Michigan Community Service Commission Volunteer Training Series
The Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC) is pleased to announce free training focused on volunteer management. We will feature trainings centered around volunteer engagement, recruitment and recognition. Training courses are free of charge but do require advanced registration. Individuals in organizations who sign up for the trainings will have the opportunity to become partners with the MCSC and can help us amplify the impact of volunteerism in our great state by participating in grant opportunities, simple data sharing on volunteer numbers and hours, and joining us for future trainings.
September 17, 12 – 1 p.m.
Registration Link
https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/roVxv1KcQOWBbVXjl_HMWA
Building Committees That Drive Impact: How to Develop, Support, and Sustain High‑Performing Volunteer Committees
Committees can be powerful engines of progress—or they can stall out without the right structure and support. This one‑hour virtual training gives you the tools to build committees that actually get things done. Participants learn how to recruit the right members, define clear roles, set achievable goals, and create a culture of accountability and collaboration. The session also covers how to support committee chairs, keep momentum strong between meetings, and ensure volunteers feel valued and connected to the mission. By the end, you’ll have a practical framework for committees that are energized, effective, and aligned with your organization’s priorities.
September 24, 12-1 p.m.
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/OF9pEIv7TzW5F9sJ26V5sQ
Recruiting with Purpose: Attracting the Right People for Committees and Board Service
Strong committees and boards are built through intentional, strategic recruitment. This one‑hour virtual training shows participants how to identify the skills and perspectives their organization needs and recruit people who bring those strengths. The session covers crafting compelling outreach messages, finding mission‑aligned candidates, and approaching potential members with confidence. Participants also learn how to set expectations early and create an inclusive onboarding experience so new members feel prepared, valued, and ready to contribute. By the end, you’ll have a clear roadmap for building diverse, engaged leadership teams that make real impact.
October 6, 12-1 p.m.
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/2NghEYf5Tgab13R3JpBR_A
Unlocking Revolutionary Employee Engagement
Employee engagement doesn’t improve by accident — it transforms when organizations rethink how they connect, motivate, and empower their people. This one‑hour virtual training explores fresh, modern approaches to building a workplace where employees feel energized, valued, and inspired to contribute their best. Participants learn how to tap into intrinsic motivation, create meaningful touchpoints, and design engagement strategies that resonate across generations and roles. The session also highlights practical ways to strengthen communication, foster belonging, and turn everyday interactions into opportunities for deeper connection. By the end, you’ll walk away with actionable ideas to spark a culture shift that feels authentic, sustainable, and truly revolutionary.
October 15, 12-1 p.m.
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/DIb_1kVJR0acSyKCPrqlPA
How to identify, recruit, and retain volunteers with professional expertise
Skilled volunteers bring specialized knowledge, technical abilities, and professional experience that can dramatically expand a nonprofit’s capacity. Yet many organizations struggle to identify the right roles, make meaningful asks, or create an environment where skilled volunteers feel valued and able to contribute at a high level. This session teaches nonprofits how to strategically engage skilled volunteers—from IT professionals and accountants to marketing experts, project managers, tradespeople, and more.
Participants will learn how to design clear, motivating roles that align with volunteer motivations such as purpose, growth, and connection. The session also covers how to recruit skilled volunteers through targeted outreach, partnerships, and storytelling; how to onboard them effectively; and how to create a culture where skilled volunteers feel trusted, appreciated, and empowered to use their expertise.
For Volunteers Interested in Board Service
October 27, 12-1 p.m.
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/86C784ZiQ9Kuk6m_z7WtCQ
Understanding responsibilities, fiduciary duties, expectations, and the realities of board service
Serving on a nonprofit board is a meaningful way to support a mission, strengthen a community, and use your expertise for good—but it also comes with legal responsibilities, time commitments, and expectations that many prospective board members don’t fully understand. This session provides a clear, practical overview of what individuals should know before joining a board, helping both nonprofits and potential board members make informed, confident decisions.
Participants will learn the core fiduciary duties required of all board members, the strategic and oversight responsibilities that shape board service, and the cultural expectations that influence how boards function. The session also explores how personal motivations—purpose, connection, and growth—align with board roles, helping individuals determine whether board service is the right fit for their skills, interests, and availability.
November 5, 12-1 p.m.
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/3qeSMTq9SoCOfEMAIQrj3A
How volunteers can meaningfully support advisory groups and task forces
Committees and task forces are where important decisions, planning, and problem‑solving happen inside nonprofits. When volunteers join these groups, they bring community voice, lived experience, and practical insight that strengthens organizational impact. This session teaches volunteers how to participate effectively in committees—what their role is, how to contribute, and how to align their strengths with the group’s goals.
Volunteers will learn the expectations of committee service, how to prepare for meetings, how to collaborate with staff and board members, and how to use their motivations—purpose, connection, and growth—to stay engaged and make meaningful contributions. The session also covers how committees operate, how decisions are made, and how volunteers can support follow‑through between meetings.
Volunteer Management Basics Series
Seasoned professionals from the field of Volunteer Management will provide insight and tools for developing the skill set of volunteer managers who may be new to the profession or would like a refresher course.
Participants are encouraged to attend each session but are also permitted to select individual sessions. We do ask that participants register in advance for each session and complete and evaluation.
Register for the series: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/nyXzQQ0VTM2WktyGdO2iog
January 12, 2027, 12-1 p.m.
Developing Meaningful Volunteer Roles
This session will guide volunteer management professionals through the process of understanding the difference between a paid role and a volunteer position. We’ll cover risk management assessments and the process to engage others in developing mission-orientated volunteer positions that will provide meaningful impact to the volunteer and the organization. Participants will come away with several easy-to-use tools to help assess ideas for volunteer engagement.
January 19, 2027, 12- 1 p.m.
Volunteer Recruitment
This session will cover a variety of recruitment strategies and trends to help a developing volunteer management professional develop a plan to address recruitment for their organization. Participants will come away with several ideas and tools to help make recruitment easy to plan, track and implement to benefit their organization.
January 26, 2027, 12 -1 p.m.
Volunteer Interview and Placement Techniques
This session will cover background checks, interview practices and tips on how to handle red flag in potential volunteers. We’ll provide sound practices for risk management in handling declining a volunteer, how to ensure your volunteer interview process is consistent with applicable laws to avoid discrimination. This session will also provide tips on how to successfully support individuals with disabilities in the volunteer workforce.
February 2, 2027, 12-1 p.m.
Volunteer Orientation and Training
This session will address how volunteers are introduced to the mission and culture of the organization during their “onboarding.” We’ll cover what volunteers typically expect to learn in an orientation and methods to help volunteers learn their roles through a variety or training strategies that touch on multiple learning styles.
February 9, 2027, 12-1 p.m.
Engaging and Supporting Volunteers This session will guide volunteer management professionals through the volunteer engagement cycle and will provide tips and tools to help create opportunities to meaningful and lasting engagement that will positively impact volunteer retention.
Feb. 23, 2027, 12-1 p.m.
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/M_YQFABUQkGqy4OkFmdnWQ
Mastering the Art of Volunteer Leadership
A dynamic crash course for anyone who manages volunteers. This session explores how to build trust, set clear expectations, communicate effectively, and create a volunteer experience people want to return to. Participants leave with practical tools they can apply immediately to strengthen their volunteer teams.
March 9, 2027 12-1 p.m.
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/UKbiebKETwaME2mut-SHpg
Re‑Energize & Re‑Engage: Bringing Volunteers Back with Purpose
Many volunteers drift away not because they don’t care, but because life gets busy. This session focuses on how to reconnect with past volunteers in ways that feel personal, meaningful, and motivating. Participants learn how to rebuild relationships, remove barriers to returning, and create a warm “welcome back” experience.
March 16, 2027, 12-1 p.m.
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/0yWfCwKYRrOUMndbKVEtAw
Celebrating Service: Creative Ways to Honor Volunteers During National Volunteer Week
Recognition doesn’t have to be expensive to be powerful. This training explores heartfelt, memorable, and meaningful ways to celebrate volunteers during National Volunteer Week — and all year long. Participants discover creative ideas, personalization strategies, and recognition practices that make volunteers feel truly valued.
April 13, 2027, 12-1 p.m.
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/GgCdTHaTT4S__jKr9izolg
Storytelling in Action: Collecting Powerful Volunteer Stories
Stories are the heartbeat of a volunteer program — but collecting them can be tricky. This training teaches when to ask, how to ask, and how to make volunteers feel comfortable sharing their experiences. Participants walk away with simple systems for gathering stories that inspire donors, recruit volunteers, and celebrate impact.
April 27, 2027, 12-1 p.m.
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/_aoVCICCQTG6_bmgXUezqQ
Developing recruitment messages to attract volunteers to your organization
There are three reasons why individuals would give their time, talent and energy to help your cause. This session will explore those motivations and help attendees to align organizational needs with volunteer needs. Participants will come away with tools to create messaging that motivate others to help your cause.
May 4, 2027, 12-1 p.m.
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/81391209719
Measuring What Matters: Key Volunteer Program Metrics
Description: Not all data is created equal. This session breaks down the most meaningful KPIs for volunteer programs and how to use them to guide decisions, demonstrate impact, and strengthen operations. Participants learn how to track engagement, retention, satisfaction and program effectiveness without drowning in spreadsheets.
May 11, 2027, 12-1 p.m.
Register here: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/84492583059
Building Committees That Drive Impact: How to Develop, Support, and Sustain High‑Performing Volunteer Committees
Committees can be powerful engines of progress—or they can stall out without the right structure and support. This one‑hour virtual training gives you the tools to build committees that actually get things done. Participants learn how to recruit the right members, define clear roles, set achievable goals, and create a culture of accountability and collaboration. The session also covers how to support committee chairs, keep momentum strong between meetings, and ensure volunteers feel valued and connected to the mission. By the end, you’ll have a practical framework for committees that are energized, effective, and aligned with your organization’s priorities.
Volunteer Recruitment Series – Five part Series
Seasoned professionals from the field of Volunteer Management will provide insight and tools for developing the skill set of volunteer managers who may be new to the profession or would like a refresher course focused on volunteer recruitment.
Participants are encouraged to attend each session but are also permitted to select individual sessions. We do ask that participants register in advance for each session and complete and evaluation.
Register for the series: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/whtIQtVNRoOW72H8Ku633A
May 18, 2027, 12-1 p.m.
Youth & Family Volunteer Recruitment
Schools, youth groups, and family‑friendly opportunities are powerful recruitment channels
Youth and families bring energy, creativity, and long‑term potential to volunteer programs. This session explores how nonprofits can partner with schools, youth groups, clubs, and parent networks to build strong recruitment pipelines. Participants will learn how to design age‑appropriate and family‑friendly volunteer roles, communicate with educators and youth leaders, and create meaningful experiences that inspire lifelong service.
May 25, 2027, 12-1 p.m.
Engaging Faith Communities in Volunteer Recruitment
Faith communities remain one of the strongest volunteer sources, but nonprofits often don’t know how to approach them
Faith communities are among the most reliable and mission‑aligned sources of volunteers—but many nonprofits struggle to build relationships with them. This session provides practical strategies for connecting with churches, mosques, synagogues, and other faith‑based groups. Participants will learn how to identify shared values, craft respectful outreach messages, and design volunteer opportunities that resonate with faith‑driven motivations.
June 1, 2027, 12-1 p.m.
Recruiting Volunteers Through Corporate Partnerships
How to approach businesses, pitch opportunities, and create employer‑supported volunteer pipelines
Michigan’s business community is an untapped powerhouse for volunteer recruitment. This session teaches nonprofits how to build meaningful relationships with local employers, craft compelling partnership pitches, and design volunteer opportunities that align with corporate values and employee interests. Participants will learn how to create employer‑supported volunteer pipelines, leverage workplace giving programs, and position volunteerism as a tool for team building, community impact, and corporate social responsibility.
July 13, 2027, 12-1 p.m.
Developing recruitment messages to attract volunteers to your organization
There are three reasons why individuals would give their time, talent and energy to help your cause. This session will explore those motivations and help attendees to align organizational needs with volunteer needs. Participants will come away with tools to create messaging that motivate others to help your cause.
August 10, 2027, 12-1 p.m.
Ignite Your Recruitment: How to Spark Word‑of‑Mouth Momentum
Word‑of‑mouth is still the most powerful recruitment engine — when you know how to fuel it. This training shows you how to turn your current volunteers, partners, and supporters into enthusiastic ambassadors. Learn messaging techniques, simple prompts, and engagement strategies that naturally attract new volunteers.
September 14, 2027, 12-1 p.m.
Strategic Planning Intro
Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/8wb1cQtvT3OvQptmUKeNhQ
Prerecorded. This session will introduce the Strategic Planning tools necessary to build the capacity of a nonprofit and provide the focus and ability to plan for the future.
September 28, 2027, 12-1 p.m.
Generations of Volunteers and what they need in a service role
Registration: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/0YbjKDqCTMGv9XyqMlwiBg
Right now five generations of volunteers are available to serve. Each has a different set of needs, expectations and things they want to get out of service. How does one volunteer management leader meet all those needs? Join us to learn how to adapt your recruitment message and volunteer management practices to meet each group’s needs.
You can view past trainings on our YouTube Channel.
Below is a description and direct links to view individual past trainings.
Developing recruitment messages to attract volunteers to your organization
There are three reasons why individuals would give their time, talent and energy to help your cause. This session will explore those motivations and help attendees to align organizational needs with volunteer needs. Participants will come away with tools to create messaging that motivate others to help your cause.
Mastering the Art of Volunteer Leadership
A dynamic crash course for anyone who manages volunteers. This session explores how to build trust, set clear expectations, communicate effectively, and create a volunteer experience people want to return to. Participants leave with practical tools they can apply immediately to strengthen their volunteer teams.
Ignite Your Recruitment: How to Spark Word‑of‑Mouth Momentum
Word‑of‑mouth is still the most powerful recruitment engine — when you know how to fuel it. This training shows you how to turn your current volunteers, partners, and supporters into enthusiastic ambassadors. Learn messaging techniques, simple prompts, and engagement strategies that naturally attract new volunteers.
Celebrating Service: Creative Ways to Honor Volunteers During National Volunteer Week
Recognition doesn’t have to be expensive to be powerful. This training explores heartfelt, memorable, and meaningful ways to celebrate volunteers during National Volunteer Week — and all year long. Participants discover creative ideas, personalization strategies, and recognition practices that make volunteers feel truly valued.
Storytelling in Action: Collecting Powerful Volunteer Stories
Stories are the heartbeat of a volunteer program — but collecting them can be tricky. This training teaches when to ask, how to ask, and how to make volunteers feel comfortable sharing their experiences. Participants walk away with simple systems for gathering stories that inspire donors, recruit volunteers, and celebrate impact.
Developing Meaningful Volunteer Roles
This session will guide volunteer management professionals through the process of understanding the difference between a paid role and a volunteer position. We'll cover risk management assessments and the process to engage others in developing mission-orientated volunteer positions that will provide meaningful impact to the volunteer and the organization. Participants will come away with several easy-to-use tools to help assess ideas for volunteer engagement.
Volunteer Interview and Placement Techniques
This session will cover background checks, interview practices and tips on how to handle red flag in potential volunteers. We'll provide sound practices for risk management in handling declining a volunteer, how to ensure your volunteer interview process is consistent with applicable laws to avoid discrimination. This session will also provide tips on how to successfully support individuals with disabilities in the volunteer workforce.
Volunteer Orientation and Training
This session will address how volunteers are introduced to the mission and culture of the organization during their "onboarding." We'll cover what volunteers typically expect to learn in an orientation and methods to help volunteers learn their roles through a variety or training strategies that touch on multiple learning styles.
Engaging and Supporting Volunteers
This session will guide volunteer management professionals through the volunteer engagement cycle and will provide tips and tools to help create opportunities to meaningful and lasting engagement that will positively impact volunteer retention.
Engaging Volunteers - This session will guide volunteer management professionals through the volunteer engagement cycle and will provide tips and tools to help create opportunities to meaningful and lasting engagement that will positively impact volunteer retention.
Volunteer Recognition - This session will cover a variety of recognition ideas that are aimed at building engagement and reinforce retention of volunteers. The presenter will discuss trends and sound practices in balancing traditional forms of recognition with innovative processes that touch on a volunteers recognition needs throughout their volunteer career.
Leveraging Your Story - This session teaches participants how to tell a story by highlighting the most impactful information a donor, supporter, volunteer might need to know to cause them to want to learn more and form a relationship with your organization. The presenter shared a number of insightful tips and examples to model the lessons from.
Grant Writing for Nonprofits - This session will cover where to find grant opportunities, how to read a grant application, defining your organization’s case for funding as well as understanding what funders need in a budget proposal. This session is ideal for new granters, those with intermediate and advance grant writing skills.
Grant Writing Basics - Grant Writing's Optimum Role in Your Organization ~ And the Process to Fully Realize This fast paced and interactive workshop will assist you in assessing grant writing's role in your overall fund development efforts and using your strategic planning process to guide your grant applications. We will review key policies and practices that every organization should deploy, how to get key players involved in the development process, and what makes a good application great.
Youth Engagement - This session is appropriate for organizations that are interested in engaging young people but feel ill-prepared as well as those who would like to strengthen their current youth engagement practices.
Comprehensive Volunteer Screening - This session is presented by MSU Extension leader Lisa Bottomley. The session will explore a variety of tools that can be used to screen potential volunteers. Participants will learn how to choose the right tools for their volunteer program based on volunteer roles.
Volunteer Recruitment - This session will cover different recruitment strategies and trends to help a developing volunteer management professional create a plan for their recruitment needs. Participants will leave with a much better understanding of the ideas and tools to help make recruitment easier to plan, track and implement to benefit their organization.
Communication Strategies for Thriving Teams - Ms. Reid has a long history of volunteer management and uses these experiences to help nonprofits increase their capacity to engage volunteers through strategies that enhance communication and the sense of belonging and empowerment. This session is ideal for new volunteer management leaders, those with intermediate and advance volunteer management skills.
Volunteer Interview and Placement Techniques - This session will cover background checks, interview practices and tips on how to handle red flag in potential volunteers. This session will also provide tips on how to successfully support individuals with disabilities in the volunteer workforce.
Volunteer Recruitment - This session will cover a variety of recruitment strategies and trends to help a developing volunteer management professional develop a plan to address recruitment for their organization. Participants will come away with several ideas and tools to help make recruitment easy to plan, track and implement to benefit their organization.
Asset Based Language - Join Tamela Spicer, a Senior Program Manager of the Dorothy A. Johnson Center for Philanthropy, as she discusses the importance of storytelling within an organization. It can be a challenging within any institution to find individuals who relate to your groups message and key values. By using certain language, diction, and communications methods your organization can see an increase in the number of individuals who connect with your group.
The Accidental Trainer: Facilitation Techniques to Elevate Your Organization's Learning Initiatives - This video breakdowns topics such as the motivation for why individuals serve and ways to implement the learner engagement model to create a deeper connection. Additionally, this webinar will also cover tips for virtual learning, as well as ways to combat zoom fatigue.
Build Back Better - Beth Steinhorn, President of Volunteer Strategies, joins the Michigan Community Service Commission to explore ways to turn obstacles brought on by the pandemic into opportunities. From understanding motivation for virtual volunteer engagement, to key insights from other organizations regarding tactics that worked best for them in 2021.
Building Rapport While Being Apart Mentoring in the Modern Age - In partnership with the City of Lansing, this volunteer training webinar focuses on how to engage young mentees during the pandemic. Not only from organizer perspectives, but from the perspective of students and young volunteers who are participating in these virtual mentorship programs.
Assessing Resources offered by MCSC - Please join the United Way of Genesee County and the Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC) to learn how to develop a meaningful project that helps build your organization's volunteer corps and earns your organization a reputation for great service to the community. The MCSC will review the three National Days of Service and what resources we have available to help support projects.
Nonprofits Tapping Social Media to Recruit Volunteers and Raise Awareness - This session lead by communication and social media experts will help participants get the most out of social media. The session will cover the advantages of using social media to communicate with the public and how to craft message to recruit volunteer and donor support.
Getting the most out of hosting a National Day of Service Event - Our National Days of Service are important times for Michiganders to serve, reflect and pay respect. Please join the United Way of Genesee County and the Michigan Community Service Commission (MCSC) to learn how to develop a meaningful project that helps build your organization's volunteer corps and earns your organization a reputation for great service to the community.
Accessing resources offered by MCSC- Get Connected Training for Agencies - Learn more about Get Connected from the Michigan Community Service Commission.
