Strategic volunteer engagement — the practice of building structures and capacity to engage volunteers in meaningful ways — can help nonprofits become more adaptable, sustainable, and capable of working at scale. However, this work takes time, expertise, planning, and resources. We are working to advance this cause in multiple ways. We: 

• Deliver insights and practical tools that support nonprofits to better harness the power of volunteers, and funders to further invest in strategic volunteer engagement. 

• Convene leaders in the social sector to explore how to overcome barriers and embrace opportunities to adopt strategic volunteer engagement practices. 

• Promote strategic volunteer engagement to funders and nonprofits alike as an effective approach to advance their mutual goals, and advocate for greater support. 

ISVE was established in 2021 through a partnership of visionary funders and national nonprofits, as a time-limited effort. A six-month national search led ISVE to select Independent Sector as the Initiative’s new, permanent home in 2024. The work is funded by the Lodestar Foundation and The Leighty Foundation. 

Read more about Strategic Volunteer Engagement do’s and don’ts.