Volunteer Appreciation Week Celebration Ideas
The Top Line:
In the U.S. and in Canada, Volunteer Appreciation Week happens every year in April. You are not alone; many volunteer-involving organizations plan special celebrations to recognize the priceless service their volunteer teams provide.
Allow the VolunteerPro team to get in on the fun! Below, we share simple Volunteer Appreciation Week celebration themes to get your creative juices flowing. In addition, find some easy gift ideas to show volunteers your appreciation.
Read on to Discover:
Themed Celebrations and Gift Ideas
Invite Staff to Participate, Too!
Learn More in the VolunteerPro Membership Community
These Amazon gift suggestions offer quick delivery and bulk sizes, while still allowing you to add your meaningful, personal touch. (As an Amazon associate, we earn a commission on qualifying purchases.)
We hope these suggestions give you some fresh inspiration as you plan your own appreciation events. Report back as we’d love to hear which ideas resonate! Drop us a line anytime at wecare@volpro.net to share your plans for future Volunteer Appreciation Weeks.
For a deep dive into volunteer appreciation, check out Mastering the Ins and Outs of Volunteer Appreciation HERE>>
Themed Celebrations and Gift Ideas
“You Make a Difference” (The Starfish Story)
Perhaps you know a version of this popular story. Walking down the beach as the tide goes out, you see someone in the distance throwing something into the ocean. As you approach, you see the person pick up starfish from the sand one by one, throwing them back into the water.
As you look up and down the shore, you see hundreds of starfish laying in the sun and ask the person, “How can you possibly hope to make a difference when there are so many?” As the person throws another starfish back into the water, they reply gently, “It made a difference to that one.”
In the volunteer sector, this story is meaningful because daily tasks sometimes feel overwhelming and emotionally draining without a reminder of the life-changing impact of the work. And just like returning starfish to the water, seemingly mundane efforts make a huge difference for the population your organization serves.
For Volunteer Appreciation Week, scale this theme to fit your organization with any of the f0llowing gifts. Add star-shaped cookies, balloons, signs, or even doughnuts from a local shop. Also, consider sharing individual volunteer impact stories and publicly recognizing volunteers who have positively affected service beneficiaries.
Gift ideas for this theme:
Greeting Card and Silver Starfish Keychain in Gift Bag – 10 Sets
Starfish Magnet, Note Card, and Bag – 20 Sets
Starfish Story Notecard and Resin Starfish Bead – 24 Sets
Silver Starfish Keychain in Gift Box – 24 Sets
“Your Service Makes a World of Difference” (Globe theme)
This is a great theme for any organization, but especially for those who serve a larger global population or want to reinforce our connections to one another as a global community. Globe-themed gifts can be a reminder that the work your team does each day goes far beyond the walls of your own building, and that volunteers really can change the world from their own hometown.
This is also a great opportunity to share the global impact your organization has made through the cumulative service of your volunteers, along with individual stories of volunteer impact.
Gift ideas for this theme:
Silver Globe Keychain with Card and Gift Bag – 20 sets
Foam Globe Stress Balls – 20 Count
Clear Globe Candy Containers – 40 Count
Bronze Globe Bottle Opener in Gift Box – 24 Count
Need more fresh ideas for how to express volunteer appreciation? Download 50 Simple Volunteer Appreciation Ideas HERE
“Thank You For Going Above and Beyond” (Airplane/Hot Air Balloon theme)
This theme is simple but memorable, and acknowledges the “above and beyond” service volunteers provide every day. This is a great opportunity to publicly recognize volunteers who have done extraordinary work on behalf of your organization.
Gift ideas for this theme:
Bronze Airplane Keychain in Gift Box – Individual
Airplace Magnet/Bottle Opener with Gift Box – 18 Count
Enamel Hot Air Balloon Lapel Pin -10 Count
Any gift is more special with a personal note. For some quick ideas on how to write creative, meaningful words of appreciation, check out this simple Volunteer Thank You Letter Cheat Sheet
“Remembering The Past, Celebrating The Future” (A Journey Through Your Organization’s History theme)
This theme takes a bit more work, but it can be a lot of fun and very meaningful to veteran volunteers. It can also serve as an educational tool for newer volunteers or staff who may not know about the early years of your organization.
This theme is most effective for an in-person event like a volunteer appreciation banquet or luncheon. Set up stations throughout the location representing different years in your organization’s history, with photos of volunteers and staff at work or services being provided to the community.
At each station, an employee (bonus points if the person is part of the executive team!) tells a story from that time, and stamps the volunteer’s “passport.” But don’t be surprised if your tables end up crowded with volunteers sharing memories, enjoying the photos, and remembering the enthusiasm and excitement they felt “back in the day!”
This is also a great opportunity to recognize the work of the volunteer team as a whole and share the impact it has provided over the years on the community and the organization itself.
Gift ideas for this theme:
12-Page Blank Passport – 24 Count
5-Pack Encouraging Self-Inking Stamps – Individual
Compass Ornament with Blank Tag and Jute Twine – 50 Count
Don’t Forget a Simple, Heartfelt “Thank You”
Appreciation Week themes and celebrations can be a lot of fun to plan, and it may be hard to settle on just one!
Just remember that while parties and keepsakes are both important and worthwhile, the most effective – and the easiest – way to show appreciation is with a personal, handwritten thank-you note.
Unlike employees, volunteers freely give time to your organization because they believe in your cause and truly want to make a difference. A handwritten note from you recognizing their unique contributions lets them know their efforts are seen and highly valued.
Not sure what to include in a thank you note? Check out The 4-Part Power Thank You Letter for Volunteers HERE
Invite coworkers to write thank-you notes, especially if they work directly with volunteers. Further, it is very meaningful for executives and board members to participate. Leadership’s encouraging words carry significant weight. Writing just a few each day, you can complete your volunteer roster by Volunteer Appreciation Week.
Thank-you card ideas to get you started:
Retro Style Appreciation Cards (Three Designs) – 24 Count
Boho Style Appreciation Cards (Six Designs) – 35 Count
Colorful Appreciation Cards (Eight Designs) – 24 Count
Assorted Appreciation Cards (5 Designs) – 25 Count
Invite Staff to Participate, Too!
For every one of the ideas above (and all the myriad other fantastic ones we didn’t cover), remember to invite staff and leadership to participate as much as they are willing or able. Even if it’s simply to make staff aware of when and why Volunteer Appreciation Week happens, your gentle nudge can increase employee awareness of the volunteer team’s important work on behalf of your organization.
Learn More in the VolunteerPro Membership Community
VolunteerPro Membership is the #1 online community where leaders of volunteers learn, connect, and take action. As a member, you enjoy access to a large digital library of downloadable content, training, templates, and worksheets, live monthly training and workshops, and a strategic road map to develop your volunteer program through our proprietary system, The Volunteer Strategy Success Path™.
Here are just a few of the training resources you’ll find on volunteer appreciation and retention inside the community:
- Building Your Integrated Volunteer Recognition & Retention Action Plan (Video)
- Keep Volunteers Engaged: Your Recognition & Retention Action Plan (Video)
- 360 Volunteer Appreciation (Video and Curriculum)
- Annual Volunteer Recognition Plan Budget Worksheet (Download)
Monthly and annual membership options are available. Click HERE to learn more and get started today!
Final Thoughts on Volunteer Appreciation Week Celebration Ideas:
Volunteer Appreciation Week is celebrated each April in both the U.S. and Canada, with many organizations hosting events to honor their volunteers’ invaluable contributions. VolunteerPro has offered fun celebration ideas, categorized by theme, and easy gift suggestions to help recognize and thank your volunteers.
