2025 Virginia Volunteerism Summit

The Virginia Volunteerism Summit is the Commonwealth’s leading event for organizations and individuals making a difference in their communities. Each year, the Summit inspires and equips organizations and individuals to make a significant impact through service in and to their communities. Participants hear from inspiring, nationally-known speakers about the impact and future of volunteerism, as well as collaboratively engage in workshops to learn best practices, co-create new ideas, and engage in spreading passion and inspiration throughout the sector.

Presented by Serve Virginia, the Virginia Service Foundation, and the Virginia Department of Social Services, the 2025 Virginia Volunteerism Summit will place virtually May 14-15, featuring inspiring keynotes, workshops, and networking opportunities to promote innovation across the sector.

This year's theme is "Empowering Service, Elevating Impact: The SERVE Framework in Action." Our keynote speakers for the 2025 Virginia Volunteerism Summit will include Dr. Akilah Watkins, president and CEO of Independent Sector; Manu Meel, CEO of BridgeUSA; and Chester W. Spellman, former director of AmeriCorps State and National. Our emcee will be Nicki Fiocco, creator and host of the AmeriCorps Connections Podcast.

Join peers and leaders from across the Commonwealth as we explore how new approaches to service and collaboration can strengthen communities and expand our impact. Be the first to learn about the insights from the 2025 Virginia Community Engagement Index, how to use the SERVE Framework to transform your community partnerships, and take advantage of early opportunities to be a part of rolling out the 2025-2027 Virginia State Service Plan!

Attending this conference can be applied towards hours needed for professional development requirements for initial CVA Certification or CVA Renewal. The CVA (Certified in Volunteer Administration) is the only internationally recognized credential in the field of volunteer administration. If you require proof of the number of hours you engaged in professional development, please contact the organizers of this training. CCVA will not have proof of your attendance to events that they haven’t organized. To learn more, visit www.cvacert.org.

WORKSHOPS & PRESENTERS

The hands-on workshops that make up the schedule for the 2025 Virginia Volunteerism Summit showcase expertise from across the Commonwealth.

Summit participants will engage in 25+ workshops to learn best practices, co-create new ideas, and spread passion and inspiration throughout the sector. Plus, attendees will be the first to hear insights from the 2025 Virginia Community Engagement Index and the 2025-2027 Virginia State Service Plan!

Guided by the SERVE Framework, this line-up offers something for everyone, from service and volunteerism newcomers to seasoned professionals.

Explore confirmed workshops below and check back for updates in the coming weeks. The full schedule will be announced on March 19.

KEY SPACES

• Building Bridges: Enhancing Service Connections between Faith Communities, Community Organizations, and Public Resources, Stephen Wade, Virginia Department of Social Services
• Get to Know the 2025-2027 Virginia State Service Plan, Kathy J. Spangler, Serve Virginia
• How B Corp Certification Provides Structure and Accountability for Employee Volunteerism, Susie Fife, Red Orange Studio

EQUIP

• Finding Your Voice: Advocating for Yourself as a Volunteer Manager, Carol Ayars, The SPAN Center
• Making Your Volunteer Opportunities Available for All Abilities, Susan Sanow, Volunteer Fairfax & Donna Patchett
• Navigating Change: Staying Mission-Minded During Periods of Transition, Markita Madden, CVA & Kathe Goller, CVA (American Foundation for Suicide Prevention)
• Empowering Change: Boosting Volunteer Impact in Rural Communities, Edward Hrinya, Total Action for Progress

CORPS

• AmeriCorps 101
• Building Capacity, Building Community: AmeriCorps VISTA for Nonprofit Workforce Development
• From Idea to Action: How to Leverage AmeriCorps Planning Grants to Build Strong Programs, Alex Vanik, Serve Virginia
• How to Use Your Ed Award, Do Good Be Good
• Lead, Serve, Inspire: Your Journey with AmeriCorps
• Life After AmeriCorps, Do Good Be Good
• Rising Together: Supporting Youth Mental Health and Building Career Pathways with the Virginia Youth Mental Health Corps, Analise Gammel, Serve Virginia

VOICE

• Empowering Nonprofits for Advocacy Without Losing 501(c)(3) Status, Michelle Ellis Young & Cierra Lewis (YWCA South Hampton Roads)
• Volunteers as Advocates: Our Organizational Change Journey, Heather Fortune, Carol Ayars, and Shana Beverly (The SPAN Center)
• Engaging in Advocacy: Confronting Structures, Not Just Symptoms, Sheila Herlihy, Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy
• From Data to Action: Harnessing the Insights from the 2025 Virginia Community Engagement Index
• Participatory Budgeting in Virginia, Dr. Matthew Slaats, Leidiana Delgado, Miles Hopkins, Isaac Samuels (Richmond People’s Budget)

EXPERIENCE

• Beyond Bon-Bons and Bubble Baths: Addressing Risks for Burnout, Jade Richardson Bock, Building Beloved Communities
• Building an Engaged Board: Best Practices in Recruitment, Board Engagement, and Leveraging your Board Member’s Talents, Amy Nisenson, Nisenson Consulting
• Building Meaningful Volunteer Experiences for Enduring Impact, Olivia Corcoran, GivePulse
• Revitalizing Volunteer Outreach: Diversifying Strategies for Volunteer Recruitment, Retention, and Recognition, Annabelle Bugey, Feed More
• Youth in Action: Building Leadership and Community Through Service, Courtney Gonzalez, Volunteer Alexandria