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Professional development sends a message—sometimes louder than compensation ever could.
Recent research reinforces what many leaders already sense: nonprofit staff value professional development clearly connected to real responsibilities and future pathways – even more than pay raises. Professional development becomes meaningful when it helps people see where they’re going and how to get there.
For associations and nonprofits, this raises an important question: Which skills actually prepare staff for long term leadership?
One of the most overlooked answers is the ability to work effectively with volunteers.
This is more than an observation; it’s also a data point from two ASAE Foundation research studies: Mutually Beneficial Volunteering and Holistic Approach to Volunteer Management. Key to volunteer success is the partnership with staff. But that partnership requires more than coordination—it demands leadership.
Volunteer engagement is not transactional.
It sits at the intersection of influence, governance, relationship building, and mission stewardship. When organizations invest in training their staff to be effective volunteer liaisons, they strengthen the volunteer experience and grow leaders who understand how associations truly function.
Staff working with volunteers must lead without formal authority, balance competing priorities, and navigate ambiguity, all while serving as a trusted partner to volunteers. These are not peripheral skills; they are core leadership capabilities that shape how the association succeeds.
Volunteer liaison training for staff recognizes that working with volunteers is not a side skill or personality trait, but a professional competency that requires structure, shared language, and practice. When staff are prepared for this role, organizations benefit from stronger partnerships, clearer governance relationships, and healthier volunteer experiences.
Importantly, this kind of training also helps staff see themselves as leaders within a complex ecosystem. They gain confidence in how associations function, how influence flows, and how collaboration fuels impact across roles and structures.
As a complementary layer, facilitation skills further strengthen volunteer liaison work. While not the central focus, facilitation training equips staff with practical tools to guide discussions, manage dynamics, and support productive outcomes with volunteer groups—enhancing the effectiveness of the liaison role without replacing it. (Check out FACILIT8me.)
Done well, professional development isn’t a benefit—it’s a pathway. And for nonprofits serious about leadership sustainability, investing in volunteer liaison training sends a clear signal: we’re preparing staff not just for today’s responsibilities, but for tomorrow’s leadership.
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Peggy Hoffman, FASAE, CAE, is President of Mariner Management and a recognized expert in volunteer engagement and association governance. She helps organizations build leadership capacity by aligning staff roles, training, and volunteer partnerships. Mariner created the popular association Volunteer Liaison Training for Staff. Connect at MarinerManagement.com or on LinkedIn to continue the conversation.
