Charity Walks Blog

Recognizing volunteers who support your charity walks is critical. Appropriate volunteer recognition will help keep your volunteers motivated and interested in supporting your organization for many years to come.

Are you ready to kick up your volunteer recognition program a notch? Try some of the following unique ways to thank your volunteers:

1. Write a thank you note to the volunteer’s spouse or parents. A volunteer sacrifices his or her time in support of your nonprofit organization. The volunteer is typically not the only one making a sacrifice. A spouse may have to pick up extra duties. A parent may have to drive the child to and from each meeting and event. Think about others who are inconvenienced by providing support to a volunteer “behind the scenes” and send them a thank you note.
2. Write a letter of recognition to the volunteer’s supervisor or school. Businesses and schools consider community service important. Volunteering can aid a person in pursuing a career. Volunteering can also help a student when being considered for certain classes and also when it comes time to apply for college or a job. Make sure you notify the volunteers’ supervisors and schools regarding the great support you’re receiving and the impact that it is making.
3. Track the volunteer’s hours of service and submit for the President’s Volunteer Service Award. It doesn’t take as many volunteer hours as you might think to qualify for the award. Go to PresidentialServiceAwards.gov to learn more about the award.
4. Create a volunteer photo wall. Find a space to display photos of your volunteers. They can be studio shots or captured in action. Volunteers will be scrambling to find their photo on the wall every time they visit.
5. Invite volunteers to observe or participate in organization meetings and training events. Volunteers should be considered an extension of the nonprofit organization staff. By allowing them to participate in some of the organization’s other activities, they create a stronger bond with the organization and learn more about the impact the organization is making. This in turn results in a more dedicated (and appreciative) volunteer.
6. Send handwritten thank you notes from individuals who have been directly helped by the organization. My most prized thank you came in the form of a handwritten note from a young girl who was helped by the organization I supported. This is a powerful way to show appreciation to volunteers.
7. Nominate volunteers for community service awards. Search for community service awards in your area and nominate deserving volunteers who support your efforts. United Way is one organization that has such awards. You should also consider creating your own volunteer awards that can be presented annually to your most capable and dedicated volunteers.

Your charity walks would not be successful without motivated volunteers. Regularly find ways to let your volunteers know that you are grateful for the time and energy they contribute to your cause.

Thanks,

Technorati Tags: charity walks, Hours Of Service, Letter Of Recognition, Non-profit organization, Nonprofit Organization, Philanthropy, Photo Wall, Recognizing Volunteers, Volunteer, Volunteer Program, Volunteer Recognition Program, Volunteer Service Award

Successful charity walks depend on the unselfish contributions of many volunteers. That should be enough of a reason for a nonprofit organization to identify as many ways as possible to thank their volunteers. Expressing appreciation to volunteers does not have to be difficult.

There are many easy ways you can show your volunteers that you care about them and are grateful for their hard work. This list should get you started:

1. Present each volunteer with a certificate of appreciation. These certificates can be designed, personalized and printed from your computer. To make the task easy, use a template. Search online for the keyword “certificate of appreciation template” for many to choose from. Consider displaying the certificate in an inexpensive frame prior to presenting it to your volunteer.
2. Send each volunteer a note or letter recognizing their contributions. A surprise thank you note arriving in the mail can be a real treat for your volunteers. To make the note extra special, be sure the note is handwritten.
3. Thank volunteers publicly for their service at the charity walk and other related events. Make sure your volunteers are recognized at the charity walk. You can provide them special shirts to wear. You should also recognize them when you are making announcements to the walkers.
4. List your volunteers in an email and/or newsletter and express your thanks. Use your organization’s e-mail list and newsletters to thank your volunteers. You could even write features on individual volunteers who have made significant contributions.
5. Privately tell each volunteer you appreciate him or her every chance you get. Some volunteers will not feel as comfortable as others with public expressed gratitude. However, a reminder in private about how important they are to you and to the cause may be just what they need.
6. Express your gratitude with an inexpensive gift. Care should be used if using a tangible gift to thank some or all of your volunteers. The gift needs to be inexpensive. An expensive gift will signal that funds raised due to the time provided by the volunteer are not valued.
7. Provide opportunities for new and expanded responsibilities. Some of your volunteers may be seeking new ways to contribute to your organization in a larger way. For these individuals, a request for them to participate in your organization with additional responsibilities can be a great way to demonstrate your appreciation for their volunteering efforts.

Demonstrating your thanks will not only motivate your volunteers to continually improve. It will also ensure these volunteers will be excited about supporting your future charity walks. Get started today.

Thanks,

Technorati Tags: Certificate Of Appreciation, charity walks, Expressing Appreciation, Gratitude, Non-profit organization, Nonprofit Organization, Philanthropy, Volunteer, Volunteers, Walkers