Why engaging youth in board governance is important according to the Youth @ the Table team
Launched this year, Youth @ the Table is Volunteer Alberta’s new youth engagement initiative. The program aims to create governance opportunities for young people ages 18 to 30 who are interested in the nonprofit sector. Participants will be paired with a nonprofit board in their community and spend six months learning directly from a mentor…
Volunteering during COVID-19: Experiences from the network
As volunteers, our first instinct is to focus on how we can help. We want to be good neighbours and support our community through a crisis, but it is a bit more difficult now as we’re working to flatten the curve. In this blog, Daniela Seiferling from Volunteer Alberta and Ilya Ushakov from ECVO share examples of…
Re-thinking volunteer engagement during a pandemic: Virtual volunteering
As COVID-19 has reached pandemic levels and physical distancing has become the best defence to stop the spread, many nonprofits have suspended volunteer recruitment efforts, modified frontline service delivery, or are searching for new ways to recruit or engage volunteers. We all have a role to play in flattening the curve, and, while the process…
Re-thinking volunteer engagement during a pandemic: Micro-volunteering
As volunteer engagement specialists, it’s essential to recognize and respond to trends. Understanding who the volunteers are in the community and what types of opportunities they’re interested in helps engage and find volunteers in the current climate. This doesn’t change in a pandemic. In fact, we need to be more responsive and open to change…
2019 Member Spotlight Rewind: Tips from nonprofits for nonprofits
In 2019, Alberta nonprofits faced new challenges. Together, we collaborated, advocated, and delivered innovative solutions. At Volunteer Alberta, we also featured our Members’ fantastic work including their insights and successes. So in case, you missed it in 2019, here is a breakdown of what some of our Members accomplished and their tips for you and…
Giving back: The benefits of getting involved with nonprofits during your post-secondary education
“What do you want to do when you graduate?” September means a few things: green leaves and grass begin turning yellow and gold, the wind is a little crisper, pumpkin-spiced drinks are back, and of course, students are back in school. As a recent grad, I reflect on my post-secondary and employment journey often. The…
Member Spotlight: 4-H Alberta invite youths’ imaginations to soar
Has the belief that youth can change the world disappeared? Nowadays, people seem more pessimistic than ever towards youth – that youth today are more apathetic and consumed by their phones and social networks. As a result, a lot of people tend to overlook how to motivate youth to participate. But, 4-H Alberta still believes…
Member Spotlight: Edmonton Fringe Theatre finds ‘the right fit’ with their volunteer program
Volunteers are integral to the nonprofit sector. Many nonprofits/charities, events, festivals and more, would not be possible without Albertans selflessly devoting their time to our communities and causes. But many nonprofits struggle with getting volunteers in the door and finding volunteers who are the right fit that will also come back to volunteer. Fringe Theatre…
Member Spotlight: Vegreville & District FCSS inspire youth to engage in board governance and nonprofit part 2
Youth engagement has been a hot topic in the nonprofit sector and community for the last several years. Nonprofits want to know how to reach young people and keep them engaged. Especially when it comes to getting young people at decision-making tables to support succession planning for the nonprofit sector. But, youth engagement goes beyond…
Member Spotlight: Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations (ECVO) educates nonprofits about ‘risky business’
In Alberta’s nonprofit voluntary sector, usually, our top priority is social good. We try our best to make our communities more vibrant, safe and overall better places to live for all Albertans. But, while we have good intentions, we may not always realize the unintended risk that comes with the work we do. Risk for…