In 2022, the Initiative for Strategic Volunteer Engagement commissioned two national research studies — Investing in Strategic Volunteer Engagement: A Qualitative Study, and The State of Volunteer Engagement: Insights from Nonprofit Leaders and Funders — to better understand why funders and nonprofit executives do (or do not) prioritize volunteer engagement.  

This groundbreaking research, paired with the extensive experience of partners, serves as the basis for the actionable insights highlighted in this guide and aims to support both funders and nonprofits in maximizing volunteer impact to transform the future of volunteer engagement. 

This resource was developed by the Initiative for Strategic Volunteer Engagement (ISVE): a three-year partnership of visionary funders and national nonprofits aiming to transform the future of volunteerism. ISVE now lives within Independent Sector as IS’s Strategic Volunteer Engagement Program.