Karen Knight

I have been providing volunteer recruitment, engagement and training for not-for-profit organizations for over 25 years. My professional life has spanned many industries, working in both the private and public sectors in various leadership positions. Through my passion for making a difference in the world, I have gained decades of experience in not-for-profits as a leader and a board member. I served in Toastmasters International for over twenty-five years, in various roles up to District Director, where I was responsible for one of the largest Toastmasters districts in the world. There, I had twenty leaders reporting directly to me, and another eighty reporting to them. All volunteers.

3 min read

Creativity for Leaders of Volunteers

Have you ever been faced with a challenging and recurring problem? You know you need to “think outside the box” in order to solve it but the breakthrough just doesn’t seem to want to come. Every year “Sarah’s” organisation ran a big event, and every...

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3 min read

The “Almost Volunteer”

Has this ever happened to you? A social media post about a volunteer opportunity receives lots of likes and shares. Your recruitment table at a...

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Understanding and Addressing Founders Syndrome in Non-Profits

The magic and the risk of founding energy There’s a special kind of magic that happens when someone is involved with an organisation from the...

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Managers collaborating in a bright office space

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Managing Pro Bono Volunteers

There comes a time in every program when you need volunteers who can do more than hand out food hampers or lead school groups through a museum. You...

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Winning Board Support for Your Volunteer Program

When leading a volunteer program, one of the most important tasks is presenting key information to the organization's Board of Directors. These...

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The Magic of Micro-Volunteering

The idea of micro-volunteering is gaining traction, and for good reason. Fewer people are willing or able to commit to a regular shift. They want the...

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Interviewing Potential Volunteers

Most of us know that if you want a strong, trustworthy team of volunteers, getting to know them before they come on is key. An interview should be...

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Volunteers Saving Time Using Software

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Time-Saving Volunteer Supervision Hacks

Effective volunteer supervision is crucial for a successful volunteer program and thus greater impact. By leading volunteers well, you can ensure...

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8 Tips for Tackling Unpopular Tasks

Leaders often find themselves faced with the challenge of motivating volunteers to take on unpopular tasks. As you know, every task plays a crucial...

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The 5 Aspects of a Strong Volunteer Program

Building a volunteer program isn’t easy, but it may be simpler than you might think. There are five key aspects of a strong volunteer program:...

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