Council For Certification In Volunteer Administration
A world where competent, passionate leaders effectively engage volunteers.
Programs and results
What we aim to solve
Our vision is a world where competent, passionate leaders effectively engage volunteers.
Our programs
What are the organization's current programs, how do they measure success, and who do the programs serve?
CVA Certification Program
Awards a professional credential to individual leaders and managers of volunteers in any type of setting. The Certified in Volunteer Administration (CVA) certification process is a competency-based process measured through an exam and recertification every five years. Eligible candidates must have at least 3 years of related experience. The credential is offered internationally in English.
Professional Ethics
Advocates for ethical practices in volunteer administration by:
establishing ethical principles for this field of work; teaching ethical decision-making skills to practitioners;
offering training materials on ethics to consultants and educators.
Educational Resources
Serves as a resource for practitioners and instructors in the field by:
identifying the core competencies and body of knowledge for effective volunteer resource management
publishing and disseminating a textbook based on these competencies
publishing articles and white papers related to the profession
Where we work
External reviews

Our Sustainable Development Goals
Learn more about Sustainable Development Goals.
Goals & Strategy
Learn about the organization's key goals, strategies, capabilities, and progress.
Charting impact
Four powerful questions that require reflection about what really matters - results.
What is the organization aiming to accomplish?
Our mission is to advance excellence in volunteer administration by delivering professional certification and advocating ethical practice.
What are the organization's key strategies for making this happen?
Our Strategic Direction:
ADVOCATE – Champion the CVA credential, current certificants, and the profession to ensure quality, credibility and sustainability.
UNIFY – Strengthen the field of volunteer engagement by promoting a universal framework for excellence in professional practice.
INSTILL – Inspire and encourage practitioners to apply an ethical lens to their work with volunteers.
REACH – Elevate global professionalism in volunteer administration by sharing the Body of Knowledge
and being responsive to emerging interests in certification.
MANAGE – Govern and manage CCVA to ensure operational efficiency and effectiveness
What are the organization's capabilities for doing this?
The Association for Volunteer Administration (AVA) developed the Certified in Volunteer Administration (CVA) program in the early 1980s as a means of professional development for individuals who mobilize and manage volunteers.
In early 2006 the AVA Board of Directors was forced to dissolve the association due to severe financial challenges.
In June 2006, the AVA Board transferred ownership of the CVA program and the “Professional Ethics in Volunteer Administration” publication to a new Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration (CCVA), with the understanding that they be “preserved and maintained … for the benefit of the profession.” CCVA was incorporated as a nonprofit organization in Virginia in June 2006.
CCVA is a volunteer led organization with a Board of Directors and several committees who also partner with an Executive Director and a psychometrician. Our testing vendor is YouTestMe and we maintain membership with the Institute of Credentialing Excellence.
What have they accomplished so far and what's next?
To date the CCVA has certified 2500 people over the last 40 years. Currently, 1100 people hold the certification.
2008 – CCVA conducted a Job Analysis study and published the first-ever “Body of Knowledge in Volunteer Administration” identifying the full range of skills and knowledge which serve as the foundation for this field, regardless of where or how it is practiced.
2009 – CCVA published Volunteer Administration: Professional Practice, a textbook organized around the Body of Knowledge. Written by 20 authors from the United States and Canada, it provides a unique contribution to the literature of the field by combining academic concepts and research with practical application.
2011 — CCVA presented workshops on core competencies and professional ethics at the World Conference on Volunteerism in Singapore. Staff also consulted with the Canadian HR Council in support of its development of new occupational standards in volunteer resource management. Over 1,000 leaders have now earned the CVA credential!
2012 — CCVA welcomed a pilot group of three candidates from Singapore and the first candidate from the United Kingdom. Staff shared information about the core competencies with educators at the ARNOVA conference. A collaborative agreement was executed with the national Canadian Administrators of Volunteer Resources to offer the CVA credential to their members.
2013 – The second edition of Volunteer Administration: Professional Practice was published. CCVA welcomed a pilot group of candidates from Saudi Arabia. The first CVAs were awarded to practitioners in Switzerland and Saudi Arabia.
2014 – A comprehensive Practice Analysis Study as conducted to update the body of knowledge and core competencies for the field. The validation survey was distributed globally with over 800 response received. The CVA renewal process was also updated and revised to include more options for earning professional development units. The first CVA was awarded in Zambia.
2015 – The new CCVA Body of Knowledge and Competency Framework was released. As of this year, at least one CVA credential has been awarded in 10 countries.
2016 – CCVA transitioned to a new testing service which provided access to the Pearson VUE global network of testing centers. The Portfolio component was eliminated from the CVA certification process. The Professional Ethics in Volunteer Administration document was revised and updated, and the third edition of Volunteer Administration: Professional Practice was published.
2018 – CCVA transitioned away from administering the CAVS designation for leaders of volunteers in healthcare settings.
2019 – CCVA begins using the YouTestMe online exam portal which provides online testing and virtual proctoring, accessible worldwide.
2020 - CCVA begins issuing digital credentials.
Financials
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Operations
The people, governance practices, and partners that make the organization tick.
Connect with nonprofit leaders
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Connect with nonprofit leaders
SubscribeBuild relationships with key people who manage and lead nonprofit organizations with GuideStar Pro. Try a low commitment monthly plan today.
- Analyze a variety of pre-calculated financial metrics
- Access beautifully interactive analysis and comparison tools
- Compare nonprofit financials to similar organizations
Want to see how you can enhance your nonprofit research and unlock more insights? Learn More about GuideStar Pro.
Council For Certification In Volunteer Administration
Board of directorsas of 5/10/2022
Amber McMillan
Julie Gallanty
Kristine Flynn
Christi Brown
Tiffany Bennett
Joy Parker
Kylene Mellor
Lisa Porter
Organizational demographics
Who works and leads organizations that serve our diverse communities? GuideStar partnered on this section with CHANGE Philanthropy and Equity in the Center.
Leadership
The organization's leader identifies as:
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Disability
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Equity strategies
Last updated: 01/25/2021GuideStar partnered with Equity in the Center - an organization that works to shift mindsets, practices, and systems to increase racial equity - to create this section. Learn more
- We review compensation data across the organization (and by staff levels) to identify disparities by race.
- We employ non-traditional ways of gathering feedback on programs and trainings, which may include interviews, roundtables, and external reviews with/by community stakeholders.
- We seek individuals from various race backgrounds for board and executive director/CEO positions within our organization.
- We have community representation at the board level, either on the board itself or through a community advisory board.
- We help senior leadership understand how to be inclusive leaders with learning approaches that emphasize reflection, iteration, and adaptability.