6 Volunteer Appreciation Ideas Nonprofits Can Really Use
When I volunteered at the Red Cross Station in Yokosuka, Japan, our Volunteer Appreciation banquet was our biggest event of the year. As the volunteer coordinator, I was responsible for making sure each volunteer knew how much we appreciated the work they were doing. It was a responsibility that I, and the rest of the board, took seriously. We knew that our station could not exist without volunteers.
As Volunteer Appreciation Week 2025 approaches (April 20-26), I want to share ideas for recognizing volunteers that I’ve gathered both as a volunteer coordinator and as a volunteer in many arts and culture organizations. These volunteer appreciation ideas go beyond gimmicky gifts to show your volunteers exactly what they mean to you.
Volunteer appreciation is more than a task on your to-do list
Leaders of nonprofit organizations are busy. They’re often working with small headcounts and limited resources. As a result, volunteer appreciation can sometimes feel like just one more task on the to-do list. You might wonder if you even need to thank volunteers.
After all, they’re rewarded by the satisfaction of being helpful. Shouldn’t that be enough? Well, no, not really. Volunteers are gifting you their most valuable resource, their time. And especially right now in the midst of funding uncertainties, it's critical that you care for the volunteers that are supporting your organization.
Showing your appreciation to volunteers helps them feel valued by you and by the organization. It defends against burnout and lets them know that someone sees the hard work they’re putting in.
Of course, we know coming up with ways to show appreciation can be tough. To make it easy, here are 6 volunteer appreciation ideas you can start working on today:
1) Frequent verbal thanks and praise
These days, I volunteer at my local library. They love me there. I know, because they tell me frequently how much they appreciate my work and support. Both the Library Director and the Children’s Librarian are effusive in their praise of me, their staff, and other volunteers.
I know that their gratitude is sincere because it’s specific and delivered in their own words. They tell me exactly what I did well and how that impacted the organization. It never sounds like a speech or a calculated tactic. It feels like a genuine expression of how they value volunteers.
If throwing praise around like candy at the town parade is not your normal way of communicating, this might take some effort. Giving sincere compliments can take practice. Start by thinking about what this volunteer’s work helps you to accomplish. What does their presence make possible? Then, try this simple script:
“Thank you so much for your help on [task]. You did a great job and really [improved the guest experience, kept things on track, made learning fun, etc.]. I appreciate you!”
That’s it. You can mix it up so it sounds more like you, but try to include all three parts: thanks, specific acknowledgement of what they did, and an expression of appreciation.
2) Thank you notes
If praising people out loud makes you cringe, a thank you note is a nice way to still get the point across. It also has the benefit of being a tangible object your volunteers can keep for years. (Yes, I still have the thank you notes from volunteer projects over a decade ago.)
As etiquette coach Maggie Oldham told the New York Times, “In my opinion, old fashioned thank-you notes matter more now than they have in the past because so few people write them. Handwritten notes are a differentiator.”
Volunteer thank you notes are most effective when used to highlight truly exceptional work. You might send one after wrapping up a big volunteer-supported event or when a volunteer has tackled a particularly onerous challenge. Each note should include all the same elements as a sincere compliment.
Sometimes people think that if a note is good, a gift would be even better. If you’re considering sending a plaque, paperweight or other engraved object, stop and think about the person. Is this someone who would truly value this type of physical object in their home or office? Plenty of people would feel strange about publicly displaying a volunteer appreciation gift that exists only to show how awesome they are. Is a plaque likely to end up in a closet collecting dust?
For most people, a heartfelt note — ideally one handwritten by a director or executive — is more meaningful than an object you paid to engrave with their name. Most importantly, whether you give a handwritten note or an engraved gift, check the spelling of the person’s name! You will instantly seem insincere if you get it wrong.
3) Volunteer-exclusive swag
There’s a reason why the Red Cross gives out special shirts to people who donated blood. People like to feel like a member of an in group. If you are planning to give volunteer appreciation gifts, consider exclusive swag.
Volunteer-exclusive swag is effective because it lets your volunteers proudly proclaim themselves a contributing member of your organization. Someone who doesn’t just value what the organization does, but also makes the work possible.
Tee-shirts or sweatshirts are often a great choice for exclusive volunteer appreciation swag because they double as promotional material. Travel mugs, water bottles, hats, and tote bags can all perform a similar double-duty. Regular coffee mugs, note pads, blankets, and keychains are a little less useful in this regard. However, volunteers may still use them and get joy from doing so.
Reminder: If you plan to do tee-shirts, let volunteers know in advance so they can tell you what size they prefer.
4) Food! (Especially during big projects)
You could argue that this idea should top the list because food is almost always a hit with volunteers. Providing meals or snacks is especially important if your volunteers get up early to set up for an event, are managing a big project, or are likely to be too busy to grab food for themselves.
On regular days, it can be nice to show up to your volunteer job and find candy, donuts, or other treats waiting for you. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy. A surprise candy bar with a sticky note that says “thanks for all your hard work” can brighten a volunteer’s day. If volunteers are working outside in the heat, make sure you have plenty of water for everyone.
If you plan to provide meals or treats, do your best to consider dietary restrictions. Gluten free and dairy free options may help all of your volunteers feel included. Also try to be aware of any religious or cultural food restrictions. If you’re not sure whether a certain food is kosher or halal, ask! Your volunteer will almost certainly appreciate that you’re making the effort.
5) Volunteer of the Month
If you have more than a dozen volunteers, you could start a volunteer of the month campaign. Each month, ask volunteers, donors, patrons, and staff to send in nominations for who should be volunteer of the month.
Publicize this campaign with bulletin boards, emails, social media posts and announcements at events. Provide an email address or drop-box where people can send their nominations.
When the volunteer of the month is chosen, announce the award across all of your media. Share a picture of the volunteer (with their permission) as well as a write-up or quotes from the nominations. You could also provide a gift or gift card if your budget allows, but that’s not the most important part. What’s important is that the volunteer is publicly recognized for their work.
Bonus: This type of campaign can get your patrons excited and engaging with your organization in a different way. Showing off the faces behind your organization can create additional connection with your community!
6) Volunteer appreciation events
Volunteer appreciation events can be tricky. You want to show your volunteers that you appreciate them, but you don’t want to make extra work for them. Ideally, board members will do the bulk of the work associated with any volunteer appreciation event you plan. The same guidelines for food and gift giving mentioned above apply here as well.
A successful volunteer appreciation event is one where all volunteers are welcomed and feel appreciated. You might choose to highlight specific people who went above and beyond, but make sure that everyone gets some kind of recognition.
If you have a lot of volunteers and calling each one by name would be unwieldy, consider thanking them by department or project. For example, you might have all of your admin volunteers stand up and get a round of applause.
How volunteer appreciation impacts your organization’s image
Keep in mind that thanking your volunteers can improve your overall public relations too. The volunteer banquet I referenced above was attended not just by volunteers and their families, but also by the media, donors, and local officials.
When you publicly thank volunteers, you show everyone in your community the value of your programs. Such public displays of gratitude can help you recruit more volunteers and maybe even bring in some extra donations.
If you plan a volunteer appreciation event, make sure to send invitations to influential people in your community. A press release or email to your local news outlets might help you get some coverage as well.
Public displays of appreciation may also help you recruit more volunteers. It spreads awareness of the work volunteers are doing, and makes your organization look like an attractive place to contribute. Everyone likes knowing that they are valued.
Keep Volunteer Appreciation Week going all year long
Your volunteers bring real value to your organization every day of the year. While you might do something special to mark volunteer appreciation week, don’t wait until then to thank them. Notes, verbal praise, and free food are welcome anytime. Frequently and sincerely thanking volunteers can help you keep them.
For advice on attracting more volunteers to your organization, check out our post on how to recruit volunteers.
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About the author, Emma Rose:
Emma is a word-nerd and former journalist who writes research-driven content for organizations that support education and creativity. An art-lover to the core, Emma has worked and volunteered for museums, arts organizations, and nonprofits. When she’s not reading about psychology, Emma is learning French and practicing ukulele.
