The Story of our Community Volunteer Management Model
During the COVID-19 pandemic, like many organizations around the world, Volunteer Lethbridge faced a turning point. We could no longer run our usual events or programs, and we were hearing a message that had echoed even before the pandemic: We need more volunteers—and we need more capacity.
While many organizations had staff to engage, retain, and onboard volunteers, the reality is that onboarding alone can take anywhere from 3 to 6 hours per volunteer. Newer nonprofits struggled to develop policies while maintaining day-to-day operations in the midst of global uncertainty. It became clear that the need for help was beginning to outpace the help available.
As the nonprofit leadership centre for our region, we knew we had to act—not just with encouragement, but with a system-level solution.
That solution became the Community Volunteer Management Model (CVMM).
Officially launched in July 2021, CVMM was created to simplify and modernize the volunteer recruitment process. By centralizing key onboarding tasks and maintaining a shared volunteer database, we’ve built a model that allows organizations to focus on what matters most: their mission.
At the same time, CVMM reduces barriers for volunteers—helping them move from interest to impact more easily. Through one streamlined profile, volunteers can access opportunities across many organizations, whether they’re brand new or ready to re-engage in a new way.
Today, CVMM is still growing. At every turn, we encounter new challenges that call for creative, community-driven solutions. But one thing we know for certain: this is a movement. A movement toward a more connected, coordinated, and informed nonprofit sector.
And it all began with one simple goal: to help our community more easily, more often, and more meaningfully.
Pillars of our Community Volunteer Management Model
By taking on core onboarding tasks, such as background checks and referral management, CVMM reduces administrative burdens for nonprofits, freeing them to focus on program delivery and growth. This collective approach enhances sector-wide capacity, allowing space for nonprofits to collaborate, work on new projects, and deliver new programs.
We believe that every person has the potential to lead, serve, and grow through volunteerism. CVMM offers an accessible entry point into the nonprofit sector, supporting volunteers with onboarding, certifications, and guidance so they can thrive and find meaningful placements. By removing administrative barriers, we help volunteers find purpose, belonging, and personal development.
Tracking impact is vital. Through CVMM’s centralized database, we are able to track statistics on certification rates, referrals, volunteer hours worked, and various other data points. This helps nonprofits to understand trends in volunteerism, identify gaps in support available, and demonstrate the value of their programs to funders, communities and governments.
A Note from our Executive Director
As the Executive Director of Volunteer Lethbridge, I have the privilege of seeing the heart of this community every single day. Whether it's a newcomer stepping into their first volunteer role or a seasoned organization doing incredible work with limited resources, what binds us all together is our shared desire to make Lethbridge stronger, kinder, and more connected.
Our Community Volunteer Management Model (CVMM) stands at the forefront of this mission. We developed CVMM in direct response to a growing need in the nonprofit and voluntary sector: the need to build capacity without draining valuable staff time or limited funding. This innovative program was designed to remove barriers, streamline volunteer engagement, and return capacity to the organizations doing the vital work of bettering our community.
I’ve seen firsthand how it empowers our member organizations to focus on their mission. I truly believe CVMM has the potential to uplift not just individual agencies, but entire communities.
Recruitment to Readiness
BetterImpact x Volunteer Lethbridge Presentation
Join Sandi Davis, current Executive Director of Volunteer Lethbridge, in the second installment of the BetterImpact webinar series.
Sandi shares how our Community Volunteer Management Model (CVMM) has evolved over the past year, offering a behind-the-scenes look at the processes we use to connect volunteers with nonprofits.
The Community Volunteer Management Model
BetterImpact x Volunteer Lethbridge Presentation
Join Amanda Jensen, 2024 Executive Director of Volunteer Lethbridge, as she introduces our innovative Community Volunteer Management Model (CVMM).
In this first installment of our BetterImpact webinar series, Amanda outlines how the CVMM supports both volunteers and nonprofit organizations through streamlined onboarding, personalized referrals, and community connection.