About | Volunteer Leadership Lab

What is The Volunteer Leadership Lab?

Welcome to The Volunteer Leadership Lab—your go-to hub for building impactful, structured, and sustainable volunteer programs. You'll find a full suite of services designed to help nonprofits of all sizes develop, scale, and optimize volunteer engagement efforts.

Expect step-by-step online courses (both live and self-paced), customizable templates, and hands-on consulting—all tailored to help you recruit better, retain longer, and maximize volunteer impact. Whether you're starting from scratch or strengthening an existing program, we're here to support your mission through smarter volunteer leadership.

At the heart of our work is a bold vision: to double the rate of volunteerism in Wilmington by 2030 while helping shape a more active and inclusive culture of service in Wilmington, NC.

Through ongoing research, community feedback, and strong relationships with local nonprofits, businesses, and residents, The Volunteer Leadership Lab is committed to sparking innovative ideas that inspire meaningful and sustained volunteerism across our diverse communities. By listening deeply and grounding our strategies in data, we aim to build a shared culture of civic engagement that truly reflects and serves the people of our city.

Stay tuned—great things are on the way!

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.

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

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.

Please stick with me as I continue to develop this website - adding more courses, templates, resources, and the ILM Volunteer Hub!

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!