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Volunteer Management
Welcome to Extension Volunteer Management! Explore our page to find resources, professional development opportunities, and much more!
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Extension Volunteer Management Conference
Next year's Illinois Extension Volunteer Engagement Conference will be held on Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at the I Hotel and Illinois Conference Center. The theme, Building Strong Volunteer Relationships, emphasizes the importance of creating meaningful connections that strengthen both our work with volunteers and the programs we deliver.
This conference is designed specifically for staff who work with volunteers, offering practical strategies, fresh ideas, and inspiration to strengthen your programs. We can’t wait to build on this year’s momentum and make it even better with your continued support.
We’re thrilled to welcome Beth Steinhorn, President of VQ Volunteer Strategies, as our keynote speaker. Beth is a nationally recognized expert in volunteer engagement who partners with organizations to increase impact through strategic and innovative volunteer strategies. As a thought leader, she regularly participates in national dialogue about volunteerism and is co-editor of Transforming Disruption to Impact: Rethinking Volunteer Engagement for a Rapidly Changing World.
Download the calendar invite and watch for registration details coming soon - don’t miss this opportunity to connect and learn!
Volunteer Management Resources
Volunteer Management Toolkit
The State Volunteer Advisory Committee has been focusing their priority work on creating a Volunteer Management Toolkit to assist all Extension staff who work with volunteers. Looking for something specific? See the accordion list below.
MyExtension Portal - Volunteerism
Statewide Resources for Volunteer Management can be found on the MyExtension Portal's Volunteerism tab.
Extension Child Protection Training
Submit your Extension Child Protection Training Request through our form. Include volunteer's full name and county.
Volunteer Management Mini-Trainings
Sessions will be held on the last Thursday of each month from 10-11am and cover many topics related to volunteer management and engagement.
DCFS Background Check
We are excited to announce that DCFS has implemented a new Background Check Portal Request system for all CANTS Reports. The University of Illinois is now active with this new system. We no longer submit paper form CF689 to DCFS via email! Please dispose of any electronic or hard copies of the CF689 form. DCFS will no longer accept these forms.
All volunteer DCFS CANTS screenings are now completed through the Gateway. If you have a volunteer who needs a DCFS CANTS screening, please ensure they are listed with a Gateway profile.
Workforce Development MediaSpace: Volunteer Management Mini-Trainings
Subscribe to Workforce Development's MediaSpace to access previously recorded trainings and presentations.
Risk Management Toolkit
We’re excited to introduce the, Risk Management Toolkit your one stop shop for navigating key risk management topics!
This newly developed resource brings together everything you need in one convenient place, including:
- American Income Life coverage information and tipsheets
- Sample templates for risk management planning
- Safety guidelines and best practices
- And much more!
Whether you're planning an event, working with volunteers, or just want to stay informed, this toolkit is designed to give you the confidence and resources you need so you can stay focused on the meaningful work you do every day.
Archived Volunteer Management Newsletters
2025 Volunteer Engagement Conference Information
Missed a Session? Catch Up Here
Couldn’t attend a session during the conference? No problem! Explore presentation slides, handouts, and other resources from each session to stay informed and up to date. Whether you’re revisiting key takeaways or diving in for the first time, everything you need is just a click away.
Robin Kaler, a dynamic leader in strategic communications and crisis management, shared her expertise on effective communication in the modern workplace. As the official spokesperson for the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a key advisor to the chancellor’s senior leadership team, Robin offered invaluable insights into navigating complex issues and leading crisis response efforts. If you missed this powerful keynote, you can now access the presentation slides and explore additional resources on the Strategic Communications and Marketing website.
Keynote Presentation Strategic Communications and Marketing
2024 Extension Volunteer Engagement Conference Recordings
Keynote - Tobi Johnson
Hear from globally recognized expert in volunteer engagement (and a Master Gardener!), Tobi Johnson, on "how to take your leadership to the next level and volunteers will follow". Check out her bio to learn more about her and her impact in the world of volunteer engagement.
You will learn …
- What it means to be a truly volunteer-driven organization and what can happen when volunteers lead the way
- The STAR Method for volunteers who lead and how it can ground their practice
- How to pinpoint core values and actions and build out a personal leadership philosophy
- How to use a Team Blueprint to build a shared vision of success together
- How to build a transformational communications plan that both inspires and keeps volunteers in the loop
Volunteer Management System Introduction & Panel Discussion
The new website is designed to be a tool for Extension staff to steward and manage the volunteers they work with. This means there will be a standardized volunteer application process with streamlined background check and reference check procedures, all managed through the system. Just think of all the time staff will now have to focus on programming! The Extension Web Team and Workforce Development Team facilitated an interactive afternoon session during the conference. Participants learned the “why” and “how” of the new system, including a refresher on volunteer policies, a full demonstration of the system, and resources on how to utilize the new system.
