How do you show appreciation to your community outreach partners?

1 Say thank you

The simplest and most important way to show appreciation to your community outreach partners is to say thank you. A sincere and heartfelt thank you can go a long way in building trust and rapport with your partners. You can say thank you in person, by phone, by email, by card, or by social media. The key is to be specific and genuine, and to express how their support has helped you achieve your goals and mission.

2 Give recognition

Another way to show appreciation to your community outreach partners is to give them recognition for their work and impact. Recognition can take many forms, such as featuring them on your website, newsletter, blog, or annual report, inviting them to speak at your events, nominating them for awards, or giving them certificates or plaques. Recognition can help your partners feel appreciated, motivated, and proud of their involvement with your organization.

3 Provide feedback

A third way to show appreciation to your community outreach partners is to provide them with feedback on their performance and outcomes. Feedback can help your partners learn from their experiences, improve their skills, and grow their confidence. You can provide feedback through surveys, interviews, focus groups, or reports. The key is to be constructive and honest, and to highlight the strengths and areas of improvement of your partners.

4 Offer support

A fourth way to show appreciation to your community outreach partners is to offer them support for their own needs and goals. Support can take many forms, such as providing training, mentoring, coaching, referrals, resources, or opportunities. Support can help your partners develop their capacities, expand their networks, and achieve their aspirations. You can offer support by asking your partners what they need, listening to their challenges, and connecting them with relevant solutions.

5 Celebrate success

A fifth way to show appreciation to your community outreach partners is to celebrate their success and achievements. Celebrating success can help your partners feel happy, satisfied, and rewarded for their efforts. You can celebrate success by hosting events, parties, ceremonies, or gatherings, sending gifts, cards, or tokens, or sharing stories, testimonials, or photos. Celebrating success can also help you strengthen your relationships, build your community, and inspire others to join your cause.

6 Solicit feedback

A sixth way to show appreciation to your community outreach partners is to solicit their feedback on your own performance and outcomes. Soliciting feedback can help you demonstrate your respect, interest, and openness to your partners' opinions and suggestions. It can also help you improve your own work, identify your strengths and weaknesses, and align your expectations and goals with your partners. You can solicit feedback by creating surveys, interviews, focus groups, or reports. The key is to be humble and receptive, and to act on the feedback you receive.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?