About | Volunteer Leadership Lab

What is The Volunteer Leadership Lab?

Welcome to The Volunteer Leadership Lab—your strategic partner in building impactful, structured, and sustainable volunteer programs.

Through customized consulting services, I help nonprofits develop, scale, and optimize their volunteer engagement efforts—whether you need a one-time strategy session, targeted project support, or ongoing guidance.

In addition to consulting, I offer step-by-step online courses (live and self-paced), interactive workshops, and practical templates designed to equip nonprofit leaders with the tools and confidence to strengthen their programs. Whether you’re starting from scratch or refining an existing structure, you’ll gain actionable strategies grounded in real-world experience and best practices.

At the heart of this work is a bold vision: to double the rate of volunteerism in Wilmington by 2030 and help cultivate a more active, inclusive culture of service in Wilmington, NC.

Through research, community partnerships, and data-informed strategy, The Volunteer Leadership Lab is committed to inspiring meaningful and sustained civic engagement across our city.

A Culture of Volunteerism Transforms Cities

When volunteerism becomes part of a city’s culture, everyone benefits. In Wilmington, NC, that means:

For Individuals

Improved health – volunteering has been shown to lower blood pressure and reduce stress

Less loneliness and greater connection

A stronger sense of purpose

Skill-building and career prep for students and professionals

Networking and relationship-building opportunities

For Our City

Stronger social bonds and a deeper sense of belonging

Safer neighborhoods through greater connection and mutual support

Better outcomes for vulnerable populations

More welcoming spaces for newcomers to get involved

Enhanced services and infrastructure

A happier, healthier, more unified city

For Nonprofits

Expanded capacity to serve

Labor cost savings through volunteer support

Increased funding (many volunteers also become donors)

Stronger visibility and community advocacy

A pipeline of passionate, informed ambassadors

Why This Work Matters

Building Trust Through Action

Nonprofits are the heart of our communities—but today, many face growing public skepticism. Fueled by misinformation and political narratives, some media portray these organizations as untrustworthy or wasteful.

But when people volunteer, they see the truth for themselves:

How nonprofits operate behind the scenes
Where funding comes from and how it’s used
The daily impact these organizations make in our communities

Volunteering builds transparency. It builds trust. And that trust is essential to ensuring nonprofits continue to thrive.

Building Community, Bridging Divides

We live in a time of deep political and social division. But when people come together to serve a shared cause, labels fall away.

Volunteering side by side creates opportunities to connect with people from different backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences.

It fosters:

Respectful dialogue
Empathy and understanding
A sense of shared purpose

We stop being “us and them.” We become neighbors, teammates, changemakers.

Who is behind this?

My name is Rose Tatum.

I'm the Founder of the Volunteer Leadership Lab, where I help nonprofit organizations develop, lead, and scale intentional volunteer programs that create lasting community impact.

With over a decade of experience in volunteer engagement and a deep commitment to service rooted in my own lived experience, I aim to equip mission-driven organizations with the tools, training, and strategies they need to build strong, sustainable volunteer infrastructures.

As a Certified Volunteer Administrator (CVA), I bring nationally recognized expertise and a grounded, empathetic approach to every organization I work with.

Why it Matters to Me

I created The Volunteer Leadership Lab because I believe Wilmington can be a national model for what a connected, engaged, and empowered city looks like.

One where people trust and support local nonprofits.

One where we put aside our differences to serve side by side.

One where everyone has the opportunity to contribute to something bigger than themselves.

Connect with me on Linkedin!