Recognition of Your Volunteers

Ways to Recognise and Appreciate Volunteers

• Give a certificate to commemorate anniversaries of involvement.
• Take photos of volunteers ‘on the job’, imprint a ‘Thank you’ message, frame them, and give them to each volunteer.
• Hold special ‘thank you’ or social functions in honour of volunteers.
• For long-standing volunteers, collect coins in the amount of hours contributed, place them in a vase tied with a royal blue ribbon, and present at a special afternoon tea.
• Have a morning tea with testimonials to the volunteers from recipients of services.
• Give them a mug with your logo or a ‘thank you’ motif.
• Create bookmarks for volunteers acknowledging their contributions.
• Hold a BBQ for your volunteers.
• Run a Volunteer’s Breakfast.
• Give a pat on the back: Trace your hand on plain paper, cut out, write a message, invite others to do the same, and display for visual impact.
• Create volunteer buttons and pins.
• Arrange discounts for volunteers at local shops.
• Celebrate formal recognition events like International Volunteer Day and National Volunteer Day, and continue recognition all year round.

Starting Off on the Right Foot

• Match the volunteer’s desires with the organisation’s needs.
• Develop a volunteer policy for your organisation.
• Accept that an individual volunteer’s ability to commit may change over time.
• Add volunteers to memo and e-mail distribution lists.
• Ensure volunteers have adequate space and equipment to do their work.
• Ensure a safe and healthy working environment.
• Ensure confidentiality for your volunteers.
• Provide a clear role description for every volunteer.
• Make sure new volunteers are welcomed warmly.
• Give volunteers a proper induction.
• Provide car or bike parking for volunteers.
• Devote resources (time and money) to volunteer support.
• Maintain Occupational Health and Safety standards.
• Provide the opportunity for volunteers to take ‘leave of absence’.
• Have a vision for volunteer involvement in your organisation.

Everyday Cost-Free Ways to Acknowledge Volunteers

• Always be courteous.
• Always greet volunteers by name.
• Say ‘thank you’ often, and mean it.
• Recognise that volunteers play a unique role.
• Be honest at all times.
• Don’t treat volunteers as ‘second-class citizens’.
• Make volunteers feel good about themselves.
• Create a climate in which volunteers can feel motivated.
• Do not overwhelm volunteers.
• Always be appreciative of volunteers’ contributions.
• Give volunteers a real voice within the organisation.
• Tell volunteers they have done a good job.
• Suggest sources of help and support for personal problems.
• Know volunteers’ names, their partners, kids or pets, and ask how they are.

Ways to Value Volunteer Input

• Ask volunteers themselves how the organisation can show it cares.
• Encourage them to sit on committees and attend meetings.
• Allow volunteers to take on more challenging responsibilities.
• Encourage volunteer participation in planning that affects their work.
• Enable volunteers to ‘grow’ on the job.
• Send articles about volunteers to the local newspaper or newsletter.
• Include their name on a program they helped organise.
• Ask volunteers to share their ideas.
• Share the results of program evaluations with volunteers.
• Review volunteer progress regularly.
• Provide constructive appraisal.
• Allow volunteers to get involved in problem solving.
• Learn what motivates each volunteer and recognise appropriately.
• Give volunteers tasks in which they will be successful.
• Ensure work is meaningful to volunteers and the community.
• Promote volunteers to roles that better use their talents.
• Highlight volunteers’ contributions to the organisation.
• Always have work for volunteers to do.
• Provide meaningful and enjoyable work.
• Give volunteers an opportunity to debrief, especially in stressful situations.
• Let volunteers put their names to work they helped produce.
• Use surveys to elicit volunteers’ views.
• Take time to explain and listen to volunteer ideas and concerns.
• Ask volunteers to give presentations or lead meetings.
• Ask volunteers to train other volunteers.
• Ensure volunteer coordinator is accessible with an open-door policy.
• Supervise volunteers’ work.
• Set up a volunteer support group.
• Do not impose new policies without volunteer input.
• Provide volunteers with a special mailbox for memos or files.
• Ask volunteers’ opinions when developing policies and strategies.
• Maintain regular contact with volunteers.
• Use quotes from volunteers in leaflets and annual reports.
• Allow volunteers to air grievances and resolve them swiftly.

Recognition with Slight Cost

• Provide excellent training and coaching.
• Reimburse out-of-pocket expenses.
• Send a personal note to say ‘thanks’.
• Thank them in a newsletter.
• Pay registration fees for education classes or conferences.
• Write letters to volunteers’ families thanking them for support.
• Have a letter or visit from someone who benefited from volunteer services.
• Have staff and clients write comments and compile them in a booklet.
• Create a volunteer notice board.
• Provide free refreshments during coffee/tea breaks.
• Include volunteers in coffee breaks.
• Nominate volunteers for community awards.

Annual / One-Off Recognition Ideas

• Have an annual volunteer award ceremony.
• Conduct an exit interview when a volunteer leaves.
• Feature volunteers at special events throughout the year.
• Farewell volunteers when they move away or leave.
• Provide letters of reference.
• Recommend volunteers to prospective employers.
• Help volunteers prepare resumes highlighting skills developed.
• Send birthday cards.
• Present a special memento recognising service.
• Celebrate the year’s work together.
• Present special awards for 1, 3, 5, 10, 15+ years of service.
• Nominate a volunteer of the month and publicise it.
• If working with children, ask them to make thank-you cards for volunteers.

Source: Volunteering Australia, copyright (c) 2009