As a volunteer coordinator, you know how critical volunteers are to your nonprofit’s activities. Whether they’re in hands-on roles with beneficiaries, helping with fundraisers, or working behind the scenes, your organization likely appreciates everything they do even more than they might think. So, why not regularly show them how grateful you are?
To help you get started with volunteer appreciation, this guide will cover the following topics:
Your volunteers probably have individual preferences when it comes to recognition, and they’ve all served your nonprofit in different ways and for different periods of time. This is why it’s important to be strategic in your appreciation to make your volunteers feel truly valued. Let’s dive in!
Before we discuss the best volunteer appreciation strategies, let’s lay the groundwork by answering some common questions on the topic.
Volunteer appreciation is the process of acknowledging and rewarding the contributions of time and energy that volunteers make to your nonprofit. Whether formal or informal, meaningful appreciation is essential to a thriving volunteer program.
Volunteer appreciation is the fourth of the five stages of the volunteer lifecycle. This common visualization of the volunteer journey begins with recruitment and onboarding—i.e., attracting volunteers to your organization and getting them up and running in their roles. Appreciation is the bridge between engagement (helping volunteers feel connected to your nonprofit and thrive in their roles) and retention (encouraging volunteers to stay involved long-term).
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As of 2024, the average monetary value of just one volunteer hour was $33.49. When you consider the combined time that all of your volunteers spend working with your nonprofit, the value they provide quickly adds up!
More specifically, volunteer appreciation helps to:
Volunteers who feel appreciated as key players in your organization’s community and mission may also start contributing in other ways—donating, attending events, advocating for your cause, etc.—and become even more valuable to your nonprofit.
Timing is often one of the trickiest aspects of volunteer appreciation because each volunteer has likely made a different commitment to your nonprofit. Some volunteers just work specific events, while others serve on a recurring basis. And even repeat volunteers may be on different schedules (weekly, monthly, semimonthly, etc.).
Some of the best times to express gratitude to volunteers include:
No matter which of these occasions you choose to formally thank your volunteers, don’t underestimate the value of informal appreciation. A quick, verbal “Thanks for your help!” or “Great work today!” from a supervisor after each shift can go a long way in letting volunteers know you’re always grateful for any support they can provide.
For those more formal appreciation moments, we’ve rounded up some of the best ideas to show volunteers you care. Feel free to browse the whole list or use the table below to jump to the sections you think would appeal most to your volunteer base.
Writing a thank-you note may be the simplest and most effective way to appreciate your nonprofit’s volunteers. However, your messages will only hit home if you tailor them to each individual supporter. Although this can be time-consuming, adding meaning to your notes and fully engaging volunteers is worth the effort.
When sending out volunteer thank-you notes, make sure to:
While it’s tempting to use these notes as an opportunity to ask volunteers to contribute more of their time, turning every communication into a request for support can lead to burnout. Instead, hint at your desire for volunteers to stay involved (e.g., “We hope to see you at more of our volunteer events in the future!”) and send a separate message later to directly promote additional engagement opportunities.
When sent alongside thank-you notes, gifts take your appreciation a step further by giving volunteers a tangible reward in exchange for their service. Some of the best volunteer gift ideas include:
In addition to showing gratitude, your nonprofit can facilitate word-of-mouth marketing by giving out volunteer gifts. Especially if the gift has your nonprofit’s logo on it, other people in your volunteers’ networks might ask about it when they wear or use it in public, giving them the perfect opportunity to talk about your organization and their involvement in your mission.
Social media is a powerful communication tool that allows your nonprofit to build personal and meaningful connections with volunteers and other community members online. So, sharing volunteer stories on social media can be a great appreciation strategy. To get started, follow these steps:
Social media shoutouts can have the added benefit of inspiring others to engage with your nonprofit after reading about your current volunteers’ positive experiences. Plus, volunteers might share the post with their followers and help you attract more supporters that way.
Your nonprofit’s annual report provides a perfect opportunity to celebrate your accomplishments and share your mission-related progress—including how your volunteers have helped you work toward goals throughout the past year. Consider highlighting volunteers in your annual report by:
As with social media posts, make sure to get volunteers’ consent before sharing their names and photos with your organization’s entire constituent base in your report.
One of the top benefits of volunteering to many volunteers is becoming part of a community. However, depending on their roles, some volunteers may only interact with a few other supporters and staff members during their shifts. Help them meet more members of your nonprofit’s community through volunteer appreciation events!
An in-person social or dinner is typically the most impactful type of appreciation event since it gives volunteers a chance to talk face-to-face in a relaxed environment. If your volunteer base is more geographically spread out, a virtual gathering can also work. Either way, place your volunteers’ impact at the center of your virtual appreciation event. After all, your volunteers get involved to make a difference in their community, and this is your opportunity to show them just how much they’ve accomplished.
Especially for volunteers who’ve been with your nonprofit for a while, honor their loyalty by offering special perks related to your organization. For example, you might provide them with:
Calculate your discounts carefully to ensure you can make that money back through increased sales—which will likely happen when volunteers hear about these special offers just for them!
A thoughtful thank-you video can leave a lasting impression by demonstrating just how much your volunteers mean to your nonprofit and those you serve in a multimedia format. You don’t even need state-of-the-art technology to record a short testimonial from a beneficiary or a group message from your staff—a smartphone on a tripod (purchased or homemade) and a DIY video editor like iMovie or CapCut can work surprisingly well!
Keep your videos on the shorter side to hold viewers’ attention, and ensure they're accessible to all recipients by enabling closed captioning. Once you’ve finished filming and editing them, send them out to your volunteers in a dedicated email or in a featured section of your volunteer newsletter. If you’re creating a year-end video to recognize all recent volunteers, you may also post it on social media and your website to expand its reach.
Volunteers often look to learn and grow in their roles over time, since developing new skills is also a top benefit of volunteering. Show volunteers you care about their needs by offering a robust resource library that they can access at any time to take courses, read articles, or watch videos on topics that interest them with no obligation.
As volunteers perform their duties well over time, you can also offer them new opportunities within your organization, like serving in a higher-profile capacity or mentoring new volunteers. While you shouldn’t pressure volunteers to take on these responsibilities if they don’t want to, having the option open can let volunteers know that you’ve seen them going above and beyond for your nonprofit.
Another way to recognize volunteers who go above and beyond for your mission is to present them with awards. These might honor various aspects of volunteers’ work, such as:
Depending on your volunteers’ preferences, you could present these awards as certificates, trophies, or digital badges that show up in your volunteer directory (as seen below).
After thanking volunteers in other ways, follow up with periodic surveys on their experience with your nonprofit. While your questions will vary depending on how long and in what capacity volunteers have served, you might ask about:
Store survey responses in your nonprofit’s database and use them to identify areas where you can improve your volunteer program. Taking these steps demonstrates that you’re dedicated to providing your volunteers with the best possible experience and that you appreciate their input.
To effectively manage and track your volunteer appreciation tactics within the context of your larger volunteer program, you’ll need the right tools. This is where comprehensive volunteer management software like Volunteer Impact is invaluable.
Volunteer Impact—Better Impact’s top-rated solution trusted by more than 3,400 nonprofits of all sizes and missions—comes with a variety of features to help you execute your volunteer appreciation strategy, including:
By investing in Volunteer Impact, you’ll also gain access to features that help with every aspect of the volunteer management lifecycle, from recruitment to retention. But don’t just take our word for it—check out what real nonprofits like yours have had to say about working with Better Impact as you make your purchasing decision!
By strategically acknowledging volunteers’ contributions, you’ll create a positive and supportive environment that encourages them to continue volunteering and even recruit others to join in. A culture of appreciation can help strengthen relationships, boost morale, and enhance the overall effectiveness of your volunteer program. Use the ideas above to get started, and make sure to invest in the right tools (like Volunteer Impact!) to take your efforts to the next level.
For more information on volunteer engagement and management, check out these resources:
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