Beyond Volunteer Appreciation Week – Appreciate Volunteers Every Day

The Top Line:

We are fortunate to have annual Volunteer Appreciation Weeks or Volunteer Appreciation Months. In such instances, leaders of volunteers focus on ways to publicly recognize the incredible individuals who offer their time and talent. These are chances to express to those volunteers – in large and small ways – the value of their service.

You can probably tell that VolunteerPro embraces the annual recognition dates. We challenge you, however, to think past just one week or month. Consider how you can create sustainable processes within your program that help volunteers see the impact of their work and feel appreciated every single day.

Read on to Discover:
Design Your Programs with Volunteer Needs in Mind
Designing Volunteer Opportunities That Show Appreciation

At VolunteerPro, we love sharing our own fresh takes on volunteer appreciation. From appreciation event themes and gift ideas, to volunteer appreciation quotes to use in your next speech, to a simple thank you note template. Our website is full of ideas to help you show your volunteer team some love – just click the search button at the top right to get started!

Design Your Programs with Volunteer Needs in Mind

Beyond luncheons, gifts, or recognition pins, the very best way to show volunteer appreciation is simply a well-run volunteer program. You display appreciation by intentionally creating a professional, rewarding, and meaningful place to donate their time and talent.

But…what exactly IS a well-run program? What does that look like in the eyes of a volunteer? And how exactly can you create programs to provide and support that sense of appreciation?

It all starts with the fundamental keys to human motivation. 

Humans have three core needs:

• Safety: Consider the program through their eyes. How can you make volunteers feel physically and emotionally safe? Can you create spaces where people feel safe to speak their mind, be vulnerable, or make a mistake? 
• Satisfaction: As humans, we always want to make progress, to achieve something. There is enormous satisfaction in completing something successfully. So, consider ways to build “finish lines” into your volunteer projects, and intentionally recognize and celebrate progress along the way.
• Belonging: As humans, we yearn to feel connected and accepted, and to be a necessary part of a larger whole. Thus, consider ways to welcome volunteers from all walks of life, as well as opportunities for volunteers to connect.

For more on the incredible value that a diverse volunteer team offers and how to embrace diversity in your organization, check out Is Your Org Ready for More Inclusive Volunteering HERE>>

By meeting these three core needs, you are halfway to creating a well-run volunteer program with tangible recognition and appreciation for volunteers. 

Designing Volunteer Opportunities That Show Appreciation

Research into volunteering motivations, including this NCVO study, suggests eight key elements that contribute to an exceptional volunteer experience. By designing volunteer opportunities with these in mind, you bake in a sense of appreciation and value while offering truly impactful service opportunities.

• Inclusivity – The NCVO study found that more inclusive volunteering created a better experience in the eyes of volunteers (aligning with the core human need to belong). So, for your volunteer program, consider ways to encourage volunteers to bring their own history and personality to a role. Further, show you genuinely appreciate the value of their lived experience.

For more on how the lived experiences of volunteers can positively contribute to your organization, check out The Power of Volunteers as Human Capital HERE>>

• Flexibility – Modern life (and schedules) get very busy, so adding flexibility wherever possible shows potential volunteers you appreciate their contributions in the ways – and on the days – they are available. Consider adding varying levels of commitment and think outside the box for ways to modify current roles to fit different schedules. 

• Impact – Volunteers don’t serve because they love working for free – they volunteer because they want to change the world! Your goal should be to design roles so the volunteers experience the greatest impact for their investment of time and talent. Make them feel that warm glow of appreciation for a job well done.

• Connection – Community is a huge part of volunteering, so consider ways to strengthen connection. For example, create more opportunities for volunteers to be social and interact with one another. Building in that social/community element shows volunteers that you appreciate them as people, rather than just free labor.  

• Balance – There is a general sense among volunteers that volunteer-involving organizations are becoming too formal. And while processes, KPIs, and outcome metrics are important from a staff standpoint, consider ways to rethink your application and onboarding requirements so they feel less rigid and more welcoming to volunteers.  

• Enjoyment – In the same way, remember that volunteering should be FUN! People are donating their leisure time to volunteer, so consider ways you can make the experience at your organization more enjoyable to reflect your appreciation for the time that volunteers share with you.

• Boundaries – It’s important to respect volunteer boundaries around volunteer service, available times, or specific roles. Therefore, consider ways to safeguard those limits and make sure volunteers know how much you appreciate what they can offer your organization.

• Meaning – Offering meaningful ways to make a difference shows appreciation for volunteers since it speaks to a core motivator for volunteer service. Get to know the volunteers at your organization, their individual values and needs, to better match them with meaningful roles that align with their own goals.  

You can strategically include these elements in your volunteer program design and align volunteer roles with one (or more!) examples. The result is a rewarding, enjoyable environment with volunteers who feel highly appreciated.  

Final Thoughts on Beyond Volunteer Appreciation Week – Appreciate Volunteers Every Day:

We LOVE Volunteer Appreciation weeks and months. They provide opportunities to shine a light on the important work volunteers do. Use them to establish greater community awareness about volunteerism as a whole. Just don’t stop there!

Daily acts of recognition and appreciation are equally valuable and important. Try some of the mentioned ideas. Make the effort to build safe, welcoming, meaningful, and FUN opportunities for volunteers to serve. It might be the ultimate way to share your organization’s appreciation for volunteers.