Recognizing Volunteers

The results of our June survey to our volunteers about volunteer recognition are in! We asked what volunteers really wanted and needed to feel recognized for their hard work and dedication. If your organization is already doing some of these things then keep up the good work! If some of the information is a surprise you may be able to integrate some new ideas that may help attract and retain great volunteers.

We found out that volunteer recognition can be somewhat important to volunteers though most feel if they love the organizations mission/goals they would still volunteer. For some volunteers it's not even a factor in their decision to serve the community. They love what they do or volunteer for one time projects where they don't expect a large amount of recognition.

Knowing that the recognition budget is small for many organizations we were happy to see that many forms of non-material recognition would be just as well received as material gifts. It was unanimous that when staff/board members know and acknowledge volunteers by name it means a lot. Volunteers also appreciate a warm and sincere welcome when they arrive and a thank you when they leave. Even a simple verbal thanks or a "pat on the back" helps to make a volunteer feel important and needed within the organization.

Sometimes certain volunteer positions warrant an extra "perk" to volunteers who help out. We found free/discounted admission to an event is a great perk that works especially well if you have volunteers helping with set up or clean up duties. Also a free t-shirt or other clothing item was noted to be a nice perk for helping out.

If your organization has a recognition plan in place, our volunteers noted they do appreciate some sort of annual volunteer awards, thank you emails sent after events/projects or recognition gifts. Having an actual recognition event wasn't even at the top of the list however if you find your volunteers enjoy such a thing consider collaborating with other non-profits or combining your volunteer recognition event with something your clients could enjoy too. Many times volunteers enjoy celebrating along side the clients they serve.

Don't forget that recognition can be something that happens throughout the year. For birthdays, anniversaries (how long a volunteer has been with your organization), time milestones (50 hours served, 100 hours served, etc.) or even a volunteer of the month/year spotlight feature can help volunteers feel recognized continually throughout the year. You could have a spot on a prominent bulletin board to feature your volunteers, showcase them on your website or recognize them through the Volunteer Center or other media outlets.

Also one volunteer noted that a note/email 2-3 days in advance of a project with basic logistics info and a "thanks in advance" can go a long way to help a volunteer feel assured about the event, their role in the activity and that they are still needed and wanted.

Sometimes simple things can go a long way to helping volunteers feel welcome and connected to your organization. Share your ideas and get connected to other volunteer managers on the DOVIA Southern Nevada Facebook page. There is a discussion open where you can share your recognition ideas and tips HERE.