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

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!