This International Volunteer Managers Day, Rosterfy celebrates the bold leaders who make change and power volunteering in communities around the world.
Volunteer Managers make volunteering possible. Every day, they connect people with purpose, build programmes that change lives, and bring communities together.
This International Volunteer Managers Day (5 November), Rosterfy celebrates these leaders and joins the global call to “Be BOLD. Make Change.”
The 2025 theme reminds us that meaningful change requires courage — stepping outside your comfort zone, leading with empathy, and championing others. Volunteer Managers do this every day: they adapt, innovate, and create opportunities for people to make an impact.
To celebrate, we asked members of the Rosterfy community to share what motivates them, what they’ve learned along the way, and how they would describe volunteer management in a few words.
For Volunteer Managers, the reward and motivation often come from the same place — seeing people connect, grow, and give. Whether it’s a volunteer discovering their potential, a community coming together with shared purpose, or a team that keeps showing up year after year. Here’s how our community describes what makes it all worthwhile.
“The most rewarding part is seeing people from all walks of life come together with a shared purpose to make Christmas a warm, welcoming space for our guests. Seeing the energy, kindness, and teamwork in action is amazing.
Every year I see how much difference this project makes not just for our guests, but for the volunteers too. There’s this shared sense of purpose and community that’s hard to find anywhere else.”
“The most rewarding part of my role is witnessing the personal growth and transformation that happens through volunteering. At Bradford 2025, we’ve built a volunteering programme that is as much about people as it is about events. We have had volunteers who started shy and unsure, and within months, they’re leading teams or representing us at public events.
Those transformations are powerful reminders that volunteering isn’t just about giving time, it’s about unlocking potential. Every story like that makes the long hours and endless shift coordination worth it. You don’t just see people give; you see them grow.”
Volunteer management is about people — their potential, their compassion, and their connection to something bigger than themselves. It’s equal parts leadership and listening, structure and spontaneity, planning and empathy.
Our Rosterfy community shared reflections that show how leadership in volunteering means staying flexible, leading with trust, and learning every step of the way.
“Never underestimate your volunteers. It’s easy to get caught up in planning for when things go wrong, especially in events, where you often only get one shot at something. But when things do go wrong, I always forget just how resilient our volunteers are. I’ll start to problem-solve, often to find the team has already made a solution before I even realised there’s an issue.
Their wealth of knowledge and experience is genuinely impressive, and so many are willing to share their skills to make our team stronger. It’s a reminder that it's always important to listen to and learn from your volunteers.”
This year’s theme, “Be BOLD. Make Change.”, comes to life through volunteer leaders who rethink what’s possible — using empathy, creativity, and courage to build stronger, more inclusive communities.
Beth’s leadership is about lifting others through empathy and innovation. She has transformed volunteer culture at one of Aotearoa’s largest events by:
"She doesn’t just lead — she lifts."
Recently recognised as Emerging Leader of Volunteer Engagement in New Zealand, Nicky's story shows the power of community-driven leadership. From zero ecological background to leading one of NZ’s most innovative restoration projects, Nicky has:
"Everyone who comes to the site knows they matter."
When asked to describe volunteer management in three words, our community captured the heart of their roles beautifully — a blend of patience, empathy, people-focus, and joy.
"Patience, curiosity, empathy"
"People. Purpose. Possibility."
"So much fun!"
At Rosterfy, we’re proud to support Volunteer Managers every day and empower them to embody the spirit of this year’s theme — “Be BOLD. Make Change.”
Whether you’re coordinating thousands of volunteers for a major event or supporting a small local initiative, your leadership and care drives meaningful impact. Today and every day, we thank you — the Volunteer Managers who make change happen.
Happy International Volunteer Managers Day from the team at Rosterfy.
Learn more about how we help organisations build volunteer programmes that thrive: www.rosterfy.com
Anglicare partners with Rosterfy to enhance volunteer management, streamline processes, and improve volunteer experience across community and aged...
Guide Dogs Queensland partners with Rosterfy to enhance and scale their volunteer program, ensuring an inclusive, efficient, and engaging experience...
Better understand what volunteer insurance is, the different types of volunteer insurance available and scenarios when insurance coverage for...