217. What Is a Volunteer? Why It Matters to You Org 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

217. What Is a Volunteer? Why It Matters to You Org

June 04, 2026 • Tobi Johnson, MA, CVA • Episode 217

0:00 | 36:15

Most organizations see volunteers as free labor. That narrow view hides their true value.

In this episode, Tobi Johnson explains why redefining volunteer roles unlocks hidden assets: relational capital, advocacy reach, donor pipelines, and community credibility. She covers practical steps to write clear role descriptions, reduce staff‑volunteer tension, and stay legally compliant, from U.S. Department of Labor standards to local laws.

If fuzzy definitions are holding your organization back, this episode gives you the clarity and strategy to turn volunteers into your most valuable strategic asset.

What Is a Volunteer? – Episode Highlights

[00:00] Understanding Volunteers: Definitions and Importance
[04:47] Valuing Volunteer Time: Beyond Wage Replacement
[11:23] Legal Perspectives on Volunteerism
[21:05] Defining Volunteer Roles vs. Paid Staff Roles
[24:54] Clarity in Volunteer and Staff Relationships
[34:56] Action Steps for Defining Volunteer Roles

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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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