International Volunteer Managers Day (IVMDay) will be celebrated on 5 November 2026. This year’s theme, Legacy and Leadership: Honouring the Past, Present and Future, recognises the people whose expertise, care and leadership help make meaningful volunteering possible.
Volunteer Managers, Coordinators and Leaders connect people with purpose, create welcoming opportunities to contribute, and help volunteers thrive in communities across Australia. IVMDay is a chance to recognise their contribution and the influence they have on the volunteer experience.
This year’s theme: Legacy and Leadership
The 2026 theme invites us to reflect on the people who have shaped volunteer leadership, the leaders strengthening the profession today, and the emerging leaders who will carry it forward.
That influence can come from a mentor, colleague, former manager or emerging leader whose example, encouragement or insight has shaped how we support volunteers.
Spotlight someone who has shaped your practice
Share a story about someone who has influenced your approach to volunteer engagement or leadership. It could be a personal message of thanks, a short profile or a reflection on what you learned from them.
Share your recognition on social media using #IVMDay2026 to help make the leadership behind volunteering more visible.
How to get involved
There are plenty of ways to mark IVMDay:
- Thank a Volunteer Manager, coordinator or leader for the care and skill they bring to their work.
- Share a story about someone who has shaped your practice.
- Recognise volunteer leadership in your newsletter, intranet, staff meeting or social channels.
- Invite your team to reflect on the people and experiences that have influenced their work.
- Encourage professional growth through training, mentoring, networking and reflective practice.
- Advocate for the time, resources and professional support volunteer managers need to lead inclusive, meaningful volunteer involvement.
Join the Australasian IVMDay celebration
Volunteer Managers, Coordinators and Leaders from Australia and Aotearoa New Zealand are invited to join a free online IVMDay celebration. The event will be an opportunity to connect, reflect on the profession and recognise the people whose leadership makes volunteering possible.
Visit Volunteering Australia’s International Volunteer Managers Day page for event registration, resources and more ways to take part.
The confirmed theme, date, celebration details and suggested activities are from the official IVMDay website and Team
