What are some creative ways to thank your outreach partners and volunteers?

1 Personalize your gratitude

One of the most effective ways to thank your outreach partners and volunteers is to personalize your gratitude. This means acknowledging their specific roles, skills, contributions, and impacts. You can do this by sending them individual messages, emails, or videos that highlight their achievements and express your appreciation. You can also create personalized gifts, such as mugs, t-shirts, or stickers, that feature their names, photos, or slogans related to your outreach project.

2 Showcase their stories

Another way to thank your outreach partners and volunteers is to showcase their stories. This means giving them a platform to share their experiences, insights, and learnings from your outreach project. You can do this by creating a blog, a podcast, a newsletter, or a social media campaign that features their stories and testimonials. You can also invite them to speak at your events, webinars, or workshops and celebrate their successes and challenges.

3 Involve them in your decisions

A third way to thank your outreach partners and volunteers is to involve them in your decisions. This means soliciting their feedback, input, and suggestions on your outreach project and its future directions. You can do this by conducting surveys, polls, focus groups, or brainstorming sessions that ask them for their opinions and ideas. You can also create a steering committee, a board, or a network that gives them a voice and a role in your outreach governance and strategy.

4 Connect them with opportunities

A fourth way to thank your outreach partners and volunteers is to connect them with opportunities. This means helping them grow their skills, networks, and careers through your outreach project. You can do this by offering them training, mentoring, coaching, or certification programs that enhance their knowledge and competencies. You can also introduce them to other partners, organizations, or employers that can offer them support, collaboration, or employment.

5 Celebrate with them

A fifth way to thank your outreach partners and volunteers is to celebrate with them. This means organizing fun and meaningful events, activities, or parties that recognize their achievements and foster their relationships. You can do this by hosting a virtual or in-person gala, picnic, or game night that features awards, prizes, or entertainment. You can also plan a retreat, a trip, or a volunteer day that offers them relaxation, adventure, or service.

6 Pay it forward

A sixth way to thank your outreach partners and volunteers is to pay it forward. This means encouraging them to continue their outreach work and inspire others to join your cause. You can do this by providing them with resources, tools, or referrals that help them start, sustain, or expand their own outreach projects. You can also challenge them to nominate, recruit, or mentor other potential partners or volunteers that can benefit from your outreach project.

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?