Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration

What Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration does

The Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration (CCVA) is a U.S. nonprofit certification body, incorporated in Virginia in 2006 and headquartered in Portland, Oregon, that grants the Certified in Volunteer Administration (CVA) credential to professionals who mobilize and manage volunteers across nonprofit, healthcare, government, museum, and community settings. The credential is competency-based, portable across organization types, and has been awarded to practitioners in at least 10 countries spanning North America, Europe, and Asia.

CCVA's core offering is the CVA certification, delivered through proctored exams administered twice annually (April and October) via Pearson VUE's global testing center network and YouTestMe's online proctoring platform, with digital credentials issued since 2021. Supporting products include the public CVA Registry of 1,100+ certified professionals, the Is Everyone Welcome? Toolkit (a free diversity, equity, and inclusion resource co-developed with Idealist and more than 20 CVAs), a Speakers Series, and a branded merchandise store. The organization also publishes the field's Body of Knowledge and the textbook 'Volunteer Administration: Professional Practice' (4th edition, 2021), and runs AmeriCorps-funded research projects (ADEVI, TEVA) with Arizona State University. There is no proprietary technology platform; CCVA operates as a credentialing body with standard web infrastructure.

CCVA is self-funded through three revenue streams: one-time application and examination fees for new CVA candidates, recurring renewal fees to maintain the credential, and individual contributions/donations. Pricing is not publicly disclosed. The organization has no parent company, no venture backing, and no enterprise anchor customers; its only historical institutional contract (the healthcare CAVS credential, held 2010–2018) was divested. Distribution is driven by partnerships with national and international volunteer-engagement associations (AL!VE, VMPC, NAVPLG, Points of Light, Volunteer Canada, Volunteer Scotland, Volunteer Ireland, Independent Sector, AmeriCorps), informational webinars run 3–4 times monthly by the Outreach Committee, and a presence on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Bluesky.

Name

Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration

Legal name

Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration

Website

https://cvacert.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2006

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration (CCVA) is a U.S. nonprofit that grants the Certified in Volunteer Administration (CVA) credential to volunteer-engagement professionals across nonprofit, healthcare, government, and community sectors in more than 10 countries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Portland, Oregon

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Certification Fees: Fees charged for initial CVA certification examination and application process.
2. Renewal Fees: Ongoing fees for CVA credential renewal to maintain professional certification status.
3. Individual Contributions: Donations from individuals supporting the organization's mission of advancing excellence in volunteer administration.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration (CCVA) administers the Certified in Volunteer Administration (CVA) credential, a competency-based professional certification for individuals who mobilize and manage volunteers across nonprofits, healthcare, government, museums, and community organizations. The organization also operates a public CVA Registry directory of certified professionals and supports ongoing renewal of credentials to demonstrate continued professional development.

Product overview

The Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration (CCVA) offers a unified professional certification ecosystem centered on the CVA (Certified in Volunteer Administration) credential. The core offering is the CVA certification program, which validates competency in volunteer administration across all organization types internationally. Supporting the certification are the CVA Registry (a directory of certified professionals), the CVA Store (merchandise), and the Speakers Series. Additionally, CCVA provides research initiatives including the 'Is Everyone Welcome? Tools to Broaden Volunteer Engagement' toolkit—a collaborative resource focused on diversity and equity in volunteer inclusion—and research projects like TEVA (Technology Evolution in Volunteer Administration).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• CVA (Certified in Volunteer Administration) Certification
• CVA Registry

Named customers1 record

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• AL!VE (Association of Leaders in Volunteer Engagement)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational membership organization in the United States for leaders and professionals in volunteer engagement. Provides networking, learning, and professional development opportunities at national and international levels.
• America's Service CommissionscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit, nonpartisan association representing 52 state and territorial service commissions across the United States, administering federal AmeriCorps funds.
• Volunteer Management Professionals of Canada (VMPC)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerChampion in volunteer management field, dedicated to advocacy, capacity building, and networking. Supports an international certification process for Managers of Volunteer Resources through CCVA.
• Points of LightcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonpartisan, global nonprofit that inspires, equips and mobilizes people to create positive change through volunteering and civic engagement.
• Volunteer CanadacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational voice for volunteerism in Canada since 1977, committed to increasing and supporting volunteerism and civic participation.
• Volunteer ScotlandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational centre for volunteering in Scotland. CCVA is a Volunteer Scotland Trusted Partner, having completed rigorous assessment for quality and sector expertise.
• Volunteer IrelandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization promoting, supporting and advocating for volunteering in Ireland with a focus on accessibility, inclusivity, and quality.
• Independent SectorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational membership organization connecting, strengthening, and advocating for nonprofits and philanthropies in the United States.
• National Association of Volunteer Program Leaders in Government (NAVPLG)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOnly national membership association in the United States dedicated to supporting leaders who oversee volunteer programs within government settings.
• Association of Zoos & AquariumscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit organization dedicated to advancement of zoos and aquariums in conservation, animal welfare, education, science, and recreation.
• Arizona State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerResearch partner for ADEVI (Assessing Diversity and Equity in Volunteer Inclusion) and TEVA (Technology Evolution in Volunteer Administration) projects, funded by AmeriCorps.
• AmeriCorpscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal agency that funds research projects including ADEVI and TEVA in collaboration with Arizona State University and CCVA.
• Conestoga CollegecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides the only Volunteer Management Certificate Program in Canada with national VMPC partnership. Courses align with CCVA ethics, body of knowledge, and competency framework.
• IdealistcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHosts the Is Everyone Welcome? toolkit and provides volunteer engagement resources and webinars for leaders of volunteers. Partner Jennifer Bennett serves as Director of Education and Training at Idealist.
• Engage JournalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGlobal professional quarterly journal for leaders of volunteer engagement, serving as the global voice of the profession.
• Minnesota Alliance for Volunteer Advancement (MAVA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIntermediary providing field-based research, training, and capacity building resources. Field partner for ADEVI toolkit testing.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Others

• ASAE (American Society of Association Executives): The leading membership organization for association professionals in the U.S. An adjacent peer representing the broader professional-association operating category rather than competing directly in volunteer administration.
• Idealist: Major online platform connecting people with volunteer opportunities and hosting the Is Everyone Welcome? Toolkit for CCVA. An adjacent ecosystem participant rather than a direct credentialing competitor.

Broad incumbents

• Independent Sector: National U.S. membership organization connecting, strengthening, and advocating for nonprofits and philanthropies. A broader incumbent with overlapping professional constituency and policy advocacy activities.
• Points of Light: A large, global nonpartisan nonprofit that inspires, equips, and mobilizes people to take action through volunteering. A broader incumbent that overlaps with CCVA in the volunteer engagement ecosystem but serves a much wider mission.

Direct peers

• AL!VE (Association of Leaders in Volunteer Engagement): National membership association for leaders and professionals in volunteer engagement, with overlapping membership base and frequent co-marketing of the CVA credential. A direct peer in the volunteer administration profession.
• Volunteer Management Professionals of Canada (VMPC): Canadian professional association dedicated to advocacy, capacity building, and networking for managers of volunteer resources. Closely comparable in serving the same practitioner base and supporting an international certification process.
• NAVPLG (National Association of Volunteer Program Leaders in Government): The only national U.S. membership association dedicated to leaders who oversee volunteer programs within government settings. Directly comparable as a focused professional association serving a sub-segment of CCVA's practitioner audience.

Regional players

• Volunteer Scotland: National centre for volunteering in Scotland that assesses and recognizes quality volunteer programs. A regional peer with overlapping mission and a CCVA Trusted Partner designation.
• Volunteer Canada: National voice for volunteerism in Canada, focused on increasing and supporting volunteerism and civic participation. A regional peer operating in the same professional domain across a different geography.

Emerging players

• Better Impact: Volunteer management software and education provider with global membership across USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, Australia, New Zealand, and Singapore. An emerging player adjacent to CCVA in the volunteer engagement ecosystem with potential to expand into credentials.

Market position

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xbsky.app/profile/cvacert.bsky.social
• Facebookfacebook.com/cvacert
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/cvacert

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles15 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Council for Certification in Volunteer Administration