From Bystanders to Belonging: Building Inclusive Volunteer Ecosystems that Stick

Description

From Bystanders to Belonging: Building Inclusive Volunteer Ecosystems that Stick is a practical, retention-focused training for nonprofit leaders who want volunteers to keep showing up—not just once, but again and again. Participants will assess their current inclusion practices, strengthen each stage of the volunteer journey (recruitment, screening/placement, onboarding, and recognition), and leave with a simple action plan they can implement immediately.

What You Will Learn

• Why volunteers stay: how belonging, recognition, and growth directly drive volunteer retention
• How to spot gaps fast: a quick Q–Inclusion Assessment to identify the lowest-scoring area that’s most likely impacting retention.
• A repeatable onboarding approach: the EDGE Framework (Equity, Discovery, Guided Welcome, Engagement Spark) to create a welcoming first experience and a “quick win” that anchors commitment.
• Retention-friendly incentives: simple, realistic tactics across Recognition, Growth, and Belonging that increase return rates without burning out staff.
• A 30-day retention action plan: “Start / Stop / Experiment” steps participants customize for their organization.

When: 
April 15, 2026 | 12:00 PM to 1:00 PM (MT)

Who Should Attend? 
CEO/Executive Directors, Chief Operating Officers, board members, and volunteer management staff who want to build sustainable, inclusive volunteer management systems. 

Cost:
Members Per Person: $45
Not-Yet-Members: $90

About the Speaker:

Jacob Buck is the Founder & CEO of VolunQueer and a longtime volunteer ecosystem builder focused on inclusive engagement and volunteer retention. He has led volunteer-centered community work for years—building programs that help people move from “showing up once” to feeling connected, capable, and committed. Jacob created From Bystanders to Belonging to help nonprofits implement practical inclusion and onboarding strategies that make volunteers feel seen, valued, and empowered—because that’s what makes them stay.

VolunQueer is an affirming volunteer platform built to solve disconnection and inaccessibility in the volunteer ecosystem—especially for LGBTQIA+ individuals and allies who want meaningful ways to give back but can’t easily find opportunities where they’ll feel safe, welcomed, and valued. VolunQueer also helps nonprofits and CSR/ERG teams reach volunteers more effectively and track engagement and impact more clearly.

At an MVP level, VolunQueer enables volunteers to create profiles and discover opportunities, RSVP/sign up, and track their volunteer history—while organizations can onboard, create/manage opportunities, and view volunteer sign-ups with basic communications to reduce no-shows.