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With answer one, we can try to work with them, educating up so they can provide an informed answer, thus increasing our influence.

With answer two, perhaps time to find a new job elsewhere.

I suspect some wouldn’t be able to answer, for a couple of reasons:

1. Anxiety that they would demonstrate their ignorance of volunteering when put on the spot like that.

2. They have absolutely no intention of ever taking volunteering strategically.

Perhaps the time has come to ask our organisational leadership a question, ”What evidence would you need to change your mind and prioritise investment in and support for volunteering?”

How might your organisation’s leadership answer?

So we dig into alternative and creative ways of demonstrating impact, value, and worth. Despite all the work, still nothing changes.

Oftentimes, this influencing is to try to increase investment in volunteering as a strategic priority for our organisation.

We dutifully produce reports on volunteer numbers and hours, but nothing changes. Volunteering remains an organisational Cinderella.

I recently listened to an episode of Adam Grant’s “Worklife” podcast and came across this fantastic question. It got me thinking about the work we Volunteer Engagement Professionals do to influence senior leadership in our organisations.

We Volunteer Engagement Professionals are always looking for ways to influence leadership to embrace the strategic potential of volunteering. But have we ever asked what data would make them sit up and take notice?

That's the theme of my new #200WordTuesday article.

#LOVols #VolMgmt

Advancing The Profession Season Four continues.

This season, I'll be exploring volunteering infrastructure with some fantastic guests.

This time, Gabriella Civico from CEV in Europe.

soundcloud.com/rob-jackson-...

Panellists say on stools holding microphones

Great day with Community First Yorkshire in Thirsk. Fantastic panel discussing inclusive volunteering.

The volunteer has left the building

This new article on the Rob Jackson Consulting Ltd blog explores how to make the experience of a volunteer leaving yuor organisation a positive one for all concerned.

Read the article now at robjacksonconsulting.wordpress.com?p=1214

#LOVols #VolMgmt

Fantastic to see the volunteer impact assessment toolkit available for free

assets.uea.ac.uk/f/185167/x/3...

With one month to go, I have a new article on the Better Impact blog all about this year's International Volunteer Managers Day.

blog.betterimpact.com/en/internati...

#IVMDay2025 #IVMDay25 #LOVols #VolMgmt

Home secretary announces volunteering ‘test’ for migrants wishing to settle in UK

“Volunteering always has and always should be just that. Voluntary. We encourage anyone to support their community, grow skills and give back through volunteering. But, we should never mandate it” - @saskiaalice.bsky.social of @ncvo.bsky.social

Subreddits for Good Revisited Reddit was founded in 2005 is a community platform categorized around different interests. As of January 2025, Reddit had over 500 million people registered as users. 110.4 million d…

Great advice for nonprofits and those working with volunteers from @coyotebroad.bsky.social (as always)

coyotecommunications.com/coyoteblog/2...

When we see something we don’t like in the world, we can choose how to respond.

We can criticise, or we can see it as a chance to respond, to step up, to nurture the spark to volunteer.

Choose wisely.

“After the post got removed the other night I will offer — if anyone would like their grass cutting for free as they are too busy or not able to do so, please feel free to ask me. 😊 I'm happy to help.”

After a few hours, the post was removed from the group.

Then a young man quietly posted something else. He said:

A good number came back with comments explaining that due to their circumstances (disability, illness, new babies etc.) they simply weren’t prioritising their gardens, or were physically unable to keep them as well maintained as our complainant would like.

A few people agreed with her. Many didn’t.

At the end of August, a post appeared on my local neighbourhood’s Facebook page.

The author moaned that a growing number of people on our housing development don’t seem to keep their gardens tidy. She berated them for such a sloppy attitude & questioned whether anyone cared about where they live.

The spark to volunteer

In my latest #200WordTuesday article, I share a story from my local community about how we can choose to respond to situations with the spark of volunteering.

#LOVols #Volunteering #VolMgmt

Advancing The Profession Season Four continues.

This season, I'll be exploring volunteering infrastructure with some fantastic guests.

This time, Chris Martin from TeamKinetic in the UK.

soundcloud.com/rob-jackson-...

Investing in Impact: The State of Volunteering in the UK 2025 Download Rosterfy’s 2025 report, “Investing in Impact: The State of Volunteering in the UK,” and uncover key insights shaping the future of volunteering.

"The State of UK Volunteer Management 2025" report from Rosterfy is a really important read for anyone working in any Volunteer Involving Organisation.

Check it out now for free.

www.rosterfy.com/investing-in...

Ten things to consider in a brief for an external consultant What outcomes do you want a consultant to achieve? Not the tasks, but the actual results you’d like to see. What does success look like for you?

🎯 New article now available on the Rob Jackson Consulting Ltd blog — "10 Things to Consider in a Brief for an External Consultant"

Don't miss these key elements that will help you get better proposals and find the right match for your project.

robjacksonconsulting.wordpress.com/2025/09/26/c...

Rather than viewing volunteers as exclusive to our own organizations, we collaborate and share talent when it aligns with the volunteer's journey. This not only allows volunteers to thrive but also nurtures a sense of community and shared interest amongst different organizations. Don't Hoard Volunteers! Karen Knight

Do you agree or disagree?

What opinions about volunteering do you have?

7. You are probably not the only organisation they choose to support. Don’t act as if you are more important than the others.

8. You need to work with other organisations to make the most of what volunteers have to offer, regardless of who they volunteer for.

5. You’re not in competition with other organisations for volunteers. Your competition is anything people can spend their time doing that isn’t volunteering.

6. They aren’t your volunteers. You’re an organisation they are currently choosing to support.

4. To enable this, organisations need to invest in volunteer engagement as a priority. Failure to act — or worse, cutting investment — will have negative consequences for everything you do.

3. Volunteer Managers need to prioritise understanding these changes in volunteering, develop strategies and tactics to respond, and influence change in their organisations.