Podcast Summary

Episode Overview

We Are For Good Podcast – Episode 643: “How to Build a Volunteer-Centric Culture + Mobilize Your Volunteers”
Date: September 8, 2025
Guest: Jennifer Sirangelo, President & CEO, Points of Light
Hosts: Jon McCoy, CFRE and Becky Endicott, CFRE

This episode dives into the heart of building a volunteer-centric nonprofit culture and mobilizing volunteers at scale. The hosts, Jon and Becky, welcome Jennifer Sirangelo, leader of Points of Light—a global force in volunteerism operating in 32 countries with 4 million volunteers—to unpack strategies, mindsets, and the impact of volunteer-centric organizations. They discuss practical lessons, sector challenges, actionable tactics, and stories that spark hope and urgency for doubling volunteering worldwide.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Jennifer Sirangelo’s Journey in Nonprofit Leadership

• Starts at [03:31]
  • Grew up volunteering in Kansas City through organizations like Camp Fire Girls and her church, without even knowing the formal label “volunteering.”
  • First job: executive director of a small homeless shelter run primarily by volunteers. A formative moment was turning away a homeless family due to capacity limits:

    “That was the day I became a fundraiser. I wasn’t trained in it… but I was like, how do I, I don’t want this again. How do I change that?” – Jennifer Sirangelo [04:31]

  • Self-taught in fundraising, eventually leading to expansion—buying two more houses for the shelter with funds raised.
  • Career trajectory: local nonprofits → regional → national (notably 17 years at 4H) → Points of Light, to expand her impact by galvanizing global volunteerism.

The “Civic Century” Vision & Points of Light Impact

• Starts at [08:50]
  • Points of Light leads a global network enabling volunteer action through nonprofit partnerships, corporate engagement, and sector advancement.
  • Their network covers 4 million volunteers across 32 countries, supporting 70,000 NGOs.
  • They assist companies in building meaningful employee volunteering, not just “a day in a T-shirt.”
  • Civic Century:

    “How do we build the volunteer apparatus, the infrastructure for the future so that it’s easy for people to volunteer, nonprofits are getting what they need, and we can fulfill our mission?” – Jennifer Sirangelo [12:12]

  • North Star: Helping people find their meaning and purpose through volunteering, inspired by President George H.W. Bush’s “thousand points of light” vision.

The Audacious Goal: Doubling Volunteering by 2035

• Starts at [13:18]
  • Points of Light aims to double their volunteer base to 8 million by 2035.
  • Importance of reframing volunteering:

    “We need to change the perception of volunteering from something that’s nice to something that’s necessary.” – Jennifer Sirangelo [14:13]

  • Triple bottom line: benefits the volunteer, the community served, and collectively strengthens society by fostering empathy, resilience, and healing social divides.

Building a Volunteer-Centric Nonprofit Culture

• Starts at [17:52]
  • Volunteer management is often undervalued and underfunded.

    “People think [volunteers] are free... but when we ask nonprofits what does it cost to have a volunteer, it’s from between $25 to almost $2,000.” – Jennifer Sirangelo [19:07]

  • Points of Light’s report, “From Nice to Necessary,” urges nonprofits and funders to invest in volunteer infrastructure.
  • Call for courage in nonprofits to include volunteer engagement costs in fundraising/grants.

The ROI of Volunteering & Volunteer Experience

• Starts at [21:26]
  • Becky recalls a food bank experience measuring volunteer value:

    “They tell you... you saved us $120,000 in staff salaries by the work that you did today.” – Becky Endicott [21:41]

  • Volunteers not only fill roles but become advocates and storytellers.

Challenges in Volunteer Engagement

• Starts at [23:11]
  • Issues: volunteer shortages, retention, and high no-show rates since the pandemic.

    “The rate of people signing up but not showing up is significantly up since the pandemic.” – Jennifer Sirangelo [25:13]

  • Potential tech solutions: better reminders, streamlined signups, post-engagement follow-ups.
  • The essential role of personal invitations:

    “The number one reason people volunteer is someone asked them to.” – Jennifer Sirangelo [26:41]

  • Importance of activating current volunteers and involving Gen Z in shaping future volunteer infrastructure.

Empowering Volunteer Leaders and the Intergenerational Opportunity

• Starts at [30:33]
  • Volunteer leadership leads to longevity and deeper engagement (“70 year pin” in 4H).
  • Focused effort to involve retirees and boomers whose talents and time could be transformative.

    “Our extremely talented and healthy retirees... have so much left to give, so much to offer.” – Jennifer Sirangelo [31:15]

  • Volunteering helps older adults combat isolation and find renewed purpose.

Real-World Case Study: Hands On Atlanta

• Starts at [34:07]
  • Hands On Atlanta recruits and trains volunteers for 65 food bank locations, strengthening both operations and community advocacy:

    “Those volunteers also... become advocates and storytellers. It is contagious.” – Jennifer Sirangelo [34:31]

  • Doubling volunteering is possible one person at a time—“everyone brings one friend and it’s done.” – Jon McCoy [35:33]

Agency, Meaning, and Purpose in Volunteering

• Starts at [35:54]
  • Volunteering allows individuals to experience agency—“I can change the world through my actions.”
  • Provides resilience during turbulent times and a sense of hope.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the necessity of volunteers:

  “You can't solve hunger in my community without volunteers. You can’t.” – Jennifer Sirangelo [20:59]

• On the act of asking:

  “Inviting somebody into a bigger part of their story and meaning and purpose... you’re inviting them into a bigger part of their story.” – Jon McCoy [29:15]

• On measuring the impact for volunteers:

  “Because there are 220 of you here today, you saved us $120,000 in staff salaries by the work that you did today.” – Becky Endicott [21:41]

• On organizational courage:

  “Don’t be afraid to think about what it takes to have volunteers and to include that in your fundraising.” – Jennifer Sirangelo [20:19]

• On the life-changing power of leading as a volunteer:

  “The ones who stay are the ones who give the most and lead.” – Jennifer Sirangelo [31:02]

• On personal agency:

  “I have independence. I can change the world through my actions... that changes mindsets and it does make us more resilient, especially in difficult times.” – Jennifer Sirangelo [36:09]

Important Timestamps

• 03:31 – Jennifer Sirangelo’s path to nonprofit work through early volunteering and first leadership roles.
• 08:50 – The Points of Light global network and the “Civic Century.”
• 13:18 – Goal to double volunteering; shifting the narrative from “nice” to “necessary.”
• 17:52 – The real costs of volunteer engagement and investment gaps in volunteer infrastructure.
• 21:41 – Story illustrating the concrete value of volunteers.
• 23:11 – Key challenges: volunteer shortages, tech solutions, and recruitment.
• 25:13 – Increase in volunteer sign-up “no-shows” since the pandemic.
• 26:41 – The power of direct invitations in mobilizing volunteers.
• 30:33 – Empowering volunteers through leadership; untapped potential in retirees.
• 34:07 – Case study: Hands On Atlanta's volunteer-driven impact on local food banks.
• 35:54 – The sense of agency and meaning derived from volunteering.
• 37:23 – Jennifer’s personal “moment of philanthropy” story about her first board chair’s major donation.
• 40:03 – “One Good Thing” takeaway: align volunteering with what brings you joy.
• 41:04 – How to connect and engage with Points of Light.

Key Takeaways and Action Steps

For Nonprofit Leaders:

• Don’t undervalue the infrastructure required for powerful volunteer engagement. Include volunteer management and training costs in fundraising and grant proposals.
• Measure and communicate the concrete impact of volunteers, both in financial and community-building terms.
• Use direct, personal invitations to recruit and activate volunteers—don’t rely on passive methods.

For All Listeners:

• Find volunteer opportunities that align with your passions for greater impact and fulfillment.
• Consider the broader social impact of volunteering—healing divides, building resilience, and cultivating empathy.
• Contribute to the movement (and Point of Light’s goal) by bringing a friend or colleague into volunteering.

How to Get Involved

• Jennifer Sirangelo: Connect on LinkedIn by searching “J. Sirangelo.”
• Points of Light: Visit pointsoflight.org to find a local affiliate, access resources, read the full “From Nice to Necessary” report, and find volunteer opportunities.
• Social Media: Jennifer is active as @j.sirangelo on Instagram and other major platforms.

Closing Inspiration

“We call people to be a light. So... I encourage everyone to be a light in their community.” – Jennifer Sirangelo [42:49]

This episode is a call to recognize, resource, and re-energize volunteers—and in doing so, to spark a virtuous cycle of hope and agency in every community.