Spokes | Resources for Nonprofits

Find Us On Social Media:

FacebookLinkedIn
  • About Spokes
    • About Spokes
    • Annual Report
    • Meet Our Expert Volunteer Faculty
    • Staff & Board of Directors
    • News
    • Frequently Asked Questions
      • Organizational Membership FAQs
    • Spokes’ Privacy Policy
    • Support Spokes
      • Our Generous Donors
  • Membership
    • Membership Benefits
    • Our List of Members
    • What Members Are Saying
    • Member Success Stories
  • Services
    • Consulting
    • Nonprofit Resource Library
    • Nonprofit Board Service
    • Starting a Nonprofit
    • Major Nonprofit Fundraising Events
    • SLO County Nonprofits Get it Done
    • Meeting Spaces
    • Special Resources for Uncertain Times
  • Login
  • Contact Us
  • Volunteer
  • Classes/Workshops
    • Spokes Nonprofit Symposium 2026
  • Job Board
    • Job Board

Volunteer Appreciation Week: Clever Ways to Say ‘Thank You’

March 29, 2018 by Spokes For Nonprofits

Volunteer Appreciation Week is April 15-21! Now is the perfect time to plan to say thank you to your volunteers. If your organization is like ours, you rely heavily on volunteers as an extension of your staff or human resources. A genuine gesture of appreciation can result in a happier, more motivated volunteer. Here are some options to try out:

1. Surprise your volunteers with a kind gesture – coffee or muffins to start their day or a plant to show you’re thinking about them.
2. Show your appreciation through social media or a newsletter.
3. Send a personalized thank you note to the volunteer themselves or to their employer.
4. Use the power of the testimonial. Ask staff and other volunteers to write notes about a time that their colleague handled a challenge or made a difference. Compile the notes on a poster or book and present it to your volunteers.

Remember, a gratified and well-treated volunteer is a motivated and happy volunteer! If your organization is seeking additional support for its volunteer program, Spokes has several volunteer management classes coming up: Preparing Your Agency for Volunteers: Navigating Volunteer Screening and Recruitment on April 11 and Keeping Quality Volunteers: Volunteer Retention and Motivation on April 18. Join us!

Article Categories

  • Financial and Legal
  • Fundraising
  • Governance
    • Board Development
  • Human Resources
  • Marketing & Communication
  • For Board Members
  • For Executive Directors
  • For Staff and Volunteers

DISCLAIMER: Spokes offers informed advice and recommendations, not professional counsel. Blog content is current as of the date shown. Individual posts are not necessarily updated, so please confirm the accuracy of the information, especially of older posts.

Popular Topics

board Board governance board of directors California nonprofits charity communication compensation donations donors employees financial fundraising Governance grants leadership marketing nonprofit nonprofit governance nonprofit management nonprofits nonprofit symposium philanthropy policy productivity recruitment reserve spokes succession planning taxes volunteers

Member Testimonial

“Many times you do not want to go to a meeting or conference or class, but you do anyway because you’re hoping to hear that one idea that can be truly beneficial. Every time I have gone to Spokes, I’ve come away with more than one of those ideas.  The resources they offer have been critical to the progress of our foundation. The experts they host have always been high caliber, and Spokes provided a direct connection to a grant writer who has helped us tremendously.”

Frank Kalman
Executive Director
Kids Cancer Research Foundation
San Luis Obispo, California

What Else Are Members Saying?

Learn about Spokes membership

Guiding nonprofits to achieve their goals through support and expert resources.

How Can We Make A Difference Together?

Spokes welcomes local professionals who would like to share their expertise in support of the nonprofit sector.

Get Started Contributing

Recent Articles

  • How Long Should an Executive Director Stay?
  • Fundraisers and Tax Reporting
  • Does Your Nonprofit Have the Right Policies in Place?

Copyright © 2026 Spokes | Resources for Nonprofits. All Rights Reserved.
PO Box 5122, San Luis Obispo, CA 93403
Hosting by NDIC.
Photography by Nicole Boughton.