210. Impact Lab POV – Better Volunteer Offboarding with Ruth Leonard 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

210. Impact Lab POV – Better Volunteer Offboarding with Ruth Leonard

April 16, 2026 • Tobi Johnson, MA, CVA • Episode 210

0:00 | 33:58

Volunteer engagement doesn’t end when service concludes. In fact, how organizations say goodbye to their volunteers can have a lasting impact on relationships, reputation, and future support. Yet, volunteer offboarding is often overlooked or treated as an administrative task rather than a meaningful opportunity for connection.

In this episode of the Volunteer Nation Podcast, part of the Impact Lab POV Series, host Tobi Johnson sits down with volunteer engagement expert Ruth Leonard, who also serves as a Guest Advisor for VolunteerPro, to explore how intentional offboarding can strengthen organizational culture and foster long-term loyalty. Together, they reframe offboarding as a relationship-building process that honors volunteers’ contributions while keeping the door open for future involvement.

Ruth shares insights on the importance of transparency around volunteer tenure, the role of rituals and recognition in creating dignified transitions, and how thoughtful exit interviews can preserve valuable knowledge. The conversation also highlights the benefits of maintaining alumni connections and celebrating service as a way to reinforce human dignity and community trust.

Listeners will discover practical strategies to design meaningful volunteer exits, shift their mindset from transactional to relational engagement, and ensure that every volunteer’s journey ends with appreciation and purpose. Ruth also offers a preview of her upcoming seminar focused on helping volunteers leave well while staying connected.

If you’re looking to enhance retention, protect your organization’s reputation, and create lasting relationships with your volunteers, this episode provides the inspiration and actionable guidance to get started.

Full show notes: 210 – Impact Lab POV – Better Volunteer Offboarding with Ruth Leonard

Volunteer offboarding – Episode Highlights

[00:00] Introduction to Volunteer Nation Podcast
[03:33] Ruth Leonard's Journey into Volunteerism
[05:24] The Importance of Volunteerism Today
[08:10] Understanding Volunteer Offboarding
[12:51] The Significance of Proper Offboarding
[15:50] Consequences of Poor Offboarding Practices
19:10] Practical Steps for Effective Offboarding
[23:51] Creating a Culture of Connection
[27:54] Mindset Shifts for Volunteer Leaders
[30:06] Looking Ahead: Future of Volunteerism

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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

Host