How One Nonprofit Trains Its Volunteer Workforce with Jim Farmer

EPISODE · Apr 27, 2026 · 26 MIN

How One Nonprofit Trains Its Volunteer Workforce with Jim Farmer

from Learning for Good | L&D Solutions and Leadership Development for Nonprofits · host Heather Burright, Learning and Development Leader, Leadership Development Consultant, Instructional Designer.

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 leadership0:12:38 Training employees vs. volunteers0:15:30 Common challenges in volunteer training0:17:32 Trauma-informed care in training0:21:33 Building volunteer training programsResources 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-collectiveConnect with JimLinkedIn: Jim FarmerWebsite: forthechildren.org Connect with HeatherLinkedIn: Heather BurrightWebsite: skillmastersmarket.comBook an interest call with Heather here.⭐Was this episode helpful? If you’re listening on Apple Podcasts or Spotify, follow and leave a review!🔗Know anyone who would benefit from this episode? SHARE this with your friends.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!Produced by Ideablossoms

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How One Nonprofit Trains Its Volunteer Workforce with Jim Farmer

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