GAVA News

Join the Gwinnett Nonprofit Coalition (GNC) for 501Connect, our signature networking event that transforms shared spaces into launchpads for connection, collaboration, and creativity.

This indoor-outdoor experience is more than a mixer — it’s a curated opportunity to build your support squad and engage with potential partners from across the nonprofit ecosystem, including members of the Council of Volunteer Administrators of Metropolitan Atlanta (COVA) and the Georgia Association for Volunteer Administration (GAVA).

Whether you're exchanging ideas, finding collaborators, or just getting inspired, 501Connect delivers:

Spaces that foster trust, spark innovation, and fuel bold thinking

Squads that amplify your reach, resources, and impact

Come ready to connect. Leave with a spark that fuels your next collaboration.

The UN General Assembly has officially declared 2026 the International Year for Volunteers for Sustainable Development (IVY 2026)—a once-in-a-generation chance to spotlight the power of volunteering to build a more just, resilient, and sustainable world. To prepare, IAVE and global partners are leading a Global Survey to gather input from volunteers, organizations, governments, and other stakeholders. Your insights will help shape a Global Call to Action that identifies what needs to change—and who can help make it happen.

Survey here!

In this episode of the Volunteer Nation podcast, Tobi welcomes Michele Wiesner, Director of Capacity Building at Hire Heroes USA onto the show! Michele discusses her extensive experience in volunteer engagement and career development, particularly her role in developing a robust volunteer program at Hire Heroes.  Listen now. 

Thank you to our new & renewing GAVA members:

• Tracy Alladice, Home, Inc.
• Miranda Shealy, Fernbank Museum
• Savannah COVA
     

Learn more about our membership opportunities online at mygava.org.

Thank you to our renewing GAVA members:

• Becca Barnes, Tellus Science Museum
• Hannah Ford, Athens Area Humane Society
• Sarah Mackey, Women in Security and Privacy
• Kortney Morris, Atlanta Regional Commission
• Ife Okwumabua, The Arthritis Foundation
• Timothy Suda, American Red Cross
      

Learn more about our membership opportunities online at mygava.org.

At GAVA, we want to learn from you!

Have you incorporated Artificial Intelligence (AI) into your volunteer management practices? Whether it’s using chatbots to answer FAQs, automating volunteer scheduling, analyzing engagement data, or leveraging AI for training and recognition, we’d love to hear about your experiences.

If you’ve used AI in your role leading volunteers and are willing to share your experience, please email us at programming@mygava.org. 

Thank you to our renewing GAVA members:

• April Anderson, Zoo Atlanta
• Southeast Region, National Park Service

 

Learn more about our membership opportunities online at mygava.org.

The Georgia Association for Volunteer Administration (GAVA) is seeking presenters and engaging topics for our 2025 programs!  We’re looking for thought leaders, practitioners, and innovators to share insights on volunteer engagement, leadership development, ethical practices, and the challenges and opportunities in our field.

 

Whether you're an experienced presenter or a passionate professional with fresh ideas, we invite you to contribute to our mission of supporting high-quality leadership and advancing the role of volunteer administration as a profession.

Let’s collaborate to create impactful programs that inspire, educate, and empower volunteer leaders statewide. Share your expertise and help us shape the future of volunteerism!

 

For more information or to share an idea, email programming@mygava.org. 

We're excited to invite you to participate in VolunteerPro’s 2025 Volunteer Management Progress Report – The Recruitment Edition, their 10th annual survey!

 

Your input is crucial to uncovering the most current trends in volunteer engagement. This year, VolunteerPro is exploring:

 

· The biggest challenges for leaders of volunteers right now

· The current average salaries for leaders of volunteers

· The specific recruitment tactics organizations are using to attract volunteers

· Which tactics are the most effective and what benchmarks to track against

· The extent to which organizations are leveraging paid advertising in their recruitment

· The most popular websites for posting volunteer opportunities

· And much more ...

 

Why Participate? This survey serves as a pulse check for the field of volunteerism by providing a nuanced view of challenges, trends, and opportunities. By taking a few minutes to complete the survey, you contribute to a collective intelligence that guides our industry's evolution.

 

Survey Link: https://survey.zohopublic.com/zs/S8Cl9I

 

Survey Deadline: Friday, December 20, 2024 @5pm Eastern

GAVA is looking at hosting an in-person gathering in 2025! We invite you to share your thoughts and ideas on location for a 1-day gathering of GAVA members.

Share your input on gathering locations