How One Nonprofit Trains Its Volunteer Workforce with Jim Farmer — Learning for Good | L&D Solutions and Leadership Development for Nonprofits

Training volunteers is one of the most complex and overlooked areas of nonprofit training and development.

In this episode, I had the privilege of talking with the VP of Training at For the Children, Jim Farmer, to unpack how organizations can design training experiences that actually prepare volunteers to succeed without overwhelming them or driving them away. Jim shares how his organization has reimagined volunteer training through trauma-informed care, relational learning experiences, and intentional design choices that meet volunteers where they are.

▶️ How One Nonprofit Trains Its Volunteer Workforce with Jim Farmer

▶️ Key Points:

0:00:00 From corporate L&D to nonprofit leadership

0:12:38 Training employees vs. volunteers

0:15:30 Common challenges in volunteer training

0:17:32 Trauma-informed care in training

0:21:33 Building volunteer training programs

Resources from this episode:

Join us at our next networking event for the Nonprofit L&D Collective on May 20: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/join-the-nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective

Join the Nonprofit Learning and Development Collective: https://www.skillmastersmarket.com/nonprofit-learning-and-development-collective

Connect with Jim

LinkedIn: Jim Farmer

Website: forthechildren.org

Connect with Heather

LinkedIn: Heather Burright

Website: skillmastersmarket.com

Book an interest call with Heather here.

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Learning for Good is the podcast for nonprofit leaders seeking practical L&D solutions. Hosted by Heather, an experienced consultant, we dive into leadership development, instructional design, change management, and staff management strategies tailored to nonprofit organizations.

Discover how to implement impactful learning solutions, foster belonging, and influence senior leaders. Each episode provides the tools you need to confidently navigate high-level conversations and drive meaningful change within your organization.

Let’s create lasting impact through innovative L&D solutions!

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