Volunteer Engagement

This course provides an introduction to the field of volunteer engagement and introduces you to a range of tools, studies, and guides for those who are interested in developing, reviewing, or redesigning a volunteer engagement program.

Learning Objectives

• Understand the foundation for volunteer engagement
• Explore volunteering in Canada
• Clarify the Standards of Practice
• Explain volunteer screening
• Expand the definition of volunteering
• Document the value of volunteering
• Build a strong volunteer engagement program

Course Curriculum

• Part 1: Introduction to Volunteer Engagement
• Part 2: Standards of Practice
• Part 3: Screening
• Part 4: The Future of Volunteering

Links and Additional Resources

• 7 downloadable resources and course transcript
• 10 links to online resources

Course Access & Duration 

This course is on-demand, meaning that you can take it anytime, at your own pace. The course will take approximately 1.5 hours to complete from start to finish. You have one year (365 days) to complete the course from the date of purchase before it will automatically expire in your account. However, once you open a course for the very first time, you will have unlimited access to complete the course within 3 months. You can choose to take the course in one sitting or in smaller bites. Either way, the course is entirely flexible and up to you how fast you complete it within the 3-month time frame!

Course Level/Prerequisites/Certification Credits

Introductory level, no prerequisites.

Recommended companion courses: Building a Great Volunteer Program, Corporate Sponsorship

Final Exam –Take the optional final exam at the end of the course. If you pass with 70% or higher, please contact help@charityvillage.com with your exam score to receive your course certificate.

Participation in the course is applicable for 2 points in Category 1.B – Education of the CFRE International application for initial certification and/or recertification.

This training may be used to meet the requirements for renewing the Certified in Volunteer Administration (CVA) credential. One Professional Development Unit (PDU) is awarded for each 50-60 minute session or contact hour in topics related to volunteer resources management. For more details about the CVA program and renewal requirements, visit www.CVAcert.org or email info@cvacert.org.

Continuing education certification may be eligible through the Professional Administrators of Volunteer Resources – Ontario (PAVRO). For more information, please email pavro@pavro.on.ca.

About the Course Author

Paula Speevak is the President and CEO of Volunteer Canada which she joined after serving as the Managing Director of Carleton University’s Centre for Voluntary Sector Research and Development. At Carleton, in the School of Public Policy and Administration, she taught a graduate course in Non-Profit Management, and at the University of Ottawa she taught undergraduate courses in Governance in the Voluntary Sector and Community Service Learning. Prior to her focus on applied research, Paula enjoyed a 24-year career as a practitioner and senior manager in the non-profit and voluntary sector in both institutional and community-based settings, in Montréal, Ottawa and on pan-Canadian initiatives. She holds a Master of Management Degree from McGill University in the McGill-McConnell Program for National Voluntary Sector Leaders. (Note: Paula is representing Volunteer Canada as the author of this module).