Tucson Foundations

#BlackOutTuesday & #TheShowMustBePaused (June 2, 2020)   The music and performing arts industries asked that BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and People of Color) voices take center stage online on June 2, 2020.  An additional note of support was provided from organizers to ask that if you are muting yourself, please do not use #BlackLivesMatter as it defeats the purpose. We have several performing arts organizations that are SAVMA members as well [...]

Last year at this time, SAVMA hosted the Census at a monthly program. This weekend marks the launch of 2020 Census Digital Action Weekend: May 1-3 and we have reached an important milestone in the 2020 Census: More than half of the households in our nation have responded – that’s nearly 80 million responses! As we recognize this achievement, we thank you for your support and ongoing effort to Get [...]

SAVMA wants to support and learn from our community's Volunteer Engagement professionals..... In an effort to do this, we have created a short 12 question survey with a focus on what your organization and volunteer program is experiencing during this time of uncertainty. We hope to not only hear your feedback and voice, but also find out what we can do the same or differently in the future for our [...]

Thank you to photographer, Michael Kloth the photos are in! If you a looking for additional photos from the event, perhaps they were shot by an amazing volunteer. Those can be found on our Facebook Page in the event album.

The Volunteer Center at United Way has provided an online volunteer matching platform since it adopted the work for the Volunteer Center of Southern Arizona nearly 10 years ago. We are transitioning a more user-friendly, app-based platform and are excited to share the product and demo the opportunity creation process for volunteer managers. Learning Objectives:  Attendees will learn the primary features of the Golden Volunteer App and how to create [...]

One of the largest volunteer engaging organizations in Southern Arizona is the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona. Their mission is to change lives in the communities they serve by feeding the hungry today, and building a healthy, hunger-free tomorrow. Thank you to the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona for your dedication in integrating volunteers in all areas of your mission. Thank you for sponsoring the SAVMA Awards 2020. [...]

Southern Arizona's top volunteers to be honored at awards breakfast (Arizona Daily Star) By Loni Nannini Special to the Arizona Daily Star  Jan 7, 2020 If your vision for 2020 includes volunteerism, the Southern Arizona Volunteer Management Association offers the perfect opportunity to kick-start your New Year’s resolution. The organization is hosting the 2020 SAVMA Awards and Workshop at 8 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 16, at the Tucson Convention Center, 260 [...]

Southern Arizona's top volunteers to be honored at awards breakfast https://tucson.com/news/local/southern-arizona-s-top-volunteers-to-be-honored-at-awards/article_c939f578-88b9-555b-80b8-5d9013154e8e.html By Loni Nannini Special to the Arizona Daily Star Jan 7, 2020 The Southern Arizona Volunteer Management Association Youth Volunteer Group of the Year Winner is the Zoo Crew from the Reid Park Zoo. If your vision for 2020 includes volunteerism, the Southern Arizona Volunteer Management Association offers the perfect opportunity to kick-start your New Year’s resolution. The organization [...]

We were downright joyous when AZ Lotus joined SAVMA Awards 2020 as our media sponsor. We want to thank Arizona Lotus Corp. for their support of those that give their time and talent to our community and to those that support them.   AZ Lotus Corp with radio stations, KLPX, KFMA, KMXZ, KFFN, KCMT and KTKT  is proud to serve the Tucson community through support of non-profit organizations like SAVMA.  [...]

SAVMA event recognizes outstanding volunteers Tori Carlson, Special to Inside Tucson Business | Dec 20, 2019 Southern Arizona is home to thousands of warm-hearted talented people, passionate to help the community without a request for anything in return. Volunteers that help others are integral to our community and to organizations that rely on their assistance, dedication and input. According to the 2018 “Volunteering in America” report, one in three adults [...]

The North Carolina Association of Volunteer Administration (NCAVA) is pleased to offer the Basics in Volunteer Management course online. The course will cover volunteer recruitment, retention, risk management, recognition, etc. Jan. 14 – Mar. 17, 2020 (10 weeks). REGISTRATION FORM MUST BE COMPLETED & RECEIVED BY JAN. 10, 2019.. PLEASE NOTE: if these dates are not convenient, agencies/organizations with approximately 8 or more students can request a customized online class. [...]

Those organizations committing to a Table Sponsorship or above, are eligible to submit a volunteer for Community Service Recognition at the upcoming breakfast on January 16, 2020. This recognition opportunity is a unique way to showcase a special volunteer in a meaningful way. Public, and formal praise of those who demonstrate extraordinary service in support of your organization’s work not only confirms their efforts but also inspires others in Southern [...]

Description: Candlelighters Childhood Cancer Foundation of Southern Arizona is seeking a Director of Development to lead the stewardship of corporate, foundation, public, and community donors. The candidate must be innovative and passionate about Candlelighters important mission – Candlelighters supports, serves and advocates for children and adolescents with cancer and other blood disorders, their families, long term survivors, bereaved families, and the professionals that care for them. The successful candidate will [...]

We will be skipping the October meeting so that we can focus on our October conference on the 22nd. When: October 22nd @ 9AM-4PM What: ‘The Future is Now:  Tech Trends for 2020 and Beyond’ presented by AL!VE, Better Impact, and VMPC (Volunteer Management Professionals of Canada).  Now in its fifth year, this year’s topic will explore how technology impacts our volunteers, programs and agencies, now and in the near and [...]

‘The Future is Now:  Tech Trends for 2020 and Beyond’ Tuesday, October 22 – 9AM - 4PM MST Habitat for Humanity 3501 N. Mountain Ave. It's like TED Talks meets late night talkshow, streamed right here in Tucson with 1000+ Volunteer Administrators participating from all over North America! 'The Future is Now:  Tech Trends for 2020 and Beyond' is the volunteer management conference presented by AL!VE, Better Impact, and VMPC (Volunteer Management Professionals of [...]

‘The Future is Now:  Tech Trends for 2020 and Beyond’ Tuesday, October 22 – 9AM - 4PM MST Habitat for Humanity 3501 N. Mountain Ave. It's like TED Talks meets late night talkshow, streamed right here in Tucson with 1000+ Volunteer Administrators participating from all over North America! 'The Future is Now:  Tech Trends for 2020 and Beyond' is the volunteer management conference presented by AL!VE, Better Impact, and VMPC (Volunteer Management Professionals of [...]

Join Us September 19th from 3:30-5PM for our monthly Program at Habitat for Humanity Presentation:  Your (Often Hidden) Role in the Revenue Pie: Volunteer Cultivation and Stewardship for Fundraising Success This session will showcase the ways that stellar volunteer "management" - mainly placement, retention, and recognition, as well as volunteer satisfaction, impact an organization's bottom line, and how your volunteer manager plays a crucial role in both the short and [...]

Thank you so much for you nominations. We received a healthy array of nominations from our community. We are looking forward to announcing our winners in the very near future. Stay tuned for more information.

Come learn more on August 8th about getting your organization certified! The final cohort for 2019 will start in mid-September with the cohort's orientation. To join this group of organizations seeking certification by Points of Light Foundation as a Service Enterprise, apply here. Where it says "Please indicate the name of the organization that will be leading your SEI transformation..." click on Arizona Governor's Commission on Service and Volunteerism. The group will [...]

Come Learn Why The Census Matters To Your Organization Presentation: Building Capacity Through Good Data: Why The Census Matters To Your Organization The 2020 Census is just around the corner. It will take the participation of our whole community to ensure that every person is counted once, only once, and in the right place. Census data is used to find critical programs used by the people you work with and [...]

We were so hoping to have our happy hour this July, but unfortunately with all of our travel schedules and work conferences we decided to push it back to a time when we might all find each other in town and able to enjoy a mix and mingle. Please take some time off to rest and recover this summer. Caring for volunteers is such an important role in our organizations [...]

2019 Arizona Summit on Volunteerism and Civic Engagement Workshop RFP Governor's Office of Youth, Faith and Family Deadline for Submission: July 26, 2019 Selection Notification: August 14, 2019 Summit Date: November 7, 2019 Request for Proposals Workshop proposals are requested from presenters that will engage volunteers, volunteer managers, civic engagement leaders, service-learning practitioners, public and private educational institutions, government agencies, nonprofits, youth groups, community and faith-based groups, AmeriCorps and Senior [...]

The mission of the Governor's Volunteer Service Awards is to promote an ethic of service and volunteerism and to recognize volunteer efforts that strengthen communities and improve quality of life for Arizonans.  Nominations will be accepted through July 1, 2019.  A statewide panel of judges will recommend the award recipients and an announcement will be made in October. The Governor’s Commission on Service and Volunteerism will host a reception to honor the [...]

July AL!VE Academy: A Recap of the Points of Light Conference and Update on the National Alliance for Volunteer Engagement As a member of ALIVE, SAVMA can register for this webinar for free! We need one member to agree to host and coordinate this program at their site. Details about the Webinar are below! Description: Dana Litwin, CVA will moderate a discussion about the recent Points of Light conference in [...]

Local Moderator and SAVMA member, Alexei Marquez,  will facilitate our debrief and activities after we dive into a Special Volunteer Pro streamed presentation! In this 60-minute live recording, you will learn change management and internal marketing tactics you can use to gain better buy-in and support for volunteer services. This webinar was originally presented on November 30, 2016. In this 60-minute live recording, you will learn change management and internal [...]

This October 25 & 26 marks the 20th anniversary of United Way's Days of Caring. Days of Caring pairs local needs with caring residents to improve our community one project at a time. Project Submission is now open through August 9. Submit your project before July 12 to be entered to receive a $500 stipend. Click here to submit your project. *They're excited to announce a new, streamlined project submission [...]

This May 16, 2019 at 3:30, Habitat for Humanity Tucson, join us for our monthly SAVMA professional development program. United Way's Days of Caring is our community's single largest volunteer event and this Fall will the the 20th annual event. In 2018, nearly 4300 volunteers completed more than 100 community projects. Whether your organization has participated every year or never before, this presentation will offer helpful tips to craft a [...]

On April 11th from 5PM-7:30PM join us at the Volunteer SoAZ Fair and Celebration. It will be our largest recruitment and celebration event ever. Learn about organizations doing valuable work in our community and find ways to get involved. More than 30 local organizations. *Enjoy free admission to the Reid Park Zoo *Animal Encounters *Rides *Live Music by “Tonight’s Sunshine” *Cash Bar *Cafe will be open

As volunteer managers you possess a valuable collection of experience and expertise on this topic because your job demands creativity, resourcefulness and overcoming the challenges of working with a diverse group of volunteers. Let us help each other build better strategies for appreciating our volunteers’ efforts. Bring the stories of your successes and duds and we will examine the different ways you each appreciate your volunteers (through recognition, rewards, retention) [...]

Presenter, SAVMA Member, and CVA Tori Carlson-Foscz Tori Carlson, Photo Credit: Carlos Chavez Photography   Professional certification signals a commitment to excellence. It confirms that individuals have the knowledge needed to competently attract, onboard and support volunteers. Certification promotes personal confidence, and helps employers hire, verify and reward relevant expertise. Learn about the CVA and how SAVMA can help support you in your pursuit of a CVA. Tori [...]

On January 17, 2019 at 9AM at the Tucson Convention Center we will honor the volunteer service of the award winners below! Volunteer of the Year- Mary Ohrazda Youth Volunteers of the Year- El Rio Teen Reproductive Health Access Project Nonprofit Volunteer Program of the Year- Literacy Connects Corporate Volunteer Program of the Year- Tucson Electric Power Company Volunteer Administrator of the Year- Theresa Ulloa   Southern Arizona Volunteer of [...]

Join us on 11/15 at 3:30PM at Habitat for Humanity for a Workshop on Best Practices for Training Volunteers As presented at last year's National Center for Families Learning Conference, this workshop brings people together to learn and discuss best practices for training their volunteers. Jessica Olivares Dennes is a former language arts teacher and educational consultant. After moving to Tucson five years ago, she began working at Literacy Connects [...]

'Leading the Way, Not Managing the Day' Hybrid is the volunteer management conference presented by AL!VE, Better Impact, and VMPC.  Now in its fourth year, this year's topic will explore how leaders of volunteers can move from managing to LEADING.  Our streaming event will consist of a 30 minute presentation followed by a moderated discussion with the other presenters (think Ted talk meets late night tv), including responding to questions [...]

Media Alert Volunteer Celebration and Recognition Awards return to Southern Arizona. Volunteer Awards Breakfast January 17, 2019 8:30 am Tucson Convention Center Thousands of volunteers weekly share their skills, time and enthusiasm to hundreds of nonprofits, schools, churches and governments across Southern Arizona. Publicly celebrating and thanking them and recognizing the work they do to make our communities happier and healthier is a win-win for all. Don’t miss this opportunity [...]

Please encourage Executive Directors and HR Directors to attend! Join us for our September professional development program presented by local employment attorney, Tim Medcoff. This innovative, useful and free anti-harassment seminar will equip you with the necessary tools and support you’ll need to handle complex sexual harassment issues and complaints. Celebrity accusations have led to the #Metoo movement resulting in increased sexual harassment allegations. The outbreak of allegations and heightened public [...]

Join Rachel Cheeseman, August 6, 2018 at 3:30PM for a presentation on the local volunteer matching software used by the Volunteer Center. Rachel is the volunteer engagement manager for the United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona. She has five years of experience in the nonprofit sector and has worked in refugee resettlement as an AmeriCorps VISTA as well as in the community philanthropy sector in Iowa and Arizona. She has [...]

Please join your peers at the annual Fun in the Summer Happy Hour. Back by popular demand, Rachele Peterson, Executive Director, University of Arizona-Banner Health All of Us Research Program will present an overview on using LinkedIn personally and professionally. She will remain on hand to review your LinkedIn profiles and compare to your resumes, so be sure to bring a copy of your resume. One lucky person will be [...]

Literacy Connects seeks dedicated people with a passion for literacy, education and community collaboration to join our team. As the largest not-for-profit literacy provider in Arizona, Literacy Connects provides diverse education and arts-integration programs that help people of all ages reach their potential. The Adult Basic Literacy (ABL) program trains and supports volunteers to teach basic reading, writing and problem solving skills to adult learners. The Volunteer Manager and Trainer is [...]

Bring your Executive Directors! We will be learning about an organization wide process to maximize the power of volunteers to better meet our missions. The Service Enterprise Initiative is a national change management program, led by Points of Light, that helps organizations better meet their missions through the power of volunteers. Through a comprehensive assessment, training, coaching and certification model, nonprofits are equipped to engage and manage volunteers more effectively to [...]

SAVMA Members and Not-Yet-Members are invited to join us as we review our successes and challenges in 2017, vote in our 2018 leadership, and enjoy each other's company with a catered lunch. We have a little gift for our members this year, so please RSVP today. Members are free, but not-yet-members will have a minimal cost of $15.00. Please RSVP now. If you are unable to attend and need to [...]

The most critical volunteers in nonprofit organizations are often the most mysterious. Board Members have big jobs, but what do they really do? How can Volunteer Management help them do it? What does it mean to be a fiduciary? What does it mean to have a rubber stamp boad? Come peek behind the curtain and learn about the board of directors , their jobs, and how Volunteer Management can best [...]

The most important audience to engage with as a non-profit are your true believers – your volunteers.  Build and sustain a volunteer communications plan that will bolster internal and external goals. Gain an understanding of and the skills to construct, monitor and measure results from a volunteer communications plan.  This requires a unique combination of professional PR tactics and community building.  Along with learning how to combine these elements, you’ll [...]

It's like TED Talks meets late night talk show, a streaming conference on accepting, and managing change! October 24th 9-5PM. SPACE IS LIMITED Register Now!!!!! Hosted by Dana Cory Litwin, CVA Session Topics & Speakers: Barbara Harrington, Sponsorships Plus : Overcoming the Challenges in Change Carol Dixon, Providence Health Care:  Navigating Organizational Change Andy Fryar, OzVPM: Change in Your Professional Career Erin Spink:  The Pending Changes in Society This hybrid conference will [...]

Bob Shaff founded his firm, Customers for Life Consulting in 1992. Customers for Life Consulting is a marketing consulting firm, dedicated to helping clients improve customer and employee satisfaction, engagement, and loyalty. Customers for Life Consulting assists clients to get better faster than their competition by engaging their employees and by helping them to provide Remarkable Experiences for their customers. Bob speaks on the topics of customer loyalty and Remarkability [...]

At this month's SAVMA meeting, Kevin Marshall, will present Everything You Wanted to Know About Budgeting, But Were Afraid to Ask. Budgeting is not only for the bean counters.  It takes money to manage a volunteer program. Volunteer Managers should be able to forecast expenses and communicate the need for support to decision makers within the organization. Learning Objectives & Participant Outcomes: Learn how to determine your ROVI – Return on [...]

TEP has generously provided a $1,000 grant to support the work of the Southern Arizona Volunteer Management Association as SAVMA's 2017 Underwriting Sponsor. TEP has been a long standing supporter of SAVMA and of volunteerism throughout their service area. Funds from the grant will be used to support the professional development needs of the SAVMA membership. TEP’s dedication to service goes beyond providing safe, reliable power. The company’s vision statement [...]

Please join your peers at the annual Fun in the Summer Happy Hour. This year we will have a brief presentation by a resume expert. She will remain on hand to review your resume and discuss the tips and tricks for landing your next job, so be sure to bring a copy of your resume. There will be a gift card raffle and one lucky person will be selected for [...]

NOW ANNOUNCING BETTER IMPACT & ALIVE'S VIRTUAL HYBRID CONFERENCE October 24, 2017 (10AM-5PM) Hosted by Dana Cory Litwin, CVA Session Topics & Speakers: Barbara Harrington, Sponsorships Plus : Overcoming the Challenges in Change Carol Dixon, Providence Health Care:  Navigating Organizational Change Andy Fryar, OzVPM: Change in Your Professional Career Erin Spink:  The Pending Changes in Society This hybrid conference will be hosted by SAVMA locally while live streaming the presenters. AL!VE [...]

Oh no, we have a last minute change in speaker. Unfortunately Allison Titcomb will not be able to join us this month to discuss benchmarks and volunteer outcomes. However, your Membership Committee has a plan and we need you to attend! Tori Carlson, Volunteer Manager at Interfaith Community Services, SAVMA Member, and brand new Certified Volunteer Administrator, will host an interactive workshop on identifying metrics. Participants will engage with the [...]

On May 18th, Heather Hiscox a recognized leader and innovator in the startup and nonprofit sectors, presented to more than 20 Volunteer Management Professionals. She introduced Lean Innovation and the concepts of making impact by understanding customer empathy and experimenting with solutions to their problems. A copy of her presentation can be found in the Members Only section of the website. In addition Heather provided a few links for inspiration:  Short [...]

Active members of SAVMA will now receive the following Group Membership Benefits. Quarterly Networking Meetings, held virtually on a variety of topics.  Past topics have included Membership and Marketing, Social Media, and Revitalizing your Organization. Check our calendar for future discussion topics.  Meeting notes, resources, and handouts are posted in the 'file archive' section of our website. Be a part of a national network for advocacy, communication, and action. A [...]

A new $25.00 per year membership category has been added for college students. Membership in this category is open to students in a two- or four-year degree granting, certificate, or diploma program at an accredited college or university. The following member benefits apply to this new category. SAVMA can benefit you! Networking with colleagues and access to experts in the field Inspiration for meeting the challenges of today Support for [...]

The SAVMA Board of Directors is pleased to announce our new Committee structure and we are inviting you to participate. This is a great way to engage with your peers and to take an active role in strengthening volunteerism in our community. Committees meet every other month for one hour, because we know your time is valuable. We are Volunteer Managers after all. An overview of the work of the [...]

SAVMA is seeking proposals for 2017 General Membership Meetings (third Thursday of every month at 3:30PM). Meetings are typically held at Habitat for Humanity Tucson 3501 N Mountain Ave, Tucson, AZ 85719. Presentations are one hour with 15 minutes of Q and A. Possible topics all relating to volunteer services (not all inclusive): Developing policies and procedures Risk management planning Setting benchmarks Developing an evaluation plan Budgeting Supporting the work [...]