17 Apr Thank Your Group of Volunteers During Volunteers’ Week

When you recognize that someone’s efforts make a meaningful difference, you build their self-esteem and confidence. And that’s why volunteer recognition matters. When you thank your volunteers, you acknowledge their time commitment, reinforce their importance, and show appreciation for their efforts. Expressing gratitude to your volunteers helps keep them engaged and motivated. It also fosters a sense of community, which keeps them coming back and reduces turnover. Volunteers that feel valued experience more pride in their work and perform better, increasing productivity and improving the outcomes of volunteer programs.

Thanking your volunteers should be done year-round. Volunteers’ Week gives us the perfect opportunity to express gratitude to volunteers (if you haven’t yet done so lately). Here’s how you can show appreciation to volunteers:

Handwrite a ‘thank you’ note

Handwritten letters are powerful because they require thoughtful effort and are more meaningful. Make thank you notes more personal by avoiding clichéd language.

Throw a party

Celebrate the contributions of your volunteers by throwing them a party in their honor. It can be a simple dinner or a picnic. A party also gives you the perfect opportunity to hand out thank you notes and tokens of appreciation.

Personally interact with volunteers

Gratitude can be expressed in many ways. One meaningful way is to demonstrate that you care by asking for their opinions, concerns, and suggestions. This shows that you appreciate them and want to ensure that they have a positive and productive experience. It also shows that their feedback matters and goes towards improving your programs and decision-making.

Maintain volunteer profiles

Get to know your volunteers. Volunteers come and go, and it may not make sense to keep profiles of each volunteer. However, maintaining individual data can help with retention and is used to invite old volunteers back. Keep track of birthdays and greet both old and new volunteers through email. Get to know your volunteers better through surveys. Understand their unique preferences and hobbies. Ask for their nicknames. This information will prove valuable when you plan a volunteer appreciation party or want to give personalized gifts and rewards.

Personalize merchandise

While your volunteers will be happy with swag from your nonprofit, they’ll love it more if it’s personalized – such as a shirt or mug with your nonprofit’s branding AND their name. With personalized merch, you’re not only saying thank you but also strengthening their emotional bond with your organization.

Partner with other businesses

You rely on donors to support your nonprofit’s cause through donations, and the majority (if not all) of the funds are directed to the mission. Partner businesses recognize that you may have a limited budget to spend on your volunteers. Many small businesses may want to make more significant donations but have budget restrictions themselves. They can help by partnering with you to show thanks to volunteers. For example, a small business may donate gift coupons for its products and services that you can use to reward extraordinary volunteers.

Post a ‘thank you’ video on social media

Publicize your gratitude for your volunteers by posting a heartfelt video on your nonprofit’s social media account. Video content has a bigger impact than a text caption because it allows you to express your authentic gratitude through spoken words and positive body language.