184. The Experience Economy – Are Nonprofits Keeping Up? 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

184. The Experience Economy – Are Nonprofits Keeping Up?

October 16, 2025 • Tobi Johnson, MA, CVA

In this episode of the Volunteer Nation Podcast, Tobi Johnson unpacks how the experience economy is reshaping the way nonprofits engage and retain volunteers.

Building on last week’s discussion about the evolving volunteer marketplace, Tobi explains why it’s no longer enough to simply offer opportunities — today’s volunteers expect meaningful, memorable, and transformative experiences.

If you’re ready to meet modern volunteer expectations and create experiences that truly stand out, this episode is packed with insights you won’t want to miss!

Full show notes: 184. The Experience Economy – Are Nonprofits Keeping Up?

Experience Economy - Episode Highlights

[01:37] - Understanding the Experience Economy
[05:23] - The Evolution of Economic Value
[07:46] - Creating Quality Volunteer Experiences
[15:55] - Modern Examples of the Experience Economy
[18:04] - The Experience Economy in Nonprofits
[18:52] - The Market Metaphor in Volunteerism
[19:43] - Understanding Volunteer Motivations
[22:59] - Altruism and Empathy in Volunteering
[24:07] - Social Connection and Personal Development
[28:51] - Value Expression and Psychological Benefits
[32:40] - The Experience Economy in Volunteering
[34:46] - Episodic and Flexible Volunteering
[36:04] - The Ripple Effect of Volunteer Experience

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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.

Tobi Johnson, MA, CVA

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