Title
Volunteer Management
Welcome to Extension Volunteer Management! Explore our page to find resources, professional development opportunities, and much more!
Title
It's Time to Register!
This year's Illinois Extension Volunteer Engagement Conference: Building Strong Volunteer Relationships 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.
Register early! Registration closes March 23, 2026. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect and learn!
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.
Room Block Information
We are looking forward to seeing you at the Extension Volunteer Engagement Conference! To help with travel planning, we have secured room blocks at two nearby hotels.
When checking in, you may be asked to show your University ID to confirm eligibility for the group rate.
If you do not have your physical ID with you, you can also access your digital University ID through the Illinois app.
How to access your ID in the Illinois App
Download the Illinois app from the Apple App Store or Google Play.
Log in using your University NetID and password.
Select “ID” from the menu to display your digital University ID.
I Hotel & Illinois Conference Center
Location: I Hotel & Illinois Conference Center
Address: 1900 S 1st St, Champaign, IL 61820
Booking link: I Hotel Room Block
Block Code: EVM2026
Guest Password: zwg@2
Phone reservations: 217-819-5000
Drury Inn & Suites Champaign
Location: Drury Inn & Suites Champaign
Address: 905 Anthony Dr, Champaign, IL 61821
Booking link: Drury Room Block
Block Code: 10182253
Phone reservations:1-800-325-0720
Please note that staff will need to show the Illinois Sales Tax Exemption Certificate when checking in.
2026 Volunteer Management Training Series
Join us for an exciting new series of virtual trainings with internationally recognized volunteer expert Martin J. Cowling. Martin brings decades of experience as a volunteer, hands-on manager, leader, researcher, and consultant. His career spans grassroots organizations, senior leadership roles in large social purpose organizations, and work with the Federal government. He has provided consulting services to nonprofits across the globe, making him a trusted voice in volunteer engagement and management.
Each session begins at 9:00 AM and includes a live Q&A. Sessions will not be recorded so please be sure you can attend.
- Thursday, February 19: Managing Our Volunteers Successfully in an Era of Dramatic Change
- Thursday, May 28: 21st Century Volunteer Recruitment
- Thursday, August 27: Successful Real Volunteer Retention
- Tuesday, November 10: Working with Problematic or Difficult Volunteers
Interested in learning more or connecting with Martin? Check out his connections and events below.
Connect with Martin:
Engage Journal Article: Meet the Author
Martin’s Events:
Facebook Event: What's Next in Volunteering?
Podcasts hosting Martin:
Advancing the Profession Podcast - Listen Now!
Transforming How We Lead Volunteers with Martin J Cowling - Listen Now!
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
Join us for an exciting new series of virtual trainings with internationally recognized volunteer expert Martin J. Cowling.
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.
