. more info...
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.
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 more info...
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. more info...
Join hosts, our very own AL!VE Board Member. David Horwitz, CVA from the United States and Karin Henderson, CVA from Canada for our final of three international celebrations to celebrate International Volunteer Managers Day 2026! This year's theme is Legacy and Leadership: Honoring the past, present and future. Join us at this free global event as we recount the history of IVMDay, learn about some new tools for volunteer managers and celebrate the joy and excellence that are part of our profession!
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.
November Al!ve Academy, November 10, 2026, starting at 12:00 PM EST (90 minutes)
Leadership isn’t just about what we do—it’s about who we are while we’re doing it.
This interactive 90-minute session introduces participants to the foundational principles of Joyful Leadership®, a practical leadership framework that helps individuals understand how their core values influence decision-making, relationships, communication, and workplace culture.
Participants will explore what it means to lead from alignment rather than survival, recognize the impact of their personal leadership operating system, and learn simple strategies for returning to their core values when stress, conflict, or uncertainty interrupt them.
Rather than focusing on leadership techniques alone, this session invites participants to reconnect with the qualities that allow them to lead with greater clarity, resilience, appreciation, and purpose.
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. more info...
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.
This is an opportunity to hear form those who believe in this field and love it enough to interrogate it. They will trace their real journeys, showing how they found their voice, built their expertise, and kept going in a sector that wasn't historically built for them. You will hear their stories, reflect on your own and learn in community.
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. more info...
Join fellow volunteer engagement professionals working in urban and rural parks, botanical gardens, recreation programs, and nature preserves. This Community of Practice provides an informal, supportive space to exchange resources, ideas, and best practices. Whether you're seeking advice or sharing insights, you’ll find open discussion and a welcoming community. Bring your lunch, brunch, or favorite beverage and join the conversation! Not sure if this group is the right fit? Come anyway—everyone is welcome.
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.
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. more info...
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.
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.
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. more info...
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!
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. more info...
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.
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. more info...
December AL!VE Academy, December 8, 2026, starting at 12:00 PM (EST) (60 Minutes)
The recently enacted H.R. 1 establishes new Medicaid "community engagement" requirements for certain beneficiaries and explicitly allows volunteer service to count toward compliance. As states begin planning implementation, nonprofit organizations are asking important questions:
What volunteer activities are likely to qualify?
Will nonprofits be asked to track or verify volunteer hours?
What administrative, legal, or operational risks should organizations anticipate?
How can nonprofits engage with state policymakers to shape implementation?
What steps should organizations take now to prepare?
Join us for the 2026 Annual Meeting, a time to come together to reflect, connect, and look ahead. We’ll celebrate our accomplishments from the past year, and share an exciting preview of what’s to come in 2027. This annual gathering is your opportunity to engage with fellow members, stay informed about AL!VE’s direction, and be part of shaping our collective future. more info...
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.
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.
