Blog

Announcing the 2027 SAVMA Award Honorees

The Southern Arizona Volunteer Management Association (SAVMA) is proud to announce the six honorees selected for the 2027 SAVMA Awards presented by the Governor’s Office of Youth, Faith, and Family. These individuals, groups, and programs demonstrate what is possible when volunteer service is paired with strong leadership, thoughtful engagement, and a commitment to community impact. The 2027 honorees represent service across education, youth leadership, cultural preservation, family support, affordable [...]

By Jennifer Lohse|September 10th, 2026|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|0 Comments

2027 SAVMA Awards Nominations Are Now Open

2027 SAVMA Awards Nominations Are Now Open The Southern Arizona Volunteer Management Association (SAVMA) is excited to announce that nominations are now open for the 2027 SAVMA Awards. This annual recognition program celebrates the volunteers, organizations, businesses, public agencies, and Volunteer Engagement Professionals who strengthen communities throughout Southern Arizona. Every day, volunteers and volunteer engagement leaders create meaningful change. They improve programs, expand services, mobilize community support, and help [...]

By Jennifer Lohse|June 18th, 2026|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Tags: #SAVMAAwards2027, volunteer awards, Volunteer Engagement Professionals|Comments Off

Creating a Winning Nomination Workshop | SAVMA

Create a Winning Nomination: Learn How to Stand Out at the 2026 SAVMA Awards Category: Your Content Goes Here The SAVMA award nomination workshop is designed to help Volunteer Engagement Professionals, nonprofit leaders, and community partners create stronger, more competitive nominations for the 2026 SAVMA Awards. Led by three-year SAVMA Awards Nomination Chair Jill LaBrie, this virtual session will provide practical guidance on the [...]

By Jennifer Lohse|May 20th, 2026|Categories: Align- Professional learning, standards, and competencies.|Comments Off

SAVMA Members: Join the America Gives Initiative

SAVMA Members: Join the America Gives Initiative As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, a national call to service is taking shape through America Gives. This initiative invites organizations to mobilize volunteers, strengthen communities, and highlight the impact of service across the country. For SAVMA members, the America Gives volunteer initiative presents a clear opportunity to lead. Why the America Gives Initiative Matters Volunteer Engagement Professionals (VEPs) play [...]

By Jennifer Lohse|April 2nd, 2026|Categories: Align- Professional learning, standards, and competencies.|Tags: America 250, America Gives, civic engagement, National Initiatives|Comments Off

SAVMA Leadership Supports the 2026 Volunteer Generation Fund

SAVMA supports the 2026 Volunteer Generation Fund (VGF), a national initiative led by AmeriCorps. This support reflects SAVMA’s commitment to strengthening volunteer engagement across Southern Arizona and beyond. The VGF plays a critical role in building sustainable volunteer programs. Specifically, it invests in capacity, training, and systems that help organizations recruit and retain volunteers. As a result, nonprofits can deliver stronger and more consistent community impact. At the same [...]

By Jennifer Lohse|March 12th, 2026|Categories: Announcements & News, Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Press Release: Southern Arizona Volunteer Management Association Announces 2026 SAVMA Volunteer Fair

Tucson, AZ - The Southern Arizona Volunteer Management Association (SAVMA) is proud to announce the 2026 SAVMA Volunteer Fair, a community-centered event designed to connect individuals with meaningful volunteer opportunities across Southern Arizona. The SAVMA Volunteer Fair brings together nonprofit organizations, public agencies, and community partners to showcase a wide range of volunteer roles that support education, health, social services, environmental stewardship, and more. Attendees will have the opportunity [...]

By Jennifer Lohse|February 8th, 2026|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact, Press Release|Comments Off

Volunteer Awards 2026

SAVMA Volunteer Awards 2026 Relive the excitement and celebration of the SAVMA Volunteer Awards 2026 presented by the Governor's Office of Youth, Faith, and Family. Check out our Event Program. Our wonderful photographers from Sol Focus Media, captured our favorite moments. You can view, and even download, copies of the photos on our Facebook page (no account is required). Enjoy a little sample before you leave the page! [...]

By Jennifer Lohse|January 30th, 2026|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Community Service Recognition Irene Coppola

Community Service Recognition: Irene Coppola In January, Southern Arizona celebrated volunteerism at the SAVMA Awards, presented by the Governor's Office of Youth, Faith and Family. Junior Achievement of Arizona submitted Community Service Recognition: Irene Coppola, in honor of a dedicated spirit of service. Organizations submitted individuals and groups for Community Service Recognition to share stories of local volunteerism. Supported by: Irene Coppola: Junior [...]

By Jennifer Lohse|January 21st, 2026|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Complimentary ELEVATE 2026 Conference Registrations for SAVMA Members

Complimentary ELEVATE 2026 Conference Registrations for SAVMA Members Category: Your Content Goes Here Complimentary ELEVATE Conference Registration SAVMA Leaders announce a limited professional development opportunity for members. Thanks to the generosity of Tucson Foundations, SAVMA received five complimentary registrations for the ELEVATE 2026 Conference to benefit our members. Each registration has a fair market value of $125 and is fully underwritten to support learning, connection, and [...]

By Jennifer Lohse|December 30th, 2025|Categories: Align- Professional learning, standards, and competencies., Insights|Tags: Conferences & Training, ELEVATE Conference, Nonprofit Professional Development, SAVMA Members, Volunteer Engagement Professionals|Comments Off

Thriving Together: Self-Care for Volunteer Success

Thriving Together: Self-Care for Volunteer Success Volunteer engagement professionals often carry out meaningful work that touches many lives. The work requires compassion, patience, and focus. Because of this, stress can build quickly. As a result, personal well-being may fade into the background. However, healthy leadership grows when balance and boundaries come first. These ideas guide Thriving Together: Self-Care for Volunteer Success, a session led by Dr. Melissa Hernandez, Jessica [...]

By Jennifer Lohse|November 19th, 2025|Categories: Align- Professional learning, standards, and competencies.|Comments Off

Annual Meeting Agenda 2025 | Amended SAVMA Bylaws and Year in Review

Welcome to SAVMA’s Annual Meeting! Each year, the Southern Arizona Volunteer Management Association (SAVMA) gathers our community of Volunteer Engagement Professionals (VEPs) for our Annual Meeting — a cornerstone of connection, learning, and reflection. It’s our opportunity to celebrate our collective achievements, elect our leadership, and look forward to the next chapter of growth guided by our strategic plan. This year’s agenda features something significant — an in-person vote [...]

By Jennifer Lohse|November 18th, 2025|Categories: Announcements & News|Comments Off

Celebrating IMVD with SAVMA: Be Bold. Make Change.

Celebrate IVMDay with SAVMA! 💙 Be Bold. Make Change.Celebrate IVMDay with SAVMA! 💙 Be Bold. Make Change on November 5, 2025. International Volunteer Managers Day (IVMDay) — is a global celebration of the professionals who power volunteerism through strategy, heart, and leadership. This year’s theme, “Be Bold. Make Change.”, perfectly captures the courage, creativity, and innovation that volunteer engagement professionals (VEPs) demonstrate across Southern Arizona every single day. At [...]

By Habitat for Humanity Tucson|October 9th, 2025|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact, Insights, Member Voices|Tags: #IVMDay #VolunteerEngagement #SAVMATucson #BeBoldMakeChange #VolunteerManagement #ProfessionalDevelopment #SouthernArizonaVolunteers|Comments Off

SAVMA Awards 2026 Governance Honoree: Katie Maxwell

🏆 SAVMA Awards 2026 Governance Honoree: Katie Maxwell Strong governance changes lives.Katie Maxwell proves that every day. The Southern Arizona Volunteer Management Association (SAVMA) is proud to honor Katie Maxwell as the 2026 Exceptional Governance Volunteer Award Honoree. Katie’s leadership shows how thoughtful board service can strengthen organizations and expand opportunity across Southern Arizona. Leading With Purpose at Youth On Their Own Katie has served on the Board of [...]

By Tucson Foundations|September 11th, 2025|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Announcing the SAVMA Award 2026 Honorees

Announcing the SAVMA Award 2026 Honorees The Southern Arizona Volunteer Management Association (SAVMA) is thrilled to announce the honorees of the SAVMA Awards 2026. Celebrated on Thursday, January 22, 2026 at 8:00 a.m. at the Tucson Convention Center. These distinguished awardees exemplify the best of volunteerism, leadership, and community engagement across Southern Arizona. We invite you to join us as we celebrate their achievements, honor their contributions, and uplift the [...]

By Jennifer Lohse|September 10th, 2025|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Tags: #SAVMAAwards2026, #VolunteerAwards|Comments Off

Understanding SAVMA’s Proposed Bylaws Changes

Understanding SAVMA’s Proposed Bylaws Changes What’s Changing and Why It Matters The Southern Arizona Volunteer Management Association (SAVMA) is updating its bylaws—the rules that govern the organization's operations. These changes reflect today’s volunteer engagement field, create more flexibility for members, and prepare SAVMA for long-term growth and success. Read the read-lined version of the revised Bylaws in their entirety here>>>>>>>>>> With this in mind, here are the key updates: [...]

By Jennifer Lohse|September 1st, 2025|Categories: Announcements & News|Comments Off

Brenda Meller at the 2026 SAVMA Volunteer Awards

Introducing the SAVMA Awards Keynote Speaker: Brenda Meller Inspiring Volunteer Engagement in a Time of Renewal Across the United States, volunteerism is experiencing a renaissance. More than 75 million Americans—28.3% of the population—formally volunteered between 2022 and 2023. As a result, they collectively contributed nearly 5 billion hours of service valued at $167 billion. Furthermore, Arizona alone outpaced the national average with a 30% formal volunteering rate while also [...]

By Jennifer Lohse|August 15th, 2025|Categories: Align- Professional learning, standards, and competencies., Connect- facilitate access, relationships, and participation in the ecosystem, Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

10 Tips to Increase Your Odds of Writing a Winning Volunteer Award Nomination

10 Tips to Increase Your Odds of Writing a Winning Volunteer Award Nomination In a world where acts of kindness and community support often go unnoticed, volunteer awards provide a unique opportunity to shine a spotlight on those who dedicate their time and energy to making a positive impact. Writing a winning volunteer award nomination is an art that requires both heartfelt storytelling and strategic presentation. Whether you're nominating [...]

By Jennifer Lohse|July 25th, 2025|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Accommodating Volunteers with ADHD | Every Mind Contributes

🌟 Why ADHD Inclusion Matters in Volunteerism Volunteer programs succeed when every person feels seen, supported, and empowered to serve. Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) affects millions of adults worldwide, yet volunteer settings rarely consider how to accommodate neurodivergent volunteers. Inclusive practices aren’t just ethical—they improve team performance, retention, and community impact. 💙 SAVMA’s vision of a connected network of Volunteer Engagement Professionals (VEPs) depends on acknowledging that volunteers bring diverse [...]

By Jennifer Lohse|July 13th, 2025|Categories: Insights, Member Voices|Comments Off

Record Numbers at the SAVMA Fair!

Record Numbers at the SAVMA Fair! On Thursday, April 24, 2025, the Southern Arizona Volunteer Managers Association (SAVMA) recorded record numbers at the SAVMA Fair, the 5th annual. This vibrant celebration of community spirit, connection, and volunteerism—set against the lush backdrop of Reid Park Zoo. This year’s event was made possible by the generous sponsorship of TMC Health, whose support helped bring this unique evening to life. If you attended [...]

By Habitat for Humanity Tucson|May 23rd, 2025|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Community Service Recognitions

By Jennifer Lohse|May 1st, 2025|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Tags: #SAVMAAwards2026, #VolunteerAwards, Awards, sponosrs|Comments Off

2025 Days of Caring Schedule and how SAVMA can help

2025 Days of Caring Schedule The United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona has released the 2025 Days of Caring schedule. SAVMA stands ready to support our Volunteer Engagement Professionals through Arizona's largest volunteer event. So block your organizational calendars for Thursday, October 24th & Friday, October 25th, 2025. IMPORTANT DATES: PROJECT SUBMISSIONS (Local nonprofits, schools, and community groups) Opens: June 2nd Early Bird Deadline ($500 stipend eligibility): July 11th [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|April 30th, 2025|Categories: Connect- facilitate access, relationships, and participation in the ecosystem, Insights|Tags: #DaysOfCaring|Comments Off

SAVMA Awards 2026 Table Names

By Tucson Foundations|April 25th, 2025|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

States for Service Coalition 2026 Call to Action!

States for Service Coalition 2026 Call to Action! The States for Service Coalition 2026 call to action was received and answered by SAVMA. The policy arm of America’s Service Commissions, is organizing an organizational sign-on letter to ask Congress to appropriate $30 million for the Volunteer Generation Fund (VGF) in FY26. This is the fourth sign-on letter organized for VGF since it was created in 2009 under the Serve [...]

By Tucson Foundations|April 1st, 2025|Categories: Connect- facilitate access, relationships, and participation in the ecosystem|Tags: #Lobbying, #Stand4Service, AmeriCorps|Comments Off

Tax Considerations for 2025 | PD & Volunteer Deductions

💰 Tax Considerations for 2025: Paying It Forward and Paying It Yourself 👋 Welcome! Every March, as tax season rolls around, many of us review receipts, registrations, and charitable acknowledgments with a mix of curiosity and confusion. For Volunteer Engagement Professionals (VEPs), there’s often a double challenge:1️⃣ Managing your own professional-development expenses.2️⃣ Guiding your volunteers who ask, “Can I deduct my volunteer mileage or training?” This post offers [...]

By Jennifer Lohse|March 7th, 2025|Categories: Insights|Tags: CliftonLarsonAllen, deductions, IRS Publications 526 and 1771, Nonprofit Leadership, Professional Development, taxes, Volunteer Engagement|Comments Off

Jennifer Fahrmeyer: Community Service Recognition

Jennifer Fahrmeyer: Community Service Recognition Jennifer is a passionate volunteer who actively participates in company-coordinated events and her interests. If there’s a volunteer event happening, chances are you’ll find Jennifer there, along with many members of her family. She supports a wide range of organizations, including 4H, Tucson Rodeo Committee, Tucson Youth Football, SALEF, Pima Sheriff Auxiliary Volunteers, Junior Livestock, MADD, Humane Society, PACC, Erik Hite Foundation, and the Community [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|January 17th, 2025|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Mary Zier: Community Service Recognition

Mary Zier: Community Service Recognition Mary Zier has been an amazing volunteer to work with at the Children's Museum Tucson for the past year. She brings her positive energy and enthusiasm to the weekly program she volunteers for, Discovery Nights. Mary is always excited to learn new craft activities. She facilitate the crafts during Discovery Nights and has wonderful engagement with children and their families. Mary is so consistent and [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|January 17th, 2025|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact, Member Voices|Comments Off

Rick Witt: Community Service Recognition

Rick Witt: Community Service Recognition Rick has been a dedicated volunteer with Habitat for Humanity Tucson for the past six years, contributing an impressive 1,500+ hours of his time and expertise. Splitting his year between Wisconsin and Tucson, Rick also lends his skills to Habitat in Wisconsin, showcasing his deep commitment to our mission of building quality homes and stronger communities. With his wealth of knowledge and experience, Rick has [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|January 17th, 2025|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact, Member Voices|Comments Off

Ken Johnson & Shadow: Community Service Recognition

Ken Johnson & Shadow: Community Service Recognition Tucson Medical Center (TMC) enthusiastically nominates volunteer Ken Johnson and his therapy dog, Shadow. Ken and Shadow have visited the hospital almost daily for six years. Ken and Shadow quickly became a TMC fixture, visiting the lobbies and units every morning. Ken’s visits were so frequent that he struck a strong friendship with many TMC employees. Though Shadow is a one-hundred-and-twenty-pound bull [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|January 17th, 2025|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact, Member Voices|Comments Off

Karl Hoffman: Community Service Recognition

Karl Hoffman: Community Service Recognition Karl Hoffman has been a dedicated volunteer at the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona for over five years, contributing more than 1,680 hours of service. Known for his unwavering commitment and leadership, Karl volunteers three days a week, often arriving early and staying late to ensure critical tasks are completed. As a leader in the Emergency Food Box Production area, Karl plays a vital [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|January 17th, 2025|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact, Member Voices|Comments Off

Jesus Hernandez Galindo: Community Service Recognition

Jesus Hernandez Galindo: Community Service Recognition Jesus Hernandez is a dedicated and passionate volunteer with Literacy Connects' Adult Basic Literacy programs. His journey began as a student in an English Language Acquisition for Adults (ELAA) class, where his love for learning and teaching flourished. In 2021, Jesus transitioned from student to volunteer, where he discovered his talents in teaching as part of the Spanish language GED program. During the Covid-19 [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|January 17th, 2025|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact, Member Voices|Comments Off

Sharon Foltz: Community Service Recognition

Sharon Foltz: Community Service Recognition Raised in rural Ohio, Sharon Burrier Foltz started volunteering with her parents and grandparents early at school and church, and she helped neighbors. Volunteering with developmentally disabled children in high school led to teaching, then becoming a Volunteer Administrator for the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Mental Retardation, and serving on the Greater Columbus United Way, her first of hundreds of boards and committees. [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|January 17th, 2025|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact, Member Voices|Comments Off

Tom Crowly: Community Service Recognition

Tom Crowly: Community Service Recognition Tom is organized, a great communicator, and enthusiastic about dogs and the joy they create- to owners and to those they interact with. This is why the number of Alliance of Therapy Dogs (ATD) teams in Pima County has more than doubled, from 40 to 99 teams, since he volunteered to be a trainer and coordinator five years ago. Tom has volunteered with ATD for [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|January 17th, 2025|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact, Member Voices|Comments Off

Rebecca Crane: Community Service Recognition

Rebecca Crane: Community Service Recognition Rebecca Crane is a Realtor and Team Owner of Signature Group at Real Broker, and she served as the 2024 Board of Directors Chair for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Arizona. Her journey with the organization began in 2014 as a founding member of the Advocacy Board for Young Professionals, and she has been on the Board of Directors since 2019. Rebecca’s commitment to [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|January 17th, 2025|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact, Member Voices|Comments Off

Johanna Cordero: Community Service Recognition

Johanna Cordero: Community Service Recognition With a passion for poverty alleviation, Johanna Cordero has been teaching financial literacy throughout her banking career the past 19 years. She is tireless in her support for the Tucson community as she comes from humble beginnings and knows what it is to struggle. She wants to help offer her financial expertise to give people tools to break out of the cycle of poverty. Johanna [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|January 17th, 2025|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact, Member Voices|Comments Off

El Rio Vecinos: Community Service Recognition

El Rio Vecinos: Community Service Recognition Since 2013, the El Rio Vecinos Block Party event proceeds have supported El Rio Community Health Center's patients and programs. In 2024 this young professionals volunteer group crossed a milestone by raising more than $1,000,000! Proceeds from their 2025 "Run for the Roses" May 3rd Block Party will help provide 175-200 free mammogram screenings for women who are uninsured and have no other resources. [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|January 17th, 2025|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact, Member Voices|Comments Off

Charlotte Bruntmyer: Community Service Recognition

Charlotte Bruntmyer: Community Service Recognition Charlotte Bruntmyer began volunteering with Aviva in October 2022 and has completed over 450 volunteer hours. Her warm smile welcomes the 200-300 youth served monthly at the Community Resource Program, who need emergency resources like clothing, socks, underwear, shoes, hygiene items, beds, and car seats for youth and families involved with the Department of Child Safety (DCS). Like a retail store, the Resource Room allows [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|January 17th, 2025|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact, Member Voices|Tags: #SAVMAAwards2025, #SAVMACSR, #VolunteerAwards|Comments Off

Cydne Bolton: Community Service Recognition

Cydne Bolton: Community Service Recognition Cydne Bolton has called Tucson home for over 40 years. She is currently the Training Manager for the Adult Basic Literacy Program at Literacy Connects, a non-profit organization with the mission of connecting people of all ages to a world of opportunities through literacy and creative expression. Cydne considers herself to be a lifelong learner and educator. Her positions in elementary education, logistics, juvenile corrections, [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|January 17th, 2025|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact, Member Voices|Comments Off

SAVMA Awards 2025 | Growing Public Celebration of Volunteerism

SAVMA Awards 2025 We hope you were able to join us for celebration of the SAVMA Awards 2025. A copy of our Event Program can be downloaded in PDF format. Our wonderful photographers from Delta Productions, captured our favorite moments. You can view, and even download, copies of the photos on our Facebook page. (No account is required). Enjoy a little sample before you leave the page! [...]

By Jennifer Lohse|January 16th, 2025|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Generation Z recruitment gets intensive with campus career fairs

Generation Z recruitment gets intensive with campus career fairs. Recruiting volunteers from Generation Z has become a strategic focus for many organizations, and campus career fairs are emerging as powerful tools for connecting with this socially conscious and tech-savvy generation. Born between 1997 and 2012, Gen Z individuals are redefining the traditional volunteer landscape, driven by a desire for meaningful engagement, skill development, and social impact. Organizations seeking to attract [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|December 21st, 2024|Categories: Insights, Member Voices|Tags: GenZVolunteers, recruitment|Comments Off

2024 Hottest Reads and Resources for Volunteer Engagement Professionals

2024 Hottest Reads and Resources for Volunteer Engagement Professionals In 2024, VEPs used various books and resources to enhance their leadership skills, improve volunteer engagement, and address community challenges. Is your favorite included in the 2024 hottest reads and resources for Volunteer Engagement Professionals? "The Art of Gathering" by Priya Parker - A deep dive into creating meaningful events and gatherings useful for planning volunteer meetups or fundraising events. This [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|December 12th, 2024|Categories: Insights|Tags: #EventPlanning, #VolunteerEngagement, #VolunteerLifecycle, VEPBooks|Comments Off

2025 Proposed SAVMA Leadership

2025 Proposed SAVMA Leadership The Governance and Administration Committee of the Board of Directors is presenting the 2025 proposed SAVMA Leadership. The link to submit interest in a leadership position is perpetually open, as all members are encouraged to take up leadership. The annual meeting is December 12th. If you still need to register, please do so here so we have enough food and beverages. Board of Directors Officers (terms [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|December 1st, 2024|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact, Member Voices|Tags: #SAVMALeadership|Comments Off

SAVMA shares the VMPR 2025 survey

SAVMA shares the VMPR 2025 survey SAVMA shares the VMPR 2025 survey with members! SAVMA's leaders encourage participation in VolunteerPro’s 2025 Volunteer Management Progress Report – The Recruitment Edition, their 10th annual survey! Your input cumulatively identifies current trends in volunteer engagement. This year, VolunteerPro is exploring: The challenges for leaders of volunteers The average salaries for leaders of volunteers The recruitment tactics organizations are using to attract volunteers Which [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|November 16th, 2024|Categories: Insights|Tags: @volpronet, #LoVols, #VEPResearch, #VMPR, #vmprogress2025|Comments Off

Nonprofits Boost Bipartisan Voter Turnout

Nonprofits Boost Bipartisan Voter Turnout This is an AZ Impact for Good Membership Announcement, sharing that nonprofits boost bipartisan voter turnout compared to their counterparts in the same communities. As Volunteer Engagement Professionals, you work daily to make Arizona a better place for people to live, work, and play. We see the positive difference you make everywhere—in the smile you bring to a child’s face, the hope you give to [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|September 19th, 2024|Categories: Insights|Comments Off

SAVMA 2025 Leadership Now Recruiting

SAVMA 2025 Leadership: apply by 10/20 SAVMA 2025 leadership on your mind? Never been on a board before? That's ok, a professional association is a great organization to start. You can start in any position and catch on quickly due to the size of the organization and the support you have from the prior year's boards. This process is called institutionalization. What is means is there are lots of materials [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|August 17th, 2024|Categories: Align- Professional learning, standards, and competencies., Connect- facilitate access, relationships, and participation in the ecosystem, Insights|Tags: governance, Professional Development, SAVMA|Comments Off

DOC Deadline Looms for 2024

DOC Deadline Looms for 2024 Projects submitted by July 12th will be entered into the early bird drawing, in which one agency will receive a $500 stipend instead of the standard $100 stipend. DOC deadline looms for 2024>>> Step 1. Block the days on your organization calendar for the entire agency. Days of Caring is November 1st and 2nd Step 2. Review the Days of Caring Project Submission Best Practices [...]

By Tucson Foundations|July 6th, 2024|Categories: Insights|Tags: Days of Caring, group volunteering, United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona, Volunteer opportunity, volunteering|Comments Off

Volunteer Engagement Defined and Measured

Volunteer Engagement Defined and Measured Volunteerism is flourishing globally, even while volunteers sit untapped and underutilized. Volunteer engagement defined and measured opens the door to standard benchmarks across the profession, at least locally. Apples and oranges make a nice visual for comparative data, but how about volunteers and headcounts? If there is a common language and shared understanding of metrics, then comparative metrics are not out of the possibility. Defining [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|June 3rd, 2024|Categories: Align- Professional learning, standards, and competencies., Insights|Tags: volunteer engagement metrics, volunteer resources headcount|Comments Off

Forget the Elevator Pitch

Forget the Elevator Pitch Forget the elevator pitch, volunteer engagement professionals should rely on three big questions to tell your story. Before we get straight to the questions, let's be clear, the pitch does offer a helpful crafting concept that we shouldn't disregard. So we should start with the concept for those that are not familiar. The pitch concept, goes something like this...I'm a nonprofit employee/founder and I jump on [...]

By Tucson Foundations|May 3rd, 2024|Categories: Align- Professional learning, standards, and competencies., Connect- facilitate access, relationships, and participation in the ecosystem|Comments Off

Simple Volunteer Appreciation Help

Simple Volunteer Appreciation Help Global Volunteer Month begins April 1st every year, and if you are new to volunteer engagement, or find yourself with a backlog, simple volunteer appreciation help is top priority. Appreciation is an important tool in a Volunteer Engagement Professional's (VEP) retention toolbox. A simple act of appreciation can be the most memorable. The thank you note Customized, handwritten notes from a direct supervisor have the highest [...]

By Tucson Foundations|April 1st, 2024|Categories: Member Voices|Tags: volunteer appreciation|Comments Off

Voluntary Self-Identification Form

Voluntary Self-Identification Form Does your volunteer application include a "voluntary self-identification form" to collect demographic, economic, cultural, and social information? Is it damaging your recruitment efforts? Maybe it is helping? Was it there before you arrived? This is the case for one such Volunteer Engagement Professional, who has a few questions. While holding one VEP's confidentiality, we agree these are valuable questions and our discussion might spark more interest. Why [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|March 26th, 2024|Categories: Align- Professional learning, standards, and competencies., Insights, Member Voices|Tags: data collection, onboarding, volunteer application|Comments Off

Networking is Volunteer Engagement Gold

Networking is Volunteer Engagement Gold Networking is Volunteer Engagement gold and we have the key strategies to meet your outreach and recruitment goals. With volunteer recruitment being the biggest need within the profession, developing your networking skills might be your solution. SAVMA's Roundtable Discussion on Networking identified key strategies: Key Strategy: Do your homework Before you attend an event, find out who will be in the room. If you cannot [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|March 7th, 2024|Categories: Connect- facilitate access, relationships, and participation in the ecosystem|Tags: connect, goals, Networking, recruitment, recruitment goals|Comments Off

Partners: Call to Action

Partners: Call to Action Our in-box is full this month with partners call to action including voter registration deadlines, survey requests, pre-conference sessions and Virtual Conferences! There are deadlines looming so let's make this quick and easy for your punch lists. Call to Action: Apply for State AmeriCorps! Applications for the AmeriCorps State Formula Grant (RFGA#: RFGA-FOR-GOYFF-080124-00) are now being accepted. Approximately $4 million will be awarded to programs [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|February 7th, 2024|Categories: Connect- facilitate access, relationships, and participation in the ecosystem|Comments Off

SAVMA Awards 2024

SAVMA Awards 2024 Relive the excitement and celebration of the SAVMA Awards 2024 presented by the Governor's Office of Youth, Faith, and Family. A copy of our Event Program can be downloaded in PDF format. Our wonderful photographers from Delta Productions, captured our favorite moments. You can view, and even download, copies of the photos on our Facebook page. (No account is required). Enjoy a little sample before you [...]

By Jennifer Lohse|January 23rd, 2024|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Sandra Wong: Volunteer Recognition

Sandra Wong: Volunteer Recognition Sandra Wong: Volunteer Recognition recipient was born at TMC and grew up in Marana and Tucson. After receiving an engineering degree from the University of Arizona, she moved to California to pursue a career in aerospace. She enjoyed her time working on satellite systems, but eventually she tired of the California life and missed the Sonoran dessert. Upon her return to Tucson, she continued work as [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|January 17th, 2024|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact, Member Voices|Tags: Community Service Recognition, volunteer appreciation|Comments Off

Heather Volpe: Community Service Recognition

Heather Volpe: Community Service Recognition Raquel Cooley from Nova Home Loans would like to recognize Heather Volpe with a Community Service Recognition. She is a nurturing mother with a heart committed to service. Heather embarked on her remarkable volunteer journey over 20 years ago. Her altruistic path began at the Tucson Community School, where she actively participated in the parent co-op, fostering an early appreciation for community engagement in her [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|January 17th, 2024|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact, Member Voices|Tags: Community Leader, volunteer appreciation|Comments Off

Zainab Rana: Community Service Recognition

Zainab Rana: Community Service Recognition Children's Museum Tucson celebrated Discovery Nights volunteer, Zainab Rana: Community Service Recognition recipient at the SAVMA Awards 2024. Zainab has been volunteering regularly during Discovery Nights programming at the Children's Museum Tucson helping run the program alongside paid staff members. Discovery Night is every Thursday evening and it is free admission during the time the program runs, so they see many visitors. Zainab helps run [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|January 16th, 2024|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact, Member Voices|Tags: volunteer appreciation|Comments Off

Sandra Maxfield: Community Service Recognition

Sandra Maxfield: Community Service Recognition Sandra Maxfield is the Community Service Recognition recipient, lovingly submitted by Linda, Jennifer, and Tricia Lohse of the Tucson Foundations. Sandy, a Canadian transplant, embraced the Old Pueblo arts and culture and health and human services community as a community volunteer as soon as she arrived. While working in Michigan as a Registered Nurse, Sandy met Robert Maxfield during his medical residency. The two [...]

By Tucson Foundations|January 15th, 2024|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact, Insights|Tags: Awards, Community Leader, volunteer appreciation|Comments Off

Eric Majchrzak: Community Service Recognition

Eric Majchrzak: Community Service Recognition Eric Majchrzak, Community Service Recognition recipient from ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation willingly gives his time and experience. He helps grow the Center’s Leadership Council into a collection of champions, who fully align to advance the mission. As a result of Eric’s leadership, our Center realizes greater levels of achievement and impact than ever in our 25-year history. Eric is a volunteer [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|January 14th, 2024|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact, Member Voices|Tags: Community Leader, skilled volunteer, volunteer appreciation|Comments Off

Community Food Bank Honors Larry Housner Community Service Recognition

Larry Housner Community Service Recognition The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona would like to present their 2024 honoree Larry Housner, Community Service Recognition. We are proud to express our deepest gratitude to Larry Housner for his outstanding dedication and unwavering commitment to the mission. Since March of 2020, Larry has been an invaluable member of our volunteer team, standing out as a shining example of selflessness and compassion. One [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|January 13th, 2024|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact, Member Voices|Tags: volunteer appreciation|Comments Off

Art Hoffman: Community Service Recognition

Art Hoffman: Community Service Recognition Arthur Hoffman is a Community Service Recognition recipient for his loyal volunteer service to Habitat for Humanity Tucson since 2011. Contributing in countless ways, Art not only gives Habitat Tucson his precious time, but the gift of wisdom, skills, and tremendous professional experience. In his time with Habitat Tucson, he leads the IT efforts, participates in construction, lays new flooring, attends and builds at events [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|January 12th, 2024|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact, Member Voices|Tags: volunteer appreciation|Comments Off

Fredericka Hills: Community Service Recognition

Fredericka Hills: Community Service Recognition Interfaith Community Services nominated Fredericka Hills for the Community Service Recognition. Her volunteering shows the love to empower and teach others. Since 2015, she has volunteered with Workforce Development, helping job seekers find employment, for instance. Fredericka works with clients to update their résumés by listening and identifying their skills, building up their confidence and teaching them how to get hired and stay hired. About [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|January 11th, 2024|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact, Member Voices|Tags: volunteer appreciation|Comments Off

Jennifer Gust: Community Service Recognition

Jennifer Gust: Community Service Recognition Jennifer Gust: Community Service Recognition recipient has been an integral part of our workplace at Girl Scouts of Southern Arizona. After having been a girl member all the way through Girl Scouts, to her High School graduation, Jennifer continued her relationship with the organization by becoming a volunteer. For 11 years now, she is happy to jump into the work of any team. Jennifer is [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|January 10th, 2024|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact, Insights|Tags: Community Service Recognition, volunteer appreciation|Comments Off

Aimee Graves: Community Service Recognition

Aimee Graves: Community Service Recognition As the CEO of The Haven, Aimee Graves: Community Service Recognition was a perfect fit. is a nonprofit professional who selflessly invests in emerging leaders through her volunteer work with Community Foundation for Southern Arizona's Center for Healthy Nonprofits. She imparts lessons learned, and offers expert guidance. Her legacy of generosity inspires a mentorship pathway for nonprofit leaders today and into the future. Supporting her [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|January 9th, 2024|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact, Member Voices|Tags: Awards, Community Service Recognition, SAVMA Awards, volunteer appreciation|Comments Off

Community Service Recognition: James Geringer

Community Service Recognition: James Geringer Easterseals Blake Foundation honored event volunteer with a Community Service Recognition. James Geringer is flexible and versatile, two skills that serve the organization well in his role as a special event volunteer. Additionally, the the events team describe him as passionate, reliable, cooperative, patient, creative, energetic, positive, willing to help, compassionate and organized. Without ever being asked, and with a smile on his face, James [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|January 8th, 2024|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact, Member Voices|Tags: Community Service Recognition, volunteer appreciation|Comments Off

Community Service Recognition: Linda Down

Community Service Recognition: Linda Down Reid Park Zoo honors retired educator and volunteer Docent, with Community Service Recognition: to Linda Down! As a volunteer Docent, Linda engages Reid Park Zoo guests by utilizing interpretive artifact stations and handling small animals, educating about species natural history, individual history, and conveying conservation messaging and actions; she is instrumental in furthering the Zoo’s mission “to create inspiring memories for all by connecting people [...]

By Tucson Foundations|January 7th, 2024|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact, Member Voices|Tags: volunteer appreciation|Comments Off

Gabriela Cervantes: Community Service Recognition

Gabriela Cervantes: Community Service Recognition Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Arizona submitted Gabriela Cervantes for Community Service Recognition in 2024. She is a Marketing Specialist for Snell & Wilmer, and the founder of Gabriela with one L Consulting. Additionally she facilitates University of Arizona courses, is an Independent Fora Travel Advisor, serves on the Big Brothers Big Sisters of Southern Arizona Board of Directors and is a "Big Sister." [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|January 6th, 2024|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact, Member Voices|Tags: volunteer appreciation|Comments Off

Community Service Recognition: Alexis Carreon

Community Service Recognition: Alexis Carreon Children's Clinics honors Weekly In-Clinic & Adaptive Recreation Volunteer with a Community Service Recognition: Alexis Carreon! Alexis is a full-time honors college student at the University of Arizona. She fills her time with volunteering, athletics, and creative activities. Alexis is majoring in physiology and medical sciences and has her eye on being a physical therapist. After seeing a posting in a newsletter on campus, she [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|January 5th, 2024|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact, Member Voices|Tags: SAVMA, volunteer appreciation|Comments Off

Mark Brown: Community Service Recognition

Mark Brown: Community Service Recognition TEP proudly submits Mark Brown, for Community Service Recognition. He started as a Tucson Electric Power employee volunteer for the Community Food Bank, packing food bags in their warehouse. When the previous coordinator decided to take a step back, there was one clear choice for leadership. Mark stepped up and became the activity coordinator for the monthly event. He continued to organize dozens of TEP [...]

By Tucson Foundations|January 4th, 2024|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Tags: volunteer appreciation|Comments Off

Community Service Recognition: Melissa Acuña

Community Service Recognition: Melissa Acuña Melissa Acuna, a Cox Communications employee, and Junior Achievement volunteer will receive a Community Service Recognition for her service. With the support of hundreds of education, business and volunteer partners, Junior Achievement here in Southern Arizona is giving kids the tools to succeed. Our volunteer mentors from the community teach students about the importance of money management, workforce readiness and entrepreneurial thinking. Arming today’s youth [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|January 3rd, 2024|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Tags: volunteer appreciation|Comments Off

Volunteerism is a Values Proposition Match for Sponsors

Volunteerism is a Values Proposition Match for Sponsors The SAVMA Awards 2024 presented by the Governor's Office of Youth, Faith, and Family, found volunteerism is a values proposition match for sponsors. These generous sponsors made publicly recognizing volunteerism in Southern Arizona on January 18, 2024 a priority. In turn SAVMA Leadership is sharing more about our sponsors and their match with volunteerism. 2024 Award Sponsors found the value proposition for [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|January 3rd, 2024|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Keynote Nicole R Smith

Announcing Keynote Speaker Nicole R Smith SAVMA Awards 2024 includes a keynote address by Nicole R Smith, CVA. She is a Panamanian-American, workforce development expert, athlete, published author, nonprofit founder, motivational speaker and sports entertainer. Nicole enthusiastically inspires her audiences with her take on today's volunteerism. She earned her Bachelor's degree via a Division I full-ride track scholarship. After graduating she founded Step It Up! Inc, a nonprofit dance organization. [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|January 2nd, 2024|Categories: Align- Professional learning, standards, and competencies., Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Tags: Awards, Keynote|Comments Off

Introducing AmeriCorps Member Lillian

Introducing AmeriCorps Member Lillian Through a partnership with Arizona Serve, SAVMA leadership is introducing AmeriCorps member Lillian Ledner to our members. Lillian was born and raised in Tucson, Arizona, where she attended Mountain View High School, and graduated in 2008. She attends Pima Community College, and proudly is an 8- year Crew Member at Trader Joes. Markedly, inspired by a volunteer experience through the Jett Foundation at Camp Promise, Lillian [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|December 26th, 2023|Categories: Connect- facilitate access, relationships, and participation in the ecosystem, Insights, Member Voices|Comments Off

Career Growth Through Professional Associations

Career Growth Through Professional Associations How much time should one invest weekly in a professional association? What do you need to ensure maximum career growth through professional associations? How do you choose the right associations? It turns out there is some pretty good recommendations out there to light our paths as Volunteer Managers in this area. Business Network International (BNI) founder, Dr. Ivan Misner, suggests that successful networkers spend between [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|December 9th, 2023|Categories: Align- Professional learning, standards, and competencies.|Tags: Professional Development|Comments Off

National Volunteer Management Insights Survey

National Volunteer Management Insights Survey SAVMA is calling all leaders of volunteers to participate in this national volunteer management insights survey. This is VolunteerPro’s 2024 Volunteer Management Progress Report, their ninth annual survey! As they navigate the dynamic landscape of our sector, everyone is eager to gain a comprehensive understanding of the current state of affairs. Your valuable input is crucial to discovering the most current trends in volunteer engagement. [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|December 1st, 2023|Categories: Connect- facilitate access, relationships, and participation in the ecosystem, Insights|Comments Off

Presenting the Public Allies Arizona 2024

Presenting Public Allies Arizona 2024 SAVMA Leadership takes pleasure in presenting the Public Allies Arizona 2023-2024 class to the volunteer engagement professionals of Southern Arizona. The AmeriCorps program is operated by the ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation, unquestionably, a valued civic partner of volunteer managers. Therefore, Public Allies Arizona is a perfect addition to the service programs SAVMA is proud to promote. Building a Brighter Future: Public [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|November 17th, 2023|Categories: Insights, Member Voices|Comments Off

CSR Awards Deadline Extended to 11/15

CSR Awards Deadline Extended to 11/15 Those organizations committing to Table Sponsorship or above, are eligible to submit a volunteer for Community Service Recognition. 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 Arizona to become [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|November 9th, 2023|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

International Volunteer Managers Day 2023

International Volunteer Managers Day 2023 Helping Others Help SAVMA Leadership celebrates International Volunteer Managers Day 2023 This November 5, 2023, SAVMA celebrates those that support the profession of volunteer engagement. This includes: volunteer managers, leaders of volunteers, volunteer engagement professionals and volunteer administrators. Thank you for your dedication to your craft. Thank you for your work. This day provides an opportunity to recognize the invaluable contributions of volunteer managers. They [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|November 5th, 2023|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

2024 Proposed SAVMA Leadership

2024 Proposed SAVMA Leadership The SAVMA Board of Directors would like to present the 2024 proposed SAVMA Leadership. To identify barriers to leadership, the Willing and Able Leadership Survey opened September 1st, posing four questions about willingness and ability to serve. The results of that data will be presented in 2024 blog posts. Those identified as willing and able to serve (and qualified) are hereby presented as your leadership team [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|November 1st, 2023|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact, Member Voices|Comments Off

4 minute- willing and able survey!

4 minute- willing and able survey! Members, did you take the "willing and able survey?" The adage it take a village to raise a child, serves rather well when talking about the care of a membership association. The question before you as a member today is, are you willing and able to serve your profession? There survey is not meant to make members feel bad, but rather to identify [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|October 26th, 2023|Categories: Announcements & News|Tags: #volunteerleaders #leadersofvolunteers #VEPs|Comments Off

C-Suite Must-Dos for your Volunteer Program

C-Suite Must-Dos for your Volunteer Program October is a big volunteer month These C-Suite must-dos for your volunteer program will remind you why you need SAVMA and why your volunteer engagement professionals depend on the association. Members of the volunteer management community are hard at work at recruitment events, fundraisers, interviews, orientations, planning meetings, outreach events, and conferences. Well, actually that sounds like a lot. Unfortunately, since the pandemic this [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|October 2nd, 2023|Categories: Align- Professional learning, standards, and competencies., Connect- facilitate access, relationships, and participation in the ecosystem|Comments Off

2023 Volunteer Administrator Award- An overdue award for a truly committed CVA!

2023 Volunteer Administrator Award An overdue award for a truly committed CVA! Tucson, Sep. 17 — Victoria Carlson-Foscz, to receive the 2023 Volunteer Administrator Award from the Southern Arizona Volunteer Management Association (SAVMA). Victoria, “Tori,” serves as a role model with her passion, experience and best practices in volunteer engagement and leadership. She holds a CVA, by the Council on Certification in Volunteer Administration. Tori has committed herself to the [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|September 17th, 2023|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

2023 Corporate Volunteerism Award- Focus on leadership development is core to Caterpillar’s mission!

2023 Corporate Volunteerism Award Focus on leadership development is core to Caterpillar’s mission! Tucson, Sep. 14 — Caterpillar Tucson Regional Offices, is being awarded the 2023 Corporate Volunteerism Award from the Southern Arizona Volunteer Management Association (SAVMA). Paloma Santiago, Southern District Director for Junior Achievement of Arizona submitted the nomination. The Caterpillar Tucson Regional Team will receive the award on January 18, 2024, at the annual SAVMA Awards. The event [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|September 17th, 2023|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

2023 Volunteer Board Member Award- a leader that believes in wearing all the hats!

2023 Volunteer Board Member Award SAVMA Award goes to a volunteer who has worn many hats! Tucson, Sep. 14 — Junior Achievement of Arizona – Southern District, volunteer Director on the Board of Directors, Chrisie Ballard, is receiving the 2023 Volunteer Board Member Award from the Southern Arizona Volunteer Management Association (SAVMA). Since joining the Junior Achievement of AZ Southern District Board in 2010, Chrisie has been a force of [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|September 17th, 2023|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

2023 Nonprofit Volunteer Program Award- volunteers that literally build a better community

2023 Nonprofit Volunteer Program Award Tucson, Sep. 15 — Habitat for Humanity Tucson, to receive the 2023 Nonprofit Volunteer Program Award from the Southern Arizona Volunteer Management Association (SAVMA). The Nonprofit Volunteer Program Award recognizes an organization that has demonstrated outstanding impact through their volunteer program. Habitat for Humanity constructed an extraordinary volunteer program. SAVMA will recognize their successes on January 18, 2024 at the annual awards event. The event [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|September 17th, 2023|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

2023 Youth Volunteer Award- Donation drive yields $2.6K for domestic shelter

2023 Youth Volunteer Award Tucson, Sep. 13 — Felipe Garcia, a Commissioner on the Arizona Governor’s Youth Commission, will receive the 2023 Youth Volunteer Award from the Southern Arizona Volunteer Management Association (SAVMA). SAVMA will honor young Mr. Garcia on January 18, 2024 at the third annual, SAVMA Awards. The awards recognize all levels of volunteerism including individuals, nonprofits and corporations. Felipe's leadership on the Governor's Youth Commission (GYC) is [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|September 16th, 2023|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

SAVMA 2023 Program Volunteer Award!- This volunteer was seen going the distance-

2023 Program Volunteer Award Tucson, Arizona September 11 — Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) volunteer, Dave Tabb, is being recognized with the 2023 Program Volunteer Award from the Southern Arizona Volunteer Management Association (SAVMA). Dave has been a volunteer for CASA of Pima County for three years. He is currently a CASA for nine children. Dave has donated more than 2,000 hours, and more than 24,000 miles in support of [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|September 11th, 2023|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

SAVMA 2024 Leadership – Raise Your Professional Game!

SAVMA 2024 Leadership: apply by 9/30 SAVMA 2024 leadership on your mind? Never been on a board before? That's ok, a professional association is a great organization to start. You can start in any position and catch on quickly due to the size of the organization and the support you have from the prior year's boards. This process is called institutionalization. What is means is there are lots of materials [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|September 2nd, 2023|Categories: Align- Professional learning, standards, and competencies., Insights|Comments Off

September AL!VE Academy: Volunteer Recruitment Is No Answer

SAVMA Member Benefit Alert! "Volunteer recruitment is no answer" is presented by AL!VE through their Academy series. SAVMA is an Association Member of AL!VE and SAVMA members are able to attend Academy sessions as a Membership Benefit. Please be sure your SAVMA account is in good standing and your name is listed as a contact on the account to register. Presented by Rob Jackson September 20, 7AM MST Everyone knows [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|August 12th, 2023|Categories: Align- Professional learning, standards, and competencies., Insights|Comments Off

New study finds benefits to volunteering in late life

Volunteering in late life may protect the brain against cognitive decline and dementia This article was written by Lisa Howard and originally posted on UC Davis Health Key Takeaways: Volunteering in late life may protect the brain against cognitive decline and dementia. New study of older adults found better memory and executive function among those who volunteered. (Sacramento) Volunteering in late life is associated with better cognitive function — specifically, better [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|July 30th, 2023|Categories: Insights|Comments Off

Research study on Volunteer Administrators- Participants Needed

Research study on Volunteer Administrators Career pathways We encourage SAVMA members are to participate in a research study on Volunteer Administrators career pathways. The study is being conducted by Dr. Allison Russell, an Assistant Professor of Public and Nonprofit Management at the University of Texas at Dallas. Along with her doctoral research assistant, Kayla Parker, they are conducting a research study to investigate the career pathways of volunteer administrators. They [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|July 21st, 2023|Categories: Align- Professional learning, standards, and competencies., Insights|Comments Off

SAVMA Awards 2024 Nominate Now

SAVMA Awards 2024 Nominate Now 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 to share your agency’s good work and the volunteers who make it happen! PLEASE take a few moments [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|July 6th, 2023|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Career Pathways for Volunteer Engagement Professionals Survey

Career Pathways for Volunteer Engagement Professionals Survey There is a lack of data on career pathways for volunteer engagement professionals, causing many professionals to leave the field in search of other advancement opportunities. Our Association partner, AL!VE, has a goal to create a Career Pathways Report that will demonstrate the various job levels within our field and the competencies and skills for each level. This will give practitioners and employers [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|April 11th, 2023|Categories: Connect- facilitate access, relationships, and participation in the ecosystem, Insights|Comments Off

AL!VE Conference- SAVMA Saves the Date

AL!VE Conference- SAVMA Saves the Date October 17th AL!VE announces its conference theme "Leveraging Technology in a Human World: Inclusively, Responsibly, and Creatively." Each new generation of volunteers is very different from the ones before them. How do we prepare our policies, programs and recruitment in an inclusive, responsible, and creative way that looks to leverage technology in a human world? AL!VE taps Rob Jackson facilitator Rob Jackson is Director [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|April 10th, 2023|Categories: Align- Professional learning, standards, and competencies., Connect- facilitate access, relationships, and participation in the ecosystem|Comments Off

Service Enterprise Initiative Recommended

Service Enterprise Initiative recommended by SAVMA to all members. SEI certification is a way to increase the impact of volunteerism in our community. ASU Lodestar Center for Philanthropy and Nonprofit Innovation is offering this certificate of distinction and its nationally recognized designation of excellence in organizational volunteer integration. Together with AL!VE and Points of Light organizations will gain access to proprietary content and research, including a robust resource library with trends and [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|March 21st, 2023|Categories: Align- Professional learning, standards, and competencies.|Comments Off

SAVMA Volunteer Fair 2023 April 20th- Registration Now Open

SAVMA Volunteer Fair 2023- April 20th Recruitment and Recognition Fair 2023 Registration Open The SAVMA Volunteer Fair 2023 will take place at Reid Park Zoo on April 20th. Community members are invited to attend from 4:30PM-7PM and celebrate their volunteerism during this Volunteer Appreciate Week event! This event is open to the public. Volunteer Fair 2023 (for the public- volunteers) This event is for you and we cannot wait to [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|March 20th, 2023|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Volunteer Administrator Skills Assessment- Now Open

7 Industry Standards and their Competencies The "Body of Knowledge and Competency Framework" by the Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration (CCVA) provide the questions for the volunteer administrator skills assessment. The 7 standards are listed below as reference before you begin the survey: Plan for Strategic Volunteer Engagement Advocate for Volunteer Involvement Attract and Onboard a Volunteer Workforce Prepare Volunteers for their Roles Document Volunteer Involvement Manage Volunteer Performance [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|March 1st, 2023|Categories: Announcements & News|Comments Off

2023 Proposed Leadership

2023 Proposed Leadership The 2023 proposed leadership slate of officers and directors are on the agenda for the February 16, 2023 meeting of the general membership. At the annual meeting in 2023 the vote for officers was postponed for additional recruitment efforts. All things considered, a heroic effort was made in 2022 to complete this task onetime. Nominations may be made from the floor at that time, or by submitting [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|February 4th, 2023|Categories: Announcements & News|Comments Off

Join Us for The Annual AL!VE Conference October 18th 9:30am-5:00pm

This years focus on equipping leaders of volunteers with skills to determine what data is useful and how to tell impactful stories using different tools and technologies. Not only is this great information for those that work with volunteers but this can be applied across organizations. SAVMA members receive a discounted rate and all attendees will receive snacks and lunch! Click Here To Register

By SAVMA Leaders|September 1st, 2022|Categories: Connect- facilitate access, relationships, and participation in the ecosystem, Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

What’s the Deal with Volunteer Engagement Surveys?

Volunteer engagement surveys are conducted to solicit key information from volunteers on a variety of topics, including values, engagement, diversity and inclusion, leadership and management, colleagues, communication, work environment and culture. What’s the purpose of volunteer engagement surveys? Volunteer engagement surveys allow organizations to use input from volunteers to review and improve their programs. Insights from volunteers are incredibly useful in determining areas that are working well or need improvement. [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|June 13th, 2022|Categories: Align- Professional learning, standards, and competencies.|Comments Off

Volunteer event opportunity: Stamp Out Hunger

Stamp Out Hunger on Saturday, May 14th Volunteer Event Opportunity The National Association of Letter Carrier’s Stamp-Out-Hunger food drive will occur on Saturday, May 14th in Tucson. These NALC food drives take place all over the United States and are the country’s largest single-day food drive. Want to volunteer? The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona is recruiting nearly 400 volunteers at 12 different stations and needs your help! We [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|April 29th, 2022|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact, Insights|Comments Off

Volunteer Appreciation Ideas

Volunteer Appreciation Ideas How To: Appreciate Your Volunteers It’s National Volunteer Appreciation Week, and in honor of the occasion, we have volunteer appreciation ideas and tips to share showing your volunteers they matter -- this week, and always. While showing appreciation for volunteers is a nice thing to do, it also benefits the recipient and the organization. Intentionally building recognition into your organization’s culture motivates volunteers and can help you [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|April 18th, 2022|Categories: Connect- facilitate access, relationships, and participation in the ecosystem|Comments Off

Resources from the Pima County Library

Typically, when we think of the library, we think of books. But the library offers a wealth of in-person and online resources that are always free to use, from events to learning tools to help with pretty much anything. While these include fun pastimes like streaming services, the seed library, and one-on-one writing consultations with Writer In Residence Wynne Brown, the library also offers a variety of professional resources. Resources [...]

By SAVMA Leaders|March 15th, 2022|Categories: Insights|Tags: resume, unemployed volunteering|Comments Off

SAVMA Awards and Volunteer Fair 2022 and 2023

SAVMA Awards and Volunteer Fair 2022 and 2023 In November 2021, the SAVMA Board of Directors discussed the SAVMA Awards and Volunteer Fair 2022 and 2023 plans. Due to COVID-19, we reimagined the 2020 SAVMA Fair and cancelled the SAVMA Awards in 2021. In late 2021, with the rise of COVID-19 cases and the spread of the Omicron variant, we cancelled the SAVMA Awards 2022. However, it was agreed that [...]

By Jessica Dennes|December 15th, 2021|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Tips for Navigating Holiday Volunteers

Tips for Navigating Holiday Volunteers Holidays encompass many things, including a time of service and giving. Many people want to give back to their community through volunteer service and as volunteer managers, we should support these volunteers just the same as we support our existing volunteers. Here are some tips for navigating holiday volunteers so they feel welcome in your organization. 5 Tips for Navigating One-Time Holiday Volunteers Prepare the [...]

By Sierra Horsey|December 15th, 2021|Categories: Align- Professional learning, standards, and competencies., Member Voices|Tags: holiday volunteers, SAVMA, single day volunteers, volunteer management|Comments Off

Ways to Show Appreciation to Your Volunteer Manager

In honor of International Volunteer Managers Day, we celebrate the achievements of the leaders of volunteers. These are the individuals recruit, train, and engage volunteers throughout the year. They also troubleshoot countless issues that arise, plan stellar events, and implement ways to show appreciation for the service of committed individuals. Volunteer Managers are essential to every organization that utilizes volunteers and NOVEMBER 5TH is a day to recognize that. [...]

By Sierra Horsey|October 31st, 2021|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Tags: positive work culture, SAVMA, thank a volunteer manager, volunteer management, volunteer manager appreciation|Comments Off

Join SAVMA’s Host Site for the AL!VE Hybrid Conference

Join SAVMA on October 19th for the Volunteer Management Hybrid Conference! We will be meeting together via Zoom and join break out sessions with others registered through out host site. Why join with SAVMA? Members and non-members alike get a deep discount to attend this conference but joining our host site means that you'll have conversations with others who are learning how Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion matter at the regional [...]

By Jessica Dennes|October 7th, 2021|Categories: Align- Professional learning, standards, and competencies., Connect- facilitate access, relationships, and participation in the ecosystem, Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

SOUTHERN ARIZONA VOLUNTEER RECRUITMENT AND CELEBRATION FAIR

The Southern Arizona Volunteer Management Association invites you to a volunteer fair at the Reid Park Zoo on Thursday, September 16th from 4:30-7pm. Who can Attend? All members of the public are invited to attend the 2021 annual SAVMA Volunteer & Recognition Fair. Additionally, current volunteers are welcome to attend as a “thank you” from the Southern Arizona nonprofit community. Attendees have the opportunity to explore the zoo during this [...]

By Sierra Horsey|August 31st, 2021|Categories: Align- Professional learning, standards, and competencies., Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Tags: Networking, Professional Development, SAVMA, volunteer appreciation|Comments Off

Reframing Networking: Creating Intentional Relationships

Some people hear the word "networking" and cringe. Thoughts of meeting random people and forcing a connection can make anyone feel uncomfortable, but it doesn't have to be so nerve-wracking. Networking is more about asking for guidance and direction, and using these tips below, you can reshape your definition of networking and how to use it as a tool. What is networking? Every interaction is a networking opportunity when you [...]

By Sierra Horsey|August 16th, 2021|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Tags: ALIVE, Networking, Professional Development, SAMVA|Comments Off

5 Tips to Create a Better Resume

When was the last time you updated your resume? If you’re like me, you update your resume when looking for a new job. However, the optimal time is right now! Keeping your resume current at all times takes away the stress of updating your resume during crucial times. 5 tips to create a better resume Keep a master list - Expecting to remember every job and every aspect of that [...]

By Sierra Horsey|June 17th, 2021|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Tags: positive work culture, Professional Development, resume, SAVMA|Comments Off

Stay Cool and Stay Safe

Gone are the perfect Tucson days of cool breezes and open windows. Summer is fast approaching; it’s time to start thinking about how to beat the heat. Remaining COVID safe during 100+ degree days will add extra challenges, so here are 5 way to stay cool while staying safe: 5 Ways to Beat the Heat Designate break areas - Taking a break is a necessity. Designate indoor and outdoor break [...]

By Sierra Horsey|May 12th, 2021|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Tags: SAVMA|Comments Off

Happy Volunteer Appreciation Week

Where would we be without volunteers? If your organization is like the Reid Park Zoo, you would not be able to function as efficiently, nor effectively without volunteers. They keep us organized in the office, do community outreach, and educate guests. They donate time and resources, and ensure the organization is achieving its mission. Volunteers are truly the backbone of many organizations and worth more than the national average of [...]

By Sierra Horsey|April 23rd, 2021|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Tags: SAVMA, volunteer appreciation|Comments Off

Tips for Meaningful Volunteer Appreciation

On Thursday, February 18, 2021, volunteer managers gathered together for a roundtable discussion on volunteer appreciation. As we approach volunteer appreciation week, here are the top tips on creating a meaningful thank you experience for your volunteers. Trinket/giveaway Ideas It’s very easy to rely on trinkets or small gifts as tokens of appreciation. Get creative and look offering for experiences by partnering with local organizations. [...]

By Sierra Horsey|March 12th, 2021|Categories: Align- Professional learning, standards, and competencies., Member Voices|Tags: volunteer appreciation|Comments Off

Random Acts of Kindness Week

The following post is written by Sierra Horsey, a SAVMA Member and new member of the SAVMA Communications Committee. Sierra is the Volunteer Program Coordinator at Reid Park Zoo. _____ Random Act of Kindness Week It’s no secret that 2020 was a year filled with unprecedented events and challenges. These challenges caused feelings of fear, anxiety, stress, and loneliness. As a volunteer manager, it’s easy to feel a sense of hopelessness [...]

By Jessica Dennes|February 16th, 2021|Categories: Insights|Comments Off

Ask a Volunteer Manager: Alexander Swain

Q&A with Alexander Alexander Swain is the Volunteer Services Coordinator at the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona. Originally from a town near Ann Arbor, Michigan, Alexander studied Biology at Hope College in Holland, MI. After graduating, he attended the University of PIttsburgh to get a Masters degree in Neuroscience. Alexander has also recently been elected to the SAVMA Board of Directors for 2021. Alexander Swain [...]

By Jessica Dennes|February 6th, 2021|Categories: Member Voices|Comments Off

Ask Volunteer Manager: Genie Patterson

Get to Know Genie Patterson Genie Patterson, Volunteer Manager works at Heartland Hospice. Born in Tucson, Arizona, she graduated from the University of Arizona with BA in Anthropology and Museum Studies while working in the family business. Her family was in the restaurant business for 62 years in Tucson. SAVMA'S Ask a Volunteer Manager Series To be featured in this series, email [...]

By Jessica Dennes|January 4th, 2021|Categories: Member Voices|Comments Off

Proposed SAVMA Bylaw Changes | 2020 Annual Meeting

By-Law Amendments to Be Presented to Members at the Annual Meeting After months of thoughtful discussion and review, the SAVMA Board of Directors is ready to introduce several key amendments to the association’s by-laws. These updates aim to strengthen leadership sustainability, increase transparency, expand access to leadership roles, and improve overall efficiency. They also ensure our by-laws stay aligned with Arizona state law. At the upcoming Annual Meeting, the [...]

By Tucson Foundations|December 8th, 2020|Categories: Announcements & News|Tags: annual meeting, bylaws|Comments Off

Ask a Volunteer Manager: Jessica O’Donnell

Q&A with Jessica Jessica O'Donnell is the Volunteer Coordinator at Lutheran Social Services of the Southwest. She was born and raised in a small town outside of Yuma Arizona called Wellton and graduated from NAU with a dual degree in Public Relations and Photography. Jessica O'Donnell Ask a Volunteer Manager Series To be featured in this series, email SavmaTucson@gmail.com with [...]

By Jessica Dennes|December 2nd, 2020|Categories: Member Voices|Comments Off

2021 Proposed Board of Directors Slate

The SAVMA Board of Directors is pleased to present your 2021 Leadership Team. Please be sure to register to attend the December 10th Annual Meeting and Mixer to vote on the following slate of officers and directors. Officers: President: Gina Hansen to remain unchanged President-Elect: Alexei Marquez to fill a vacancy Secretary: Heidi Urbina, to replace Jennifer Lohse Treasurer: Victoria Carlson, to replace Alexei Marquez Members at Large: Ken Briggs [...]

By Tucson Foundations|December 2nd, 2020|Categories: Align- Professional learning, standards, and competencies.|Comments Off

Future of Volunteering with Sarah Sladek: 11/19 Program

Future of Volunteering with Sarah Sladek November Program We hope you join us online this Thursday November 19, 2020 from 3:30 – 5:00pm MST for: The Future of Volunteering with Sarah Sladek: What Organizations Need to do NOW to Prepare. Volunteering did not die in this pandemic, but the era when volunteer organizations could just count on volunteers joining and serving in pre-pandemic roles has passed. Volunteer organizations need to [...]

By Tucson Foundations|November 16th, 2020|Categories: Align- Professional learning, standards, and competencies.|Comments Off

Fall 2020 Virtual Volunteer Fair

The Southern Arizona Virtual Volunteer Fair SAVMA partnered with United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona and the Green Valley/Sahuarita Volunteer Clearinghouse to bring you the Southern Arizona Virtual Volunteer Fair! Eleven organizations had the chance to create short videos that showed the various volunteer opportunities that are safely available. To learn more, watch the video and visit: https://www.unitedwaytucson.org/virtual_volunteer_fair

By Jessica Dennes|November 6th, 2020|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Ask a Volunteer Manager: Graciela Jauregui

Q&A with Graciela Graciela Jauregui is the Volunteer Program Coordinator at Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse. She has been in the field for nearly two years. Originally from Yuma, Arizona, Graciela moved to Tucson to attend the University of Arizona between 2008 and 2017 and earned four different degrees. Graciela Jauregui, Volunteer Program Coordinator at Emerge Center Against Domestic Abuse Graciela's dog is named [...]

By Jessica Dennes|October 16th, 2020|Categories: Member Voices|Comments Off

Volunteer Background Check? A Question from the field

Volunteer background checks Question from the field: a company referral SAVMA Member TIHAN, would like to know, "what volunteer background check company does your organization use and would you recommend them?" SAVMA members may respond in the comments below. Do you have a question from the field? SAVMA members are encouraged to send their questions forward for member feedback and brainstorming. Even if you do not receive an answer publicly on [...]

By Jessica Dennes|October 7th, 2020|Categories: Insights, Member Voices|Comments Off

Board service…the next level of commitment to volunteerism!

Open Nominations Are Underway! Every person is right for leadership, every voice deserves to be heard and SAVMA Board of Directors is that Leadership Table. In less than 10 hours a month you can play a critical role in your own professional development and those of your peers. You can lead the way. Many hands make light work and with SAVMA in growth mode we need all hands on deck [...]

By Tucson Foundations|October 5th, 2020|Categories: Align- Professional learning, standards, and competencies.|Comments Off

Ask a Volunteer Manager – Stacy Oliver

Ask a Volunteer Manager: September Spotlight Stacy Oliver is the Volunteer Services Manager for the Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona. Describe a memorable moment with volunteers. When the pandemic started in March, we didn’t have volunteers with us for several months because the National Guard stepped in, and we wanted to make sure volunteers were safe until we could put some more precautions in [...]

By Jessica Dennes|September 22nd, 2020|Categories: Align- Professional learning, standards, and competencies.|Comments Off

Resilience: a Vital Tool for LoVs

Resilience: a Vital Tool for LoVs Nicole R. Smith, CVA, knows resilience is a vital tool for LoVs. What is it exactly? Why is it so important? How do you build it? In this candid talk we will examine how to navigate the hurdles that you may encounter during your volunteer manager (leader of volunteers) journey to build the resilience needed for both you and your volunteer program grow and [...]

By Tucson Foundations|September 7th, 2020|Categories: Align- Professional learning, standards, and competencies., Connect- facilitate access, relationships, and participation in the ecosystem|Tags: goals, Professional Development, tools|Comments Off

Nationally Renowned CVA, Gretchen Jordan to present a Members Only SAVMA Event 9/3!

Be Your Own Best Advocate: Top Ten Ways You Can Advocate for yourself, volunteers and programs Although we know how important our role, volunteers and an engaging program are, we will always need to advocate why that is important to staff, the community, and prospective volunteers. Often the volunteer department is 'taken for granted' or mistakenly assumed from that person's last volunteer experience. Can simple and everyday advocacy elevate the [...]

By Tucson Foundations|August 27th, 2020|Categories: Align- Professional learning, standards, and competencies., Connect- facilitate access, relationships, and participation in the ecosystem|Comments Off

Join the AL!VE Emerging Leaders Mentor Program- Applications Dues 9/4

Peer Mentors are the Answer! SAVMA Members have an Association Membership with AL!VE! So, if you are a member of SAVMA, you are also a member of AL!VE! and that includes the benefits of the: Emerging Leaders Mentor Program The Emerging Leaders Mentor Program is first designed to provide a platform for members to connect, and second designed to share best practices while positioning members as leaders in the field [...]

By Tucson Foundations|August 27th, 2020|Categories: Align- Professional learning, standards, and competencies., Connect- facilitate access, relationships, and participation in the ecosystem, Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Still time to register for August 20th Program on the #BlaxFridayProject

Join us Thursday, August 20th from 3:30-5PM for our next SAVMA Program! Register Now. Meet the entrepreneur who built an accessible list of locally Black Owned Businesses for the Tucson community. Find out how and why Ashley La Russa with a team of Black Business Owners and Creatives developed the #BlaxFriday Project with a website, app, and virtual event to spotlight Black Businesses. It’s a success story you won’t want to miss at this pivotal [...]

By Tucson Foundations|August 18th, 2020|Categories: Align- Professional learning, standards, and competencies.|Comments Off

Ask a Volunteer Manager: Sierra Horsey

Q&A with Sierra Sierra Horsey is the Volunteer Program Coordinator at Reid Park Zoo. She helps manage the Zoo Crew, a group of teen volunteers who educate the public on resident animals and more! The Zoo Crew was named the Youth Volunteer Program of the Year for 2020 by SAVMA. Reid Park's Zoo Crew The Zoo Crew accepts their Youth Volunteer Program of the [...]

By Jessica Dennes|August 15th, 2020|Categories: Align- Professional learning, standards, and competencies.|Comments Off

Recap on Brainstorm Chat for Virtual Volunteering

We appreciated our community of Volunteer Managers participating in a special Brainstorm Chat around virtual volunteering on August 5th. Fellow Volunteer Managers had a few great ideas to share with you about how to safely continue your work with volunteers. See the recap below! Many organizations have paid staff working and meeting remotely right now. Organizations have also expressed a need to create virtual volunteer opportunities, as in-person possibilities shift. [...]

By Jessica Dennes|August 13th, 2020|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Exciting Changes for SAVMA in 2020!

Like many organizations, the board members of the Southern Arizona Volunteer Management Association began asking big questions about how to move forward once COVID-19 changed the nature of our work. Here is a look at a few changes that we have made that will be in effect through the end of the year. Virtual Programming to Continue We work hard to ensure that we provide our members with quality professional [...]

By Jessica Dennes|July 2nd, 2020|Categories: Announcements & News|Comments Off

#BlackOutTuesday & #TheShowMustBePaused (June 2, 2020)

#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 [...]

By Tucson Foundations|June 2nd, 2020|Categories: Align- Professional learning, standards, and competencies.|Comments Off

Racial Equity Tools Because Black Lives Matter!

As the protests continue this first week in June 2020 across our country following the horrifying murder of George Floyd at the hands of law enforcement officials, SAVMA members are furiously supporting their volunteers and their workplaces in a variety of ways. Here are a few of the noted tools and resources that members of the volunteer management community have brought forward to help Volunteer Managers understand the environment in [...]

By Tucson Foundations|June 2nd, 2020|Categories: Insights|Comments Off

Community Service Recognition: Cindy Robertson

Community Service Recognition: Cindy Robertson In January, SAVMA celebrated volunteerism at the 2020 SAVMA Awards, a volunteer recognition event for all of Southern Arizona. Organizations were invited to nominate individuals for a Community Service Recognition in honor of their exceptional giving and spirit of service. Throughout the month of April, we will be highlighting these individuals and their nomination as part of VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION MONTH! [...]

By Jessica Dennes|May 29th, 2020|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Community Service Recognition: Howard Stewart

Community Service Recognition: Howard Stewart In January, SAVMA celebrated volunteerism at the 2020 SAVMA Awards, a volunteer recognition event for all of Southern Arizona. Organizations were invited to nominate individuals for a Community Service Recognition in honor of their exceptional giving and spirit of service. Throughout the month of April, we will be highlighting these individuals and their nomination as part of VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION MONTH! [...]

By Jessica Dennes|May 29th, 2020|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Community Service Recognition: Michael Kloth

Community Service Recognition: Michael Kloth In January, SAVMA celebrated volunteerism at the 2020 SAVMA Awards, a volunteer recognition event for all of Southern Arizona. Organizations were invited to nominate individuals for a Community Service Recognition in honor of their exceptional giving and spirit of service. Throughout the month of April, we will be highlighting these individuals and their nomination as part of VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION MONTH! [...]

By Jessica Dennes|May 29th, 2020|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Community Service Recognition: Nichole Burke

Community Service Recognition: Nichole Burke In January, SAVMA celebrated volunteerism at the 2020 SAVMA Awards, a volunteer recognition event for all of Southern Arizona. Organizations were invited to nominate individuals for a Community Service Recognition in honor of their exceptional giving and spirit of service. Throughout the month of April, we will be highlighting these individuals and their nomination as part of VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION MONTH! [...]

By Jessica Dennes|May 27th, 2020|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Community Service Recognition: Judy Dare

Community Service Recognition: Judy Dare In January, SAVMA celebrated volunteerism at the 2020 SAVMA Awards, a volunteer recognition event for all of Southern Arizona. Organizations were invited to nominate individuals for a Community Service Recognition in honor of their exceptional giving and spirit of service. Throughout the month of April, we will be highlighting these individuals and their nomination as part of VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION MONTH! [...]

By Jessica Dennes|May 23rd, 2020|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Community Service Recognition: Jack McDuff

Community Service Recognition: Jack McDuff In January, SAVMA celebrated volunteerism at the 2020 SAVMA Awards, a volunteer recognition event for all of Southern Arizona. Organizations were invited to nominate individuals for a Community Service Recognition in honor of their exceptional giving and spirit of service. Throughout the month of April, we will be highlighting these individuals and their nomination as part of VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION MONTH! [...]

By Jessica Dennes|May 21st, 2020|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Community Service Recognition: Dana Smith

Community Service Recognition: Dana Smith In January, SAVMA celebrated volunteerism at the 2020 SAVMA Awards, a volunteer recognition event for all of Southern Arizona. Organizations were invited to nominate individuals for a Community Service Recognition in honor of their exceptional giving and spirit of service. Throughout the month of April, we will be highlighting these individuals and their nomination as part of VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION MONTH! [...]

By Jessica Dennes|May 18th, 2020|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Community Service Recognition: Anthony Barrasso

Community Service Recognition: Anthony Barrasso In January, SAVMA celebrated volunteerism at the 2020 SAVMA Awards, a volunteer recognition event for all of Southern Arizona. Organizations were invited to nominate individuals for a Community Service Recognition in honor of their exceptional giving and spirit of service. Throughout the month of April, we will be highlighting these individuals and their nomination as part of VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION MONTH! [...]

By Jessica Dennes|May 13th, 2020|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Community Service Recognition: Shari Murphy

Community Service Recognition: Shari Murphy In January, SAVMA celebrated volunteerism at the 2020 SAVMA Awards, a volunteer recognition event for all of Southern Arizona. Organizations were invited to nominate individuals for a Community Service Recognition in honor of their exceptional giving and spirit of service. Throughout the month of April, we will be highlighting these individuals and their nomination as part of VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION MONTH! [...]

By Jessica Dennes|May 13th, 2020|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

SAVMA Volunteer Awards 2020

SAVMA Awards 2020 Congratulations, Honorees! The SAVMA Awards 2020 Volunteer Recognition event had nearly 400 people in attendance. We celebrated the Big 6 Honorees. Their videos and social media posts are includes for sharing in the celebration. SAVMA Awards 2020 Relive the Day Pop over to our Facebook photo album to see the photos from the day. Credit to Michael [...]

By Tracy Sullivan|May 13th, 2020|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Community Service Recognition: Maureen McCarthy

Community Service Recognition: Maureen McCarthy In January, SAVMA celebrated volunteerism at the 2020 SAVMA Awards, a volunteer recognition event for all of Southern Arizona. Organizations were invited to nominate individuals for a Community Service Recognition in honor of their exceptional giving and spirit of service. Throughout the month of April, we will be highlighting these individuals and their nomination as part of VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION MONTH! [...]

By Jessica Dennes|May 12th, 2020|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Join Us May 21st for Presenter: Chris Elsner of Globally Good!

Join Us for a Zoom Program (3:30-5PM) on May 21st for: It doesn't have to be a pain: identifying ways to work more effectively with volunteers Description: What is the most challenging aspect of working with volunteers? What are the parts of your job which are most exhausting? What do you wish you could spend more time on? How do you effectively communicate the impact of your volunteers? In this [...]

By Tucson Foundations|May 5th, 2020|Categories: Align- Professional learning, standards, and competencies.|Comments Off

Community Service Recognition: Michelle Carnes

Community Service Recognition: Michelle Carnes In January, SAVMA celebrated volunteerism at the 2020 SAVMA Awards, a volunteer recognition event for all of Southern Arizona. Organizations were invited to nominate individuals for a Community Service Recognition in honor of their exceptional giving and spirit of service. Throughout the month of April, we will be highlighting these individuals and their nomination as part of VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION MONTH! [...]

By Jessica Dennes|May 4th, 2020|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Community Service Recognition: Lois Weimuth

Community Service Recognition: Lois Weimuth In January, SAVMA celebrated volunteerism at the 2020 SAVMA Awards, a volunteer recognition event for all of Southern Arizona. Organizations were invited to nominate individuals for a Community Service Recognition in honor of their exceptional giving and spirit of service. Throughout the month of April, we will be highlighting these individuals and their nomination as part of VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION MONTH! [...]

By Jessica Dennes|May 4th, 2020|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Community Service Recognition: Josh Plicht

Community Service Recognition: Josh Plicht In January, SAVMA celebrated volunteerism at the 2020 SAVMA Awards, a volunteer recognition event for all of Southern Arizona. Organizations were invited to nominate individuals for a Community Service Recognition in honor of their exceptional giving and spirit of service. Throughout the month of April, we will be highlighting these individuals and their nomination as part of VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION MONTH! [...]

By Jessica Dennes|May 4th, 2020|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

2020 Census Digital Action Weekend: May 1-3 SAVMA Shout Out!

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 [...]

By Tucson Foundations|April 30th, 2020|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Community Service Recognition: Jon and Rosemary Beck

Community Service Recognition: Jon and Rosemary Beck In January, SAVMA celebrated volunteerism at the 2020 SAVMA Awards, a volunteer recognition event for all of Southern Arizona. Organizations were invited to nominate individuals for a Community Service Recognition in honor of their exceptional giving and spirit of service. Throughout the month of April, we will be highlighting these individuals and their nomination as part of VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION MONTH! [...]

By Jessica Dennes|April 29th, 2020|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Community Service Recognition: Chris & Jeff Goldberg

Community Service Recognition: Chris & Jeff Goldberg In January, SAVMA celebrated volunteerism at the 2020 SAVMA Awards, a volunteer recognition event for all of Southern Arizona. Organizations were invited to nominate individuals for a Community Service Recognition in honor of their exceptional giving and spirit of service. Throughout the month of April, we will be highlighting these individuals and their nomination as part of VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION MONTH! [...]

By Jessica Dennes|April 29th, 2020|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

COVID-19 Resources for Volunteer Administrators

COVID-19 Resources for Volunteer Administrators In response to COVID-19, SAVMA compiled resources for volunteer administrators and conducted a survey of its members to assess needs. We received a representative number of responses, compiled into a report you can read by clicking the button below. SAVMA's COVID-19 Survey Response Report Click here to view the Report To support your needs SAVMA Will… Continue to provide links and information about community resources [...]

By Jessica Dennes|April 25th, 2020|Categories: Insights|Comments Off

Community Service Recognition: Edward (Jim) Nicewander

Community Service Recognition: Edward (Jim) Nicewander In January, SAVMA celebrated volunteerism at the 2020 SAVMA Awards, a volunteer recognition event for all of Southern Arizona. Organizations were invited to nominate individuals for a Community Service Recognition in honor of their exceptional giving and spirit of service. Throughout the month of April, we will be highlighting these individuals and their nomination as part of VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION MONTH! [...]

By Jessica Dennes|April 23rd, 2020|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Community Service Recognition: Linda Koral

Community Service Recognition: Linda Koral In January, SAVMA celebrated volunteerism at the 2020 SAVMA Awards, a volunteer recognition event for all of Southern Arizona. Organizations were invited to nominate individuals for a Community Service Recognition in honor of their exceptional giving and spirit of service. Throughout the month of April, we will be highlighting these individuals and their nomination as part of VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION MONTH! [...]

By Jessica Dennes|April 23rd, 2020|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Community Service Recognition: Kuykendall & Associates

Community Service Recognition: Kuykendall & Associates In January, SAVMA celebrated volunteerism at the 2020 SAVMA Awards, a volunteer recognition event for all of Southern Arizona. Organizations were invited to nominate individuals for a Community Service Recognition in honor of their exceptional giving and spirit of service. Throughout the month of April, we will be highlighting these individuals and their nomination as part of VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION MONTH! [...]

By Jessica Dennes|April 20th, 2020|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Community Service Recognition: Sarah Hosea

Community Service Recognition: Sarah Hosea In January, SAVMA celebrated volunteerism at the 2020 SAVMA Awards, a volunteer recognition event for all of Southern Arizona. Organizations were invited to nominate individuals for a Community Service Recognition in honor of their exceptional giving and spirit of service. Throughout the month of April, we will be highlighting these individuals and their nomination as part of VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION MONTH! [...]

By Jessica Dennes|April 17th, 2020|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Community Service Recognition: Elizabeth Warren

Community Service Recognition: Elizabeth Warren In January, SAVMA celebrated volunteerism at the 2020 SAVMA Awards, a volunteer recognition event for all of Southern Arizona. Organizations were invited to nominate individuals for a Community Service Recognition in honor of their exceptional giving and spirit of service. Throughout the month of April, we will be highlighting these individuals and their nomination as part of VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION MONTH! [...]

By Jessica Dennes|April 15th, 2020|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Community Service Recognition: Michael Duran

Community Service Recognition: Michael Duran In January, SAVMA celebrated volunteerism at the 2020 SAVMA Awards, a volunteer recognition event for all of Southern Arizona. Organizations were invited to nominate individuals for a Community Service Recognition in honor of their exceptional giving and spirit of service. Throughout the month of April, we will be highlighting these individuals and their nomination as part of VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION MONTH! [...]

By Jessica Dennes|April 13th, 2020|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Community Service Recognition: Kristin Wook

Community Service Recognition: Kristin Wook In January, SAVMA celebrated volunteerism at the 2020 SAVMA Awards, a volunteer recognition event for all of Southern Arizona. Organizations were invited to nominate individuals for a Community Service Recognition in honor of their exceptional giving and spirit of service. Throughout the month of April, we will be highlighting these individuals and their nomination as part of VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION MONTH! [...]

By Jessica Dennes|April 11th, 2020|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Community Service Recognition: Erik Reed (TEP)

Community Service Recognition: Erik Reed In January, SAVMA celebrated volunteerism at the 2020 SAVMA Awards, a volunteer recognition event for all of Southern Arizona. Organizations were invited to nominate individuals for a Community Service Recognition in honor of their exceptional giving and spirit of service. Throughout the month of April, we will be highlighting these individuals and their nomination as part of VOLUNTEER APPRECIATION MONTH! [...]

By Jessica Dennes|April 8th, 2020|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

How are we responding locally to COVID-19 and what are our needs?

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 [...]

By Tucson Foundations|March 23rd, 2020|Categories: Announcements & News|Comments Off

Resources for COVID-19 Response

Note: March 19th Meeting has been cancelled and the April Volunteer Fair has been postponed date TBD. The following information was sent out via email to SAVMA Members. Preparing Your Volunteer Program for COVID-19 From the Southern Arizona Volunteer Management Association While there are still many unknowns about COVID-19 and how it will affect our communities in Southern Arizona it is certain it already has. It is important to note [...]

By Jessica Dennes|March 17th, 2020|Categories: Align- Professional learning, standards, and competencies., Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Sociology Interns and Internship Best Practices Program Announcement

Announcement: The University of Arizona is hosting an event called "Internship Best Practices" on March 17th for organizations interested in learning more about building their internship programs for university students. Visit the following website to register: https://www.mpace.org/events/EventDetails.aspx?id=1337112&group= ****** As Volunteer Managers, you likely understand the needs of your organization and how involving university students in your organization’s mission could make a positive impact. This semester, I joined the University of [...]

By Jessica Dennes|March 4th, 2020|Categories: Announcements & News|Comments Off

February Program Cancelled- We still have much to share

We are sorry to say that due to unforeseen circumstances we are not holding our February program today on Golden, but will reschedule for a future date. We had so much good news to share, so we are sharing it here: Announcements for February 20, 2020 There is training news, and leadership news, new CCVA exam dates, upcoming events, more program announcement and you really going to want to see [...]

By Tucson Foundations|February 20th, 2020|Categories: Align- Professional learning, standards, and competencies.|Comments Off

SAVMA Awards 2020- the photos are here!

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.

By Tucson Foundations|February 18th, 2020|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

TMC Healthcare leaders in volunteerism and community building

With the 2020 SAVMA Awards behind us we cannot stop talking about the inspirational stories of our volunteer honorees. Julia Strange, TMC Healthcare's Vice President of Community Benefit welcomed guests as our presenting sponsor. She noted how many of the organizations which have partnered with TMC were present in the room, speaking to the depth of the volunteer leadership in our community. She thanked the wonderful volunteers and their volunteer [...]

By Tucson Foundations|February 18th, 2020|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

February Program (2/20): Get to Know Golden: A Better Volunteer Matching Platform for Tucson

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 [...]

By Tucson Foundations|February 13th, 2020|Categories: Align- Professional learning, standards, and competencies.|Comments Off

SAVMA Awards Sponsor Hughes Federal Credit Union will see you on 1/16!

Hughes Federal Credit Union will be in attendance as a Bronze Sponsor at the SAVMA Awards 2020 on January 16, 2020. Registration opens at 8AM with an 8:30AM program start time. Hughes Federal Credit Union believes in giving back to the community they serve. Every year, Hughes looks to help numerous local organizations that are just as dedicated to improving the overall well-being of their community as they are with [...]

By Tucson Foundations|January 10th, 2020|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Raise the Bar Consulting not just a repeat sponsor!

Raise the Bar Consulting is not only a SAVMA Awards 2020 Bronze Sponsor but a SAVMA member and its principal, Jennifer Tersigni is annual program presenter as well. Raise the Bar Consulting, specializes in comprehensive fundraising, organizational development and interim executive solutions. The proud holder of an unanticipated 20-year fundraising career, Jennifer has helped 80 clients reach their goals, served as an interim executive eight times, and raised more than [...]

By Tucson Foundations|January 9th, 2020|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Reid Park Zoological Society a member, sponsor and a winner all around!

We are excited to thank and celebrate the Reid Park Zoological Society as an event sponsor, a SAVMA member and as our event venue for the SAVMA Fair 2020 for volunteer recruitment and recognition. In addition at the event itself on January 16, 2020 at the SAVMA Awards the Zoo Crew will be receiving the Youth award. We are looking forward to celebrating these amazing youth and the way they [...]

By Tucson Foundations|January 9th, 2020|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

The Community Food Bank of Southern Arizona

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 [...]

By Tucson Foundations|January 8th, 2020|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Southern Arizona’s top volunteers to be honored at awards breakfast (Arizona Daily Star)

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 [...]

By Tucson Foundations|January 7th, 2020|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Southern Arizona’s top volunteers to be honored at awards breakfast (reposted from Arizona Daily Star)

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 [...]

By Tucson Foundations|January 7th, 2020|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

AZ Lotus Corp. your media sponsor for SAVMA Awards 2020!

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. [...]

By Tucson Foundations|January 7th, 2020|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Southwest Gas Corporation a winning combination SAVMA Awards 2020 sponsor and award winner!

Congratulations and gratitude are in order for our Corporate Volunteer Award winner, Southwest Gas Corporation. As sponsors for the SAVMA Awards 2020, they are supporting the professional development of volunteer managers throughout Southern Arizona and we are grateful. As award winners we are impressed with their own volunteer contributions. Thank you to Southwest Gas Corporation for sharing your time, talent and treasurer with SAVMA and the community at large! [...]

By Tucson Foundations|January 7th, 2020|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona a Silver Sponsor bringing us a Golden Service

United Way strives to strengthen volunteerism and preserve the core American value of “neighbor helping neighbor.” They join the SAVMA Awards 2020 as a Silver Sponsor. In the fall of 2019, United Way introduced an easy way to find new volunteer opportunities with their new mobile app and online platform Golden! Golden makes it easy to find and sign up for volunteer opportunities in our community with just a few [...]

By Tucson Foundations|January 6th, 2020|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

SAVMA Awards 2020 Arizona Complete Health a noted sponsor!

Improving the health of the community one person at a time is the mission of Arizona Complete Health (AzCH). has developed a Community Reinvestment Program. Did you know that volunteerism improves the health and well-being of our communities? AzCH did, and that is why they are Gold Sponsors for the SAVMA Awards 2020! Thank you to Arizona Complete Health for your commitment to volunteerism and those who support them! In [...]

By Tucson Foundations|January 5th, 2020|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Community Foundation for Southern Arizona sparkles as a Gold Sponsor!

The Community Foundation for Southern Arizona creates a stronger community by connecting donors to causes they care about. The impact of the Community Foundation is a collective one, with funds being held by individuals, families, and businesses with unique interests, ideas, and passions to make our region a better place. Like Southern Arizona itself, their funds and leadership are diverse, with their collective work touching every aspect of daily life, including [...]

By Tucson Foundations|January 4th, 2020|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Gold sponsor Tucson Electric Power has a culture of volunteerism

Volunteer service forms the heart of our corporate culture. TEP’s 1,500 employees play a direct role in strengthening their communities by donating thousands of volunteer hours to local charities each year. TEP’s Community Action Team (CAT) volunteers lead nearly 90 community events, drives or causes each year. Since their CAT program began in 1993, TEP volunteers have contributed more than 750,000 volunteer hours to charitable causes. At least one-third of [...]

By Tucson Foundations|January 4th, 2020|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

SAVMA Awards 2020 Keynote Sponsor Tucson Foundations brings Dana Litwin to Tucson 1/16!

Tucson Foundations is proud to provide underwriting support to bring to Tucson an expert in the profession of volunteerism, the former President of the Association of Leaders in Volunteer Engagement (AL!VE). Dana Litwin is a transformational coach, strategic advisor, and public speaker with a background in team building, environmental conservation and sustainability. Since 2002, Dana has guided organizations in the Bay Area, Silicon Valley, and nationwide to produce breakthrough volunteer [...]

By Tucson Foundations|January 4th, 2020|Categories: Align- Professional learning, standards, and competencies., Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

SAVMA event recognizes outstanding volunteers (Inside Tucson Business)

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 [...]

By Tucson Foundations|December 20th, 2019|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

TMC Healthcare SAVMA Awards 2020 Presenting Sponsor will see you there

SAVMA Awards 2020 Presenting Sponsor TMC Healthcare will be up front and center on January 16, 2020 at the Tucson Convention Center celebrating our 2020 Awardees! Program Volunteer of the Year – Steve Johnson (Court Appointed Special Advocates) Corporate Volunteerism Award – Southwest Gas Corporation Nonprofit Volunteer Program of the Year – Interfaith Community Services Youth Volunteer Group of the Year - Zoo Crew (Reid Park Zoo) Board Member of [...]

By Tucson Foundations|December 18th, 2019|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Press Release: Interfaith Community Services wins top volunteer awards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jessica Dennes, SAVMATucson@gmail.com For more information: icstucson.org, savma.org Interfaith Community Services wins top volunteer awards Tucson, Nov. 4— Interfaith Community Services is Southern Arizona’s Nonprofit Volunteer Program of the Year and one of its board members also earned top honors from the Southern Arizona Volunteer Management Association. ICS — which aims to help people in need achieve stable, healthy and independent lives — and longtime [...]

By Jessica Dennes|December 10th, 2019|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

NCAVA is Offering a $70: Basics in Volunteer Management course online!

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. [...]

By Tucson Foundations|December 7th, 2019|Categories: Align- Professional learning, standards, and competencies.|Comments Off

Press Release: Court Appointed Special Advocate Volunteer wins top volunteer awards

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jessica Dennes, savmatucson@gmail.com For more information: pimacountycasa.org, savma.org Court Appointed Special Advocate Volunteer wins top volunteer award Tucson, Oct. 24— Court Appointed Special Advocate (CASA) Volunteer, Steve Johnson, is being awarded the Southern Arizona Volunteer of the Year from the Southern Arizona Volunteer Management Association. Steve Johnson, a CASA Volunteer and Peer Coordinator with the CASA of Pima County Program will be honored Jan. 16, 2020 [...]

By Jessica Dennes|December 3rd, 2019|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Press Release: Southwest Gas wins volunteer award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jessica Dennes, savmatucson@gmail.com For more information: swgas.com, savma.org Southwest Gas wins volunteer award Tucson, Oct. 21 — Southern Arizona Volunteer Management Association awarded Southwest Gas Corporation with its Corporate Volunteerism Award. The company’s community outreach efforts will be honored Jan. 16 at the Southern Arizona Volunteer Management Association Awards, which recognize all levels of volunteerism including individuals, nonprofits and corporations. “We are so excited to have been nominated [...]

By Jessica Dennes|November 25th, 2019|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Press Release: Reid Park Zoo’s ‘crew’ wins volunteer honor

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jessica Dennes, savmatucson@gmail.com For more information: reidparkzoo.org, savma.org Reid Park Zoo’s ‘crew’ wins volunteer honor Tucson, Nov. 4 — Southern Arizona Volunteer Management Association named Reid Park Zoo’s teen volunteer program its top Youth Volunteer Group of the Year. Known as the Zoo Crew, the teens work on zoo grounds and handle different duties, but their primary purpose is to help guests connect with wildlife and learn about [...]

By Jessica Dennes|November 22nd, 2019|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Press Release: Gina Hansen wins top volunteer administrator award

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Jessica Dennes, savmatucson@gmail.com For more information: Habitattucson.org, savma.org Gina Hansen wins top volunteer administrator award Tucson, Nov. 4— Volunteer Resources Manager, Gina Hansen, is being awarded the Volunteer Administrator of the Year award from the Southern Arizona Volunteer Management Association. Gina Hansen, the Volunteer Resource Manager for Habitat for Humanity Tucson will be honored Jan. 16, 2020 at the Southern Arizona Volunteer Management Association Awards, which [...]

By Jessica Dennes|November 19th, 2019|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Are You Ready to Work That Conversation With Molly McCormick on November 21st?

Join us for our monthly program from 3:30-5PM at Habitat for Humanity on November 21st. Presentation: Work that Conversation! The Chemistry of Conversations "This talk introduces some tools of Conversational Intelligence®. So much of what we do and experience happens through conversations; from internal self-talk to external talk with family, work and friends. In this fun and interactive session, you will learn how to influence your conversations toward connection and [...]

By Tucson Foundations|November 1st, 2019|Categories: Align- Professional learning, standards, and competencies.|Comments Off

Community Service Recognition submission is open now for SAVMA Awards 2020!

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 [...]

By Tucson Foundations|October 22nd, 2019|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

No Meeting Today- October 17th See You 10/22

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 [...]

By Tucson Foundations|October 17th, 2019|Categories: Announcements & News|Comments Off

Time is running out! October 22nd Conference Just a few seats remain!

‘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 [...]

By Tucson Foundations|October 9th, 2019|Categories: Announcements & News|Comments Off

The Future is Now – Tech Trends Transforming 2020 and Beyond

‘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 [...]

By Tucson Foundations|September 25th, 2019|Categories: Align- Professional learning, standards, and competencies.|Comments Off

Announcing the 2020 SAVMA Awards Winners!

Six Award Winners Who Make a Difference in Southern Arizona! Thousands of volunteers weekly share their skills, time and enthusiasm to hundreds of nonprofits, schools, churches and governments across Southern Arizona. Publicly celebrating them and recognizing the work they do to make our communities happier and healthier is a win-win for all. The Southern Arizona Volunteer Management Association, a professional association promoting excellence in the field of volunteer program management, [...]

By Jessica Dennes|September 20th, 2019|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Do You Know Your (Often Hidden) Role in the Revenue Pie? Come Find Our September 19th!

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 [...]

By Tucson Foundations|September 9th, 2019|Categories: Align- Professional learning, standards, and competencies.|Comments Off

Job announcement- Mobile Meals of Southern Arizona

Now seeking a Program & Volunteer Director. It's the perfect position for someone with the right blend of leadership in both areas. Because volunteers are central to the core client services, experience with volunteer recruitment and management really is a must. The job is posted on Indeed and ZipRecruiter. Please spread the word if you know of anyone who would be a great fit. https://www.indeedjobs.com/mobile-meals-of-southern-arizona-4e08c5a/_hl/en?cpref=JXWAtnzf3XWjLOi4YeVNLs_1WAXHb5RL3LCirA1HCiQ

By Tucson Foundations|August 29th, 2019|Categories: Announcements & News|Comments Off

SAVMA Awards 2020 Nominations Now Closed!

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.

By Tucson Foundations|August 17th, 2019|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

August 16th Deadline Approaches for Nominations

The deadline to submit nominations for SAVMA Awards in August 16th at 5pm. Don't miss the opportunity to honor and celebrate those who make Southern Arizona shine! 2020 SAVMA Awards celebrate the impact and inspiration of volunteerism across Southern Arizona. Honorees will be recognized on January 16, 2020 at a celebration held at the Grand Ballroom of the Tucson Convention Center. Nominations for the 6 award categories are open from [...]

By Jessica Dennes|August 15th, 2019|Categories: Empower– Recognition, promotion, and impact|Comments Off

Service Enterprise Initiative Information Session August 8th!

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 [...]

By Tucson Foundations|July 30th, 2019|Categories: Align- Professional learning, standards, and competencies.|Comments Off

Do Not Miss the August 15th Program with Havala Schumacher from Census 2020!

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 [...]

By Tucson Foundations|July 29th, 2019|Categories: Align- Professional learning, standards, and competencies.|Comments Off

Reminder July Meeting is Cancelled

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 [...]

By Tucson Foundations|July 10th, 2019|Categories: Announcements & News|Comments Off