The Nonprofit Insider Podcast · Swim Karim

Inside MAVA: Leading the Future of Volunteerism with Niila Hebert & Polly Roach

·1 hr 2 min·4 clips

Polly Roach says volunteerism needs “active recruitment,” not just waiting “by the phones and by the email box.”

The Nonprofit Insider Podcast opens with a warm introduction to two guests from MAVA. Nyla Hebert serves as executive director, and Polly Rocha leads partnerships and evaluation. The host frames the conversation around how quickly the nonprofit space is changing, and that sense of urgency stays present throughout the episode. The guests come across as people who can speak directly to that pressure. The discussion moves into volunteer engagement and the findings from MAVA's recent trend survey. The host pauses the conversation to leave that material for a later moment. The episode also includes a sponsored break from Jessica Pang-Parks of LearnWithJPP.com, who shares her volunteer engagement perspective and a coaching offer for listeners. After the break, the host welcomes listeners back and reintroduces Nyla and Polly. The show identifies MAVA by name and spells out each guest's role. The host encourages listeners to start from the beginning rather than skipping ahead, which suggests the conversation develops over time. Later, the episode turns toward training and support. MAVA offers volunteer engagement leadership training every quarter. The format is built to be manageable, with sessions split into mornings or afternoons over a couple of weeks. The goal is to make professional learning fit into busy nonprofit schedules. The closing treats that training as something listeners can join and use, and the host says the links will be included in the show notes, including the conference information. The overall tone stays practical, conversational, and grounded in nonprofit work.

As heard by us

A plainspoken conversation about volunteer engagement that settles into practical value.

The episode follows volunteerism through MAVA, with Nyla Hebert and Polly Rocha on engagement, partnerships, evaluation, and a recent trend survey.

Read the full review in PlayNext →

Why you'd press play

If volunteer burnout is on your desk, this conversation gives you a place to start.

Read the full recommendation in PlayNext →

Listen to the show on

Apple Podcasts Spotify

Play clips from this episode More from The Nonprofit Insider Podcast