International Volunteer Managers Day (IVM Day) is held annually on 5 November.
Let’s join with all volunteers across the globe to recognise the power of volunteering. A huge thank you to our volunteers leaders who make an impact in our communities across Aotearoa!
#IVMDay25 – You can create your own International Volunteer Managers Day graphics.
Shareable, editable Canva templates will be available to create your own social media graphics and printed pieces to celebrate your volunteers. Add your own photos, quotes, facts, messages of thanks.
Access your ready-to-post + editable digital/social templates.
See the examples below:
The Global IVMDay Organising Committee set the theme for IVMDay 2024.
“What’s our future normal?”
This theme was selected to celebrate our quarter century milestone and explore our future normal, including:
- The place of Volunteer Leaders in National Volunteering Strategies
- Future workforce make up (both volunteers and Volunteer Leaders) and their views and expectations
- The changing importance being placed on how personal volunteer data is being secured and handled
- The increasing role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in Volunteer Management
Volunteering New Zealand’s response to the theme:
What’s our future normal?
Imagine a future where it is normal for Volunteer Management to be well resourced and supported in our community organisations. Where it is normal for volunteer managers to be paid well, have regular professional development, and recognition for their vital role.
It should be normal for volunteer management teams to have the right resources to carry out their jobs effectively; and enough time to engage well with their volunteers.
We know recent years have seen significant challenges for community organisations and volunteering. The Covid-19 pandemic continues to cast a long shadow over the sector and organisations are struggling with access to funding and other resource gaps, while the demand for services continues to grow.
However, at Volunteering New Zealand we see volunteer managers as changemakers. You can see where you want to go, and can make it happen. Volunteering NZ works to support you. International Volunteer Managers’ Day is 25 year’s old, and Volunteering NZ will also be 25 next year. We have been tirelessly advocating for the rights of volunteers and for the visibility and resourcing of the volunteer sector.
IVM Day is a chance for volunteer managers to recognise what you have achieved and put some stepping stones in place towards a future normal, hopefully a more supported, well-resourced normality.
Future workforce – volunteers and leaders
Our latest State of Volunteering Report – with insights from over 1500 volunteers and 400 organisations – tells us more about volunteers and their changing needs
It identifies a trend for more casual volunteering – a quarter of people are giving up to 5 hours a month, while only 7% are volunteering over 20 hours. Barriers for volunteers include the rising cost of living, lack of time and needing to work more, and concerns about health and safety. The motivation for volunteering however remains the same – people are volunteering to enrich communities and for the social connections.