Tools, frameworks, and research. Free. No email required.
Everything here is open access. Download what you need, use it in your work, share it with your team. We don't gate our resources behind email forms or membership walls. The field gets better when practitioners can find and use the best thinking without friction.
A practitioner-facing overview of the three Keystone Behaviors: Conducting the Brief, Guiding Volunteer Experiences, and Conducting the Debrief. Designed for training contexts and quick reference.
download Download ResourceA practitioner-facing overview of the three Keystone Behaviors: Conducting the Brief, Guiding Volunteer Experiences, and Conducting the Debrief. Designed for training contexts and quick reference.
download Download ResourceA sector-wide declaration published by Volunteer Groups Alliance in December 2025. Outlines the structural and philosophical shifts needed for employee volunteering to generate genuine social change rather than optics.
download Download ResourceThe definitive annual benchmark on corporate giving and employee engagement from CECP (Chief Executives for Corporate Purpose). Essential reference data for CSR leaders making the case for program investment and scope.
download Download ResourceA practical implementation guide from Prosocial World for applying evolutionary science and contextual behavioral science to group design. Foundational reading for anyone building programs grounded in cooperation theory rather than incentive mechanics.
download Download ResourcePlatform connecting over 200,000 organizations with people seeking volunteer opportunities and social-impact careers. A practical starting point for companies building employee volunteer pipelines with community partners already using Idealist.
download Download ResourceAI-powered platform that connects employees with colleagues who hold relevant experience and expertise. A delivery partner in RWI programs focused on knowledge-sharing as a form of prosocial engagement.
download Download ResourceResearch hub, practitioner tools, and frameworks from David Sloan Wilson's organization applying evolutionary and contextual behavioral science to groups, organizations, and communities. The theoretical backbone for much of RWI's program design.
download Download ResourceA Realized Worth framework on how physical and psychological proximity to those we serve drives lasting prosocial behavior change in volunteers. The research case for designing volunteer experiences that close the distance between helper and helped.
download Download ResourceWhy most volunteer programs don't change anyone. The hidden design flaw in corporate volunteering, and the call center study that proves it. The foundational case for proximity as the primary design variable in volunteer program effectiveness.
download Download ResourceWhy most volunteer programs don't change anyone. The hidden design flaw in corporate volunteering, and the call center study that proves it. The foundational case for proximity as the primary design variable in volunteer program effectiveness.
download Download ResourceThe Brief and Debrief are not optional. How two fifteen-minute windows determine whether volunteering transforms or merely occupies. Detailed guidance on constructing effective Briefs and Debriefs with research backing.
download Download ResourceThe Brief and Debrief are not optional. How two fifteen-minute windows determine whether volunteering transforms or merely occupies. Detailed guidance on constructing effective Briefs and Debriefs with research backing.
download Download ResourceHow to identify where participants are in their learning journey and design experiences that meet them there. Covers the three orientations, how they shift during an experience, and facilitation moves for each.
download Download ResourceThe case for treating donors and volunteers as the resource, not just the source of resources. Includes the Tourist-Traveler-Guide framework, the Brief-Guide-Debrief cycle, and the research on prosocial spending that underpins both.
download Download ResourceThe case for treating donors and volunteers as the resource, not just the source of resources. Includes the Tourist-Traveler-Guide framework, the Brief-Guide-Debrief cycle, and the research on prosocial spending that underpins both.
download Download ResourceAll resources in the RWI Library are open access. No paywalls, no gating. We believe the field gets better when the best tools and thinking are available to everyone who needs them.
Get notified when new resources are published
