Volunteer Appreciation Ideas
Fresh, Fun Ideas for Volunteer Recognition
A special thanks to Create the Good for this great guest post!
Looking for fresh, FUN volunteer appreciation ideas? Whether you’re a nonprofit recognizing the most loyal volunteers, a school planning a volunteer appreciation program, or simply a small group looking to spotlight the supporters that fight for your cause, we’ve got 5 trending ideas for you:
1. Nominate Your Volunteers For a Chance to Win a Free Cruise: Join Create the Good and Cabot Creamery Cooperative in celebrating volunteers with the annual Cabot Community Cruise Contest! The Cabot Community Celebrity Award Cruise honors dedicated volunteers from across the country with a seven-night, service-themed excursion for 2 to Alaska – all expenses paid (including airfare)! Aboard Celebrity Cruises’ Solstice, winners will:
- Relax and enjoy the beautiful scenery of Alaska
- Enjoy dancing, dining and world-class entertainment nightly
- Attend workshops and seminars to enhance their volunteer efforts
- Share tips and tactics with peers
It’s easy to enter – click here and fill out the entry form for yourself or a volunteer you would like to nominate. In addition, you can submit a photo or video - it’s not required, but it helps when we’re reading over the submissions. Click here to enter today!
2. Show Volunteers The Impact They Are Making: There is a common saying—volunteers don’t necessarily have the time, but they have the heart. The very reason volunteers give of their time, talents and skills is because they’re seeking to make a difference in their community without any expectation of compensation in return. A powerful way to say “thank you” to them is to illustrate the impact their hard work is having in the community – whether it’s posting pictures on Facebook, updating impact statements on your group’s website, handwritten thank you notes, or personal thank you videos from community members affected by your group’s positive work, the ideas are endless.
3. Throw a Volunteer Appreciation Party: A fun gathering with food, awards and community is a memorable opportunity to show volunteers some love. Coordinate a shared meal or potluck with free online Potluck SignUps, and use these free volunteer appreciation printable certificates to hand out to deserving supporters with a framed picture of your group. Time to relax and enjoy one another’s company in honor of the GOOD work your volunteers do is easy with a volunteer appreciation party. Bonus: Hosting a volunteer appreciation event before 8/31/16? Make sure to spread the word at your party about the Cabot Community Cruise Contest from Create the Good, click here.
4. Save Your Volunteers Time: One way to show your volunteers appreciation is to continue to make it easy for them to get involved and communicate! Free online tech tools like SignUp.com make signing up for the next volunteer event a snap (and automated confirmation and reminder emails keep everyone on track). Communication and cloud-sharing tools like Skype, Google Docs, Dropbox and Join.me help volunteers share important documents and SignUps and meet virtually (when in-person gatherings aren’t feasible).
5. Volunteer Appreciation Feature: Pumping up your volunteer webpage? Make a point to designate a specific section that spotlights super volunteers and the impact they are making with your group. Include a picture of them, a short quote or anecdote they want to share and a badge that calls out how awesome they are!
