5 Ways to Recognize your Volunteers 

Volunteer recognition strengthens relationships and encourages long term volunteering 

 

Here are a few key ways you can recognize the impact your volunteers make: 

 

Personalize your gratitude  

While thanking your volunteers may seem like the most obvious thing to do - doing it well can make it much more meaningful for both you and the volunteer. Personalized messages thanking volunteers are tremendously helpful, whether email, text, or sending a card. This small amount of personalization shows you've taken the time and recognize how that volunteer adds to your organizations goals and purpose.

 

One on One recognition 

For those with capacity to do so, taking the time to meet with your volunteer one on one can be tremendously impactful. Whether through a video call or in person, this type of focused time allows more in-depth conversation to find out about your volunteer, and perhaps uncover additional hidden skills or interests.  It also allows the volunteer to give and receive feedback, ask questions, and overall feel more empowered in their volunteer journey.  

 

Having a reward system 

Reward systems provide something tangible for volunteers in a way that has value on its own. This can be in the form of a badge in an online profile, receiving a certificate or award; it can even include rewards such as gift cards. Gift cards are sometimes considered less personal, but can be just as impactful, especially if the gift card itself is for a business or type of product the volunteer will appreciate or find meaningful, such as a favourite local business.   

 

Acknowledge Personal Milestones 

Birthdays, volunteer anniversaries, time with the organization - each of these require tracking and solid record keeping, but allow for reminders of significant moments the volunteer will experience.  Displaying gratitude this way demonstrates to the volunteer that your organization is paying attention to the smaller details, which in turn can promote loyalty and more long term volunteering.  

 

Feature Volunteer Stories 

One way to recognize your volunteer is to feature positive stories about your volunteers. Do this through short write-ups, spotlights or interviews which allow the volunteer to share their experiences. This will have an impact on your website and social media, but also can make volunteering more real to potential recruits, wherever the stories are shared.  It also shows recognition to other volunteers even when they aren't featured, helping them to see other experiences which in turn, validates their own as they see how each piece fits into a bigger picture.