Training

Supportive Environments for Effectiveness (SEE)

VMC is pleased to partner with reDirect, a Michigan nonprofit that provides funding to support organizations through cohort-based learning opportunities. In collaboration with reDirect, VMC leads grant-funded learning cohorts focused on volunteer engagement for nonprofit organizations. These 8-session interactive trainings are an opportunity to dive into volunteer engagement best practices within a cohort of organizations using reDirect’s research-based framework for creating “Supportive Environments for Effectiveness” for both staff and volunteers.

Want to learn more? Join VMC for a virtual, 1-hour “SEE 101” session and if you’re interested in diving deeper, stay for a 30-minute information session about the upcoming SEE Volunteer Engagement Learning Cohort grant opportunities. SEE 101 will provide an overview of the SEE framework, and the information session that follows will provide information about applying to participate in a grant-funded learning cohort to start applying the SEE framework within your organization. We encourage organizational leadership to attend this session along with volunteer engagement staff, as SEE is a framework that can provide benefits to the entire organization, far beyond volunteer engagement.

Participation in a SEE 101 session is a prerequisite for applying to participate in a learning cohort. Each cohort is comprised of eight 2-hour training sessions over the course of four months. VMC will host two cohorts in 2026:

• Colorado – One cohort for Colorado-based organizations will run from February through May (application deadline: January 23, 2026)
• National – One virtual cohort for organizations from around the country will run from June through September (application deadline: May 15, 2026)

Register for a SEE 101 session to learn more below, and contact VMC with any questions.

SEE 101 and Grant Program Info Sessions:

• Tuesday, April 28, 2026- 10:00 am-11:30 am Mountain time – Register here
• Monday, May 11, 2026 – 11:00 am-12:30 pm Mountain time – Register here

If you would like to be notified about future SEE Learning Cohorts when they are scheduled, please contact VMC to be added to the outreach list.

Testimonials:

• “This was the most valuable training I have received in probably over a decade. Traci is an excellent teacher, and the topics covered were immediately applicable to my work. [SEE] has given me a lens to turn to when something isn’t working quite right or we want to improve something.”
  
  — — Crystal Klausmeier
  Program Director
  CASA of the Pikes Peak Region
  2025 Cohort Participant

  
  
  
  

• “The SEE framework helped us be more intentional about how we utilize volunteers. I especially appreciated the simplicity and people-first approach of the framework!”
  
  — — Monica DeWitt
  Civic Engagement Specialist
  Community Resource Center
  2025 Cohort Participant

  
  
  
  

• “[The SEE Volunteer Engagement Learning Cohort] gave me time to dedicate to focusing on our current state through the lens of improvement. The changes we plan to implement in our small experiments will greatly benefit our volunteers and the staff who work with them. It will help staff to better understand the ways in which they can use volunteers and engage with them.”
  
  — Kelly Bockert
  HR People & Culture Manager
  Denver Zoo Conservation Alliance
  2024 Cohort Participant

  
  
  
  

• ” This process has broadened our perspective, allowing us to adapt and iterate based on volunteer input, ultimately fostering a more responsive and engaged environment. We believe that the small changes we’ve implemented in our department can empower other departments to explore this framework as well, fostering a collaborative culture that strengthens our overall mission and enhances our collective impact. As I shared with Traci, I have attended many cohorts throughout my career and this one by far was the best and most valuable. JFS is incredibly grateful.”
  
  — Renee Newhouse
  Director of Volunteer Services
  Jewish Family Service of Colorado
  2024 Cohort Participant

  
  
  
  

• ” I am approaching all volunteer engagement in a new way and think we can make it more meaningful for our volunteers. I think we are getting more buy-in from employees in supporting our volunteers more effectively.”
  
  — Audrey Miklitsch
  Community Engagement Coordinator
  CASA of Jeffco and Gilpin Counties
  2024 Cohort Participant

  
  
  
  

• ” I loved the manner in which things were presented. The pre-work, slides, and discussions with small groups allowed us to understand everything and see examples of how it could be used. I am a visual and experiential learner. This has allowed me to get our volunteer program restarted and to understand best practices to do so.”
  
  — Shari Blake Schnee
  Community and Family Engagement Director
  Boulder JCC
  2024 Cohort Participant

  
  
  
  

• “This training opportunity came along at a perfect time, when we, like many organizations, were reviewing our post COVID environment. The SEE framework provided us with a renewed sense of purpose in designing and improving aspects of the volunteer experience. It has added to our thinking about small but effective changes that will enhance the volunteer experience for both the staff supervisors and the volunteers themselves.”
  
  — Mary Kay Kisseberth
  Volunteer and President of the Volunteer Council
  History Colorado
  Pilot Cohort Participant

  
  
  
  

• “I really enjoyed the cohort model and the opportunity to talk with people from other organizations. I liked having both the time to talk with people outside our group and time to spend with our team.”
  
  — Jillian Allison
  Manager, Volunteer Events
  Mile High United Way
  Pilot Cohort Participant

  
  
  
  

• “”Thank you for the opportunity to learn a new approach – and I appreciated having concrete next steps vs theory.”
  
  — Siri Lewis
  Program Coordinator
  CASA of the Continental Divide
  Pilot Cohort Participant

  
  
  
  

• “To be able to use SEE to help both staff and volunteers see where and how they fit into the organization/program, have the tools they need to do their work, and understand how they are making a difference aids in meeting our mission and helps me in having a successful volunteer engagement strategy.”
  
  — Emily Dobish
  Director of Volunteer Engagement
  History Colorado
  Pilot Cohort Participant

Customized Training

VMC provides customized trainings for organizations, professional associations, and conferences. Contact VMC to discuss a customized training.