Volunteer Management Learning Opportunities

November - December 2026

Join us for upcoming webinar discussions that spark fresh ideas, meaningful service, and stronger connections across our community.

Empowering Volunteers to Lead

Thursday, November 12

9:30 – 10:30 a.m. EST

Ready to hand-off to the hidden leadership potential already sitting inside your volunteer team? Join us for a session that shows you how to empower your volunteers through recruitment, elevation and engagement into the leaders your program deserves.



You’ll discover how to identify high‑potential volunteers, nurture emerging leadership traits, and shift deserving volunteers to have the confidence and commitment to your volunteer program. We will look at recognition hot buttons that motivate your brightest volunteer stars—and keep them shining. If you’re looking to build a stronger, more empowered volunteer team, please join us! 

The Volunteer Manager’s Essential Inventory: Policies, Documents, Data and More

Tuesday, December 1

12:00 – 12:30 p.m. EST

Is your volunteer program truly ready for whatever comes next? This session walks you through the core documents, policies, data points, and communication tools every strong volunteer program should have at its fingertips. You’ll learn about the importance of taking stock of what’s already in place, identify gaps, and pinpoint what needs updating or refining. It’s a practical opportunity to step back, assess your infrastructure, and ensure your program is built for consistency, clarity, and resilience.

Thinking about Becoming a CVA?

Tuesday, December 8

2 pm – 3 pm EST

Thinking about taking the next bold step in your volunteer management career? If you’ve ever wondered whether becoming a Certified Volunteer Administrator (CVA) is in your future, consider this webinar as your launch point. With the April 2027 exam on the horizon (and future cycles always in reach), now may be the perfect moment to explore what the CVA journey looks like—from preparing your application, setting a study strategy, sitting for the exam to leveraging the credential for professional growth.



You’ll get information about the process and hear directly from those who have earned the credential, sharing what they learned, how they prepared, and how becoming a CVA has strengthened their leadership. Speakers will be Susan Sanow, CVA (2020), Senior Manager of Volunteer Management Education at Volunteer Fairfax, and Uneka King, CVA (2026), Director of Volunteer Engagement, Martha’s Table. Walk away inspired, informed, and ready to map out your own path toward becoming a CVA.

From Overwhelmed to Organized: Priority Setting Tools for Volunteer Managers



Tuesday, December 15

12 noon – 1 pm EST

What comes first when EVERYTHING feels important? Volunteer managers are often balancing recruitment, training, supervision, recognition, evaluation, and last-minute requests—all while trying to support volunteers and meet organizational needs. Join us to explore two simple tools that can help you pause, sort through competing demands, and decide what deserves attention now, next, or later. We will talk through real volunteer management scenarios, practice using a quick SWOT scan and prioritization matrix, and identify practical ways to turn ideas into action. Whether you are leading a program, supporting a team, or making recommendations to leadership, this session will help you set clearer priorities with more confidence. This class will be presented by Margo Bailey, PhD, PMP, Bailey Clarity & Motion.

Protect or Exclude? The Ethics and Real Risk of Over-Screening Volunteers

Thursday, November 19

2:00 - 3:00 p.m. EST



Our next book club pick is not a book, but an article from Engage Journal [https://engagejournal.org/]. Protect or Exclude? The Ethics and Real Risk of Over-Screening Volunteers is a thought‑provoking ethics article that looks at the volunteer program requirement: screening volunteers in the name of safety. The article exposes how excessive screening creates barriers, shrinks your volunteer pool, and undermines the very culture of belonging organizations claim to champion. It pushes us to rethink risk, challenge “the way we’ve always done it,” and embrace fair, role‑aligned screening that protects people without excluding them. This article will spark conversation about ethics, equity, and the future of volunteer engagement. Joining us for the conversation is article author Sammy Feilchenfeld, CVA, Senior Manager, Learning (He/Him) of Volunteer Toronto.  

The article is available here at no-cost, courtesy of the Engage Journal. We appreciate their support.

Trainings offered by Volunteer Fairfax may be used to meet the requirements for applying for or renewing the Certified in Volunteer Administration (CVA) credential. One Professional Development Unit (PDU) is awarded for each 60-minute session in topics related to volunteer resources management. For more details about the CVA program and renewal requirements, visit CVAcert.org or email info@CVAcert.org

VOLUNTEER FAIRFAX

volunteerfairfax.org