Recruiting and retaining volunteers is critical to delivering community services—and it can be one of the most difficult parts of managing a nonprofit. To help organizations strengthen how they attract and engage volunteers, Prince William County will host its second annual Community Volunteer Summit on April 16, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. in the Board Chambers at the McCoart Government Center, 1 County Complex Court in Woodbridge.
The free summit, held in partnership with the Human Services Alliance of Greater Prince William and a coalition of community partners, is designed for nonprofit leaders and volunteer coordinators looking for practical tools, strategies and resources to build stronger, more effective volunteer programs.
Prince William County works closely with nonprofit organizations to expand the reach of services that support residents across the county. From food assistance and shelter programs to parks, libraries and schools, these services depend on well-managed volunteer programs to meet growing demand.
This year’s summit builds on feedback from the 2025 event, where exit surveys highlighted a need for greater collaboration, best practices in volunteer management and hands-on training to strengthen organizational capacity.
“The first summit focused on building capacity within Volunteer Prince William. This year’s event builds on that foundation by expanding support for organizations across the county,” said Paige Thacker, Director of the VCE Prince William Unit, which relies heavily on volunteers to further all facets of its mission. “By participating in the summit, organizations can strengthen their volunteer programs and play an even greater role in supporting services and resources for residents across Prince William County.”
Each year, approximately 3,000 volunteers contribute an estimated 300,000 hours of service to nonprofit and community organizations in Prince William County, representing nearly $10 million in value. Their work helps local systems operate more efficiently, reduces service wait times and strengthens community well-being.
“As community members have increasing demands on their time, nonprofits must refine their value propositions, outreach messaging and engagement pathways,” said Martina Jackson Green, Executive Director of the Human Services Alliance of Greater Prince William. “The summit provides information on developing recruitment strategies that identify target audiences, leverage digital channels and build inclusive pipelines that expand participation.”
The summit is open to all organizations that rely on volunteers to advance their missions. Nonprofit leaders and volunteer coordinators are encouraged to attend to learn practical strategies and tools to strengthen volunteer recruitment, retention and engagement. Lunch will be provided. Event partners include the Prince William Chamber of Commerce, Sentara Health, UVA Health, Volunteer Prince William, Virginia Cooperative Extension (VCE) and the Prince William County Community Foundation.
To register and learn more, visit www.thealliancegpw.org/our-events.