40 Ways To Recognise Your Volunteers

The following is a list of ways you can recognise your volunteers. It is important to remember that each volunteer program and individual volunteer are different. Therefore you may want to implement a variety of volunteer recognition strategies over time while you discover what works best for you, your volunteers and your budget.

1)    Smile when you see your volunteers

2)    Know your volunteer’s name

3)    Acknowledge the presence of your volunteer

4)    Always remember to say ‘thank you’

5)    Give volunteers meangingful work

6)    Be prepared for volunteers when they arrive

7)    Nominate volunteers for local and national awards

8)    Give awards such as plaques and certificates

9)    Ask for feedback from your volunteers

10)   Host an annual appreciation dinner, picnic, cheese and wine etc.

11)   Involve long term volunteers in training new volunteers

12)   Send a seasoned volunteer to a volunteer management or leadership training course

13)   Send a hand written thank you to your volunteer

14)   Share volunteer success stories and volunteer contributions through newsletters and community meetings

15)   Take time to buy your volunteer a tea or coffee and have a chat

16)   Provide a letter of recommendation or reference for employment

17)   Implement a length of service award programme

18)   Be specific when thanking volunteers. Mention something they have done that makes them special

19)   Give volunteers tasks in which they will be successful

20)   Recognise volunteers in front of those who are important to them

21)   Send birthday cards

22)   Host a volunteer Christmas party

23)   Provide training for your volunteers

24)   Celebrate International Volunteer Day on 5th December each year

25)   Create a ‘Volunteer of the Month’ and a ‘Volunteer of the Year’ award

26)    Send thank you cards drawn by children

27)    Provide free coffee, tea, biscuits on site for volunteers

28)    Submit media releases about the good work your volunteers are doing

29)    Organize a field trip (social or educational) for your volunteers

30)    Challenge volunteers to do new things

31)   Tell your volunteer they did a good job

32)   Honour volunteers for years of service to your organisation

33)   Make caps, badges or t-shirts so your volunteers can be easily recognised and feel part of the team

34)   Have the CEO or other senior personnel write a letter to thanks to your volunteers

35)   Establish a Volunteer Advisory Committee where volunteers have the opportunity to contribute their ideas and suggestions to the organisation

36)   Provide food and/or refreshments at volunteer trainings and meetings

37)   Evaluate your volunteer's performance and in turn have them evaluate thr organisation's performance

38)   Offer tuition assistance for classes related to the volunteer role

39)   Provide a forum for volunteers to present their results to management

40)   Involve volunteers in the annual planning process