Training & Capacity Building

HandsOn Twin Cities is excited to offer a series of learning opportunities designed to help nonprofit professionals strengthen their volunteer engagement strategies, build organizational capacity, and maximize partnerships with skilled and corporate volunteers. These sessions provide practical tools, peer learning opportunities, and actionable strategies that organizations can implement immediately.

September

Nonprofit Readiness | Engaging Pro Bono Talent to Build Capacity

September 18 | Time 10-11:30 a.m. | Junior Achievement
(1745 University Ave W. St. Paul, MN 55104)

A hands-on version of our Pro Bono Readiness training, offering opportunities for discussion and peer learning. Participants will leave with practical tools to assess their organization's readiness and identify high-impact pro bono projects.

Nonprofit Readiness | Engaging Pro Bono Talent to Build Capacity (Virtual)

September 30 | 9:00–10:15 a.m.

Learn how to prepare your organization to successfully engage skilled volunteers and pro bono professionals. This session will cover identifying project opportunities, defining scope, preparing internal stakeholders, and setting projects up for success.

Speaking Corporate: Navigating the New Realities of Employee Volunteer Engagement (In Person)

October 9 | 9:00am - 10:30am | Location: TBA

Corporate volunteerism is changing, and many of the factors influencing employee engagement happen behind the scenes. As nonprofits navigate shifting corporate priorities, understanding what drives volunteer and social impact programs can help build stronger partnerships and create more meaningful engagement opportunities. This session will explore current trends shaping the landscape, including increased pressure to demonstrate business value and measurable outcomes, evolving approaches to DEI and employee resource groups, heightened legal and reputational risk considerations, and the growing need for companies to do more with fewer resources.

We'll also examine the rise of national and global volunteer providers, the importance of aligning opportunities with corporate giving and CSR priorities, and what employees continue to seek from volunteer experiences. A panel of corporate leaders will provide candid insights into how decisions are made, what they look for in nonprofit partners, and how organizations can successfully position themselves in today's changing corporate engagement environment. Participants will leave with a better understanding of the current landscape, practical partnership strategies, and opportunities to ask questions directly of corporate leaders.

Volunteer Management Hybrid Conference
(In Person)

October 20 | Time TBD | Securian Financial (400 Robert St N, St. Paul, MN 55101)

Our signature annual learning event brings together volunteer managers for a day of learning, networking, and innovation. This year’s topic is Embracing the Future of Volunteer Engagement: Building Resilience and Sustainability. Volunteer professionals are being asked to do more than ever. Attendees will connect with peers navigating these same realities, explore practical approaches to building more resilient, sustainable volunteer engagement strategies, and walk away with clearer direction, stronger frameworks, and the confidence to lead through change.

Skilled Volunteerism & Scoping Projects (Virtual)

October 28 | Time 9-10:15 a.m.

Designed for organizations interested in leveraging skilled volunteers and pro bono support, this workshop will help participants define project goals, scope work effectively, and create project plans that attract and retain talented volunteers.

This session will focus on pro bono volunteerism for nonprofits using skilled volunteers and how to scope strategic needs to create impactful projects. Skills-based volunteering is an emerging strategy to build capacity at organizations while developing meaningful relationships with volunteers. This immersive model of volunteerism allows nonprofits and corporations to deepen their community engagement. In this session, we will cover the case for pro bono - the why’s -for these types of volunteers and how to create a strong foundation for projects through scoping and best practices. Throughout the presentation, we have you consider an opportunity or challenge at your organization and walk through the scoping process to develop a comprehensive challenge statement to communicate the project’s critical needs with volunteers.