Disclosed is a method of making reduced VOC polymers and coating compositions containing such polymers. Provided is a mixture (J) comprising a reactant mixture (a) of polymerizable components and a nonvolatile solvent (bnv) that (i) is not a crystalline solid at 25° C., (ii) is nonvolatile, (iii) comprises at least one functional group (F1) and (iv) is a fluid solid. Reactant mixture (a) is polymerized to provide a polymer (a′). The at least one functional group (F1) of nonvolatile solvent (bnv) is reacted with one or more reactants (e) to obtain a nonvolatile solvent (b′nv) comprising at least two functional groups (F2). Obtained is a mixture (II) comprising polymer (a′) in nonvolatile solvent (b′nv) comprising at least two functional groups (F2). The at least one functional group (F1) is substantially nonreactive: (1) with the components of reactive mixture (a), (2) under the polymerization conditions which polymerize reactant mixture (a), and (3) with polymer (a′).