Guest Contributor: Josh Fryday, California Chief Service Officer within the Office of Governor Gavin Newsom.

The Kindhearted Cities Index recognizes the incredible work of volunteers, nonprofits, service members, and community leaders who have embodied the spirit of kindness to give back to communities across the country. Through the Kindhearted Cities index, we can better understand what it is that drives action, change, and impact—and show others how to make a difference. We are beyond thrilled to see six California cities recognized for their efforts, the most of any state.

Guest post by Wendy Kirwan, Kars4Kids

For any organization that relies on volunteers to accomplish their mission, recruitment of volunteers is only the first step. The big question is how to keep the volunteers you've recruited active, engaged and committed to the cause. We’ll share with you five of the most important things you can do to keep your volunteers engaged:

Volunteering is powerful—not only for the benefiting organization, but for the volunteer. It helps them feel more connected to their community and your cause, and gives them a sense of purpose and accomplishment. Your volunteers are passionate advocates for your organization, so empowering them through grassroots campaigns can be an effective way to introduce their connections to your nonprofit’s work, helping you build additional relationships throughout your community.

Seattle, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Minneapolis round out the top 5

According to the Independent Sector, 63 million Americans volunteered a whopping 8 billion hours of time, talent and effort spent strengthening local communities in 2018. That got us thinking… if we’re given one extra day this year, how and where are Americans most likely to donate their time?

Guest post by Miles Maftean.

You’re passionate about a cause. It’s what inspired you to start volunteering.You wanted to be involved, join a community and make an impact.

But did you know volunteering gives you an edge in the job market too?

Many aspects of traditional nonprofits, such as collecting donations, raising awareness and planning campaigns, have moved online.

It’s trickier than you think to describe impact – and that’s good.

Every time I offer a volunteer impact measures training, I’m struck by some new takeaway that helps me better explain how to master this complex-but-valuable process.

Regardless of the size of your volunteer engagement program, you need to be in touch regularly with your volunteers to ensure your organization's goals are being met. While most volunteer managers use emails, phone calls and social media to stay in touch with their volunteers, texting may actually be the most effective communication tool. In fact, text message open rates are significantly higher than email open rates.

Want to increase volunteer retention? Here’s how to do it and enjoy the process.

It’s start the New Year by taking a show of hands. How many of you subscribe to this belief?: