163. New Research from Points of Light with Jennifer Sirangelo Artwork

Volunteer Nation

Nonprofit leadership author, coach, and expert Tobi Johnson shares weekly tips to help charities build, grow, and scale exceptional volunteer teams. Discover how your nonprofit can effectively coordinate volunteers who are reliable, equipped, and ready to help you bring about BIG change for the better. Rather than continuing to “do more with less,” achieve abundance for your organization by engaging community talent that helps you do more with more. Society is evolving and so, too, is volunteerism. With over 25 years of experience working in nonprofits, public sector agencies, and grassroots campaigns Tobi is known for her modern “big hat” thinking and straight talk about what it takes to achieve success in today’s world. You will learn how to coordinate volunteers, improve the volunteer experience, recruit volunteers, appreciate volunteers, and do it all more efficiently with the right volunteer management software and digital tools. It’s a mix of interviews and solo shows you’re not going to want to miss. So, if you’re ready to ditch the stress and harness the power of people to fuel your good work, you’re in exactly the right place. Hit subscribe and let’s DO this!

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Volunteer Nation

163. New Research from Points of Light with Jennifer Sirangelo

May 22, 2025 • Tobi Johnson, MA, CVA

In this episode of Volunteer Nation, Tobi Johnson sits down with Jennifer Sirangelo, President & CEO of Points of Light, to explore why volunteerism is not just a “nice to have”, it’s a necessity.

Jennifer shares her inspiring journey into the nonprofit world and offers a behind-the-scenes look at Points of Light’s mission to position volunteer management as essential infrastructure. Together, they unpack key insights from the groundbreaking report From Nice to Necessary, which outlines the urgent need for increased investment in volunteer engagement.

If you're a nonprofit leader, volunteer coordinator, or advocate for civic engagement, this episode will leave you energized and equipped to make the case for stronger volunteer systems.

Full show notes: 163. New Research from Points of Light with Jennifer Sirangelo

Points of Light - Episode Highlights

[03:01] - Jennifer’s Nonprofit Journey
[05:47] - The Importance of Volunteerism and Civic Engagement
[08:36] - Challenges and Opportunities in Volunteer Management
[09:08] - The State of Volunteering Today
[20:07] - The Hidden Costs of Volunteer Engagement
[24:37] - Discussing Healthcare Access and Volunteer Management
[26:02] - Theory of Change in Volunteering
[27:41] - Challenges in Measuring Volunteer Impact
[29:32] - Research and Data in Volunteerism
[33:35] - Engaging Funders in Volunteerism
[34:55] - Addressing Volunteer Infrastructure
[38:44] - Digital Marketing and Volunteer Recruitment
[43:42] - Supervisory Ratios and Staffing

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Thanks for listening to this episode of the Volunteer Nation podcast. If you enjoyed it, please be sure to subscribe, rate, and review so we can reach more people like you who want to improve the impact of their good cause.

For more tips and notes from the show, check us out at TobiJohnson.com. For any comments or questions, email us at WeCare@VolPro.net.

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Tobi Johnson, MA, CVA

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