15 Nov Expressing Gratitude: 5 Ways to Make Your Volunteers Feel Valued

Volunteers contribute immense value to the nonprofit sector – they are true heroes. Their active participation in facilitating fundraising, marketing, and services saves millions of dollars for nonprofits every year. About 77 million people, with an estimated worth of $25.43 per hour each, volunteer across the U.S., according to the Volunteering in America report. While participating in something bigger than yourself is rewarding, knowing you are valued as an individual can encourage volunteers to keep contributing their time and effort.

When you express gratitude to your volunteers, you show appreciation for their time and hard work. This also encourages them to continue volunteering as well as foster a sense of community. Here are five ways to make your volunteers feel valued:

Showcase volunteer heroes on your public channels

Recognize your volunteers on social media, newsletters, blogs, and websites. One way to do this is to make a heartfelt post that includes anecdotes and stories based on volunteer experiences. Quote volunteers and, with permission, add their names or photo to give a face to their extraordinary contributions. Make the content shareable so they can promote positivity across their personal channels, which will drive engagement to your organization’s social channels.

Actively seek feedback from volunteers

People feel valued when they know that their voice is recognized. Hold regular meetings with volunteers over casual coffee to get their thoughts and concerns about your organization’s mission and activities. Gain different perspectives and analyze their feedback. This will assist in leading to new best practices and filling gaps that you may not have realized created obstacles. Invite volunteers to reach out to you directly if they have suggestions. By engaging in these conversations, you’re sending the message that you are grateful for their volunteerism and value their opinions as a part of your community.

Write LinkedIn Endorsements

Writing personalized endorsements for your volunteers has a similar impact to writing a letter of recommendation. You can also encourage your nonprofit employees to write endorsements for your volunteers, allowing your volunteers to feel appreciated. These endorsements will be visible publicly to their future employers and can be seen by prospective potential volunteers.

Celebrate individuality with customized appreciation gifts

Pay special attention to the interests of the volunteer. It may be challenging to get to know each and every single volunteer, especially if you have many. However, customizing appreciation gifts to fit individual interests demonstrates your sincere investment in that person.

An excellent way to understand the interests of your volunteers is to have them complete “getting to know you” forms. Ask questions that will help you understand them better without being intrusive. Inquire about their hobbies, pets, unique talents, or favorite foods.

For someone who expresses their love for reading books, gift them with bookstore vouchers, branded bookmarks, or personalized bookend. For a volunteer who says they love to bake, gift them with a decorative rolling pin or a quirky kitchen timer. Remember, gifts can come in all sizes and price ranges, and you don’t always have to spend a lot. It’s the celebration of their individuality that makes the gift most valuable.

There are various ways to show appreciation to your volunteers – and by doing this, it makes a true impact on your organization. We’d love to hear what your organization does to value your volunteer base.