Ways to Express Volunteer Appreciation from Start to Finish

A special thanks to Create the Good for this great guest article! 

National Volunteer Week is around the corner on April 23-April 29. What better time to think about how you value the volunteers you rely on to get your important work done! Here are a few planning suggestions to ensure that your next volunteering event goes off without a hitch, and that participating volunteers feel your appreciation from start to finish.

1. Start by Saving Your Volunteers Time!

One way to show your volunteers appreciation is to make it easy for them to get involved and communicate! With more than 60 million volunteers and nearly 8 billion hours of service annually, 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). Free communication and cloud-sharing tools like Slack, Skype, Google Docs, Dropbox, Facebook Groups and Uberconference help volunteers share important documents and information and meet virtually (when in-person gatherings aren’t feasible).

Regular volunteers are always looking for new opportunities where they can offer their support - make sure they can find your volunteer projects with ease. One great option is to take advantage of Create the Good, which allows you to post your opportunities on their well-visited site for free.  You’d be in good company!  Check out the wide range of opportunities they promote all across the country.

2. Generate Pre-Event Excitement! 

Share the details of your upcoming volunteer event early if possible. One of the quickest (and most successful) ways to get the word out is by using social media, specifically Facebook and Twitter. Share several posts prior to the event day that include the following:

• Date
• How to register as a volunteer (include your SignUp link)
• How volunteers are going to make an impact for your cause
• Thank your volunteers (and soon-to-be volunteers) in advance for their time and efforts
• Include pictures or video if possible, to pique potential volunteers’ interest

Sharing posts pre-event also helps boost day-of turnout, as these posts serve as soft reminders!

3. Post ‘Progress Pictures’ 

It’s the day of the event - time to get back on Facebook and Twitter and show the world what you and your volunteers are making happen! Everyone wants some recognition for doing their good works, so why not give the world an opportunity to to see the change they’re making, and let them thank them too? You’d be surprised how many people will deliver motivating and grateful comments on these progress posts! So take a few minutes to post pictures of the meals being packed, take step-by-step pictures of the house being built or the park being beautified. It will be well worth the effort!

4. Get Personal, Go Postal! 

Can you remember the last time you received a handwritten ‘thank you’ note? They can be few and far between, but so meaningful. Offer that same sentiment to your volunteers following the event by mailing them a quick note that says thank you for their time, and restates the impact of their efforts for the cause. Lastly, invite them to join you again in creating change. Whether your next event is the following weekend or months away, it lets them know they would always be a valued part of your team!

*Reminder - collect home addresses during the volunteer registration process!

Expressing appreciation is the key to a successful all-hands-on-deck work day. By offering volunteers an easy way to participate, creating pre-event excitement, posting the progress and getting personal when you thank them, you can build the kind of motivated team necessary to ensure your success!