Mickey reconnects with Gung Wong, CEO and co-founder of Civic Champs, for a look at the state of volunteerism as nonprofits head into 2026. Gung reflects on how volunteer engagement has shifted since Civic Champs launched in 2019 (through pre-pandemic growth, the collapse of in-person volunteering during COVID, and the slow climb back). Some key takeaways:
- Volunteerism has rebounded since COVID, with individual volunteers returning in 2023 and corporate engagement resurging in 2024
- Adoption of volunteer management tech has increased from ~25% in 2019 to ~50% in 2025
- Experienced volunteers boost new volunteer retention by 10%, but COVID caused an exodus of experienced talent
- Civic Champs learned to stay focused on core product development, avoiding distractions from tangential opportunities
The conversation also covers the rise of volunteer management technology, with adoption of platforms and digital tools rising from about 25% in 2019 to roughly 50% today. Gung speaks candidly about Civic Champs’ own lessons, especially the importance of staying focused amid waves of “shiny object” opportunities during COVID.
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