5 Fresh Ideas for Expressing Authentic Gratitude to Volunteers Year-Round
Welcome to the latest edition of Moving Forward, a newsletter designed to help nonprofits exchange ideas and learn from one another to unlock the full potential of the sector.?
Volunteers are one of a nonprofit’s most valuable assets. From donating their time to lending critical expertise, they help bring your mission to life. And while Global Volunteer Month presents the perfect opportunity to say thank you, you want your volunteers to feel appreciated all year long.?
If you’re looking for creative new ways to show your gratitude this year and strengthen your nonprofit’s volunteer recruitment efforts, here are five ideas to consider:
1. Consider them for full-time roles
If someone does incredible work for your cause on a part-time, voluntary basis, imagine how much good they could do if they worked for you full time! If you’ve worked with a volunteer closely and know they have the skills and passion to thrive at your organization, reach out to them personally about relevant job openings. Even if they’re happy in their current role, they’ll likely feel flattered that you thought of them, strengthening their relationship with your organization.?
2. Create an exclusive newsletter?
Give your volunteers something that other supporters don’t get by creating a volunteer-only newsletter. This could include behind-the-scenes content and even a “Volunteer of the Month” spotlight. One benefit of creating a newsletter is the ability to keep former volunteers in the fold, showing you still consider them part of your nonprofit’s family.?
3. Host meetups throughout the year
One reason people volunteer is the opportunity to meet others with similar interests and values. Make socializing a central part of your nonprofit’s volunteering experience by hosting casual meetups. This could be as simple as inviting local volunteers to have drinks and snacks at your offices a few times a year, allowing them to develop deeper connections with each other — and with your organization — outside of volunteering hours.
4. Give back to those who give back
Another factor that drives volunteer recruitment is the ability to bolster one’s resume. Think about ways to bake professional development into your volunteer experience. For example, can you give volunteers free access to workshops that your nonprofit or a partner organization offers? If you use LinkedIn Learning internally, can you extend access to volunteers who commit a certain number of hours to your cause?
5. Endorse volunteers for their skills
Publicly thanking volunteers on LinkedIn can mean a lot to people. Take things a step further by connecting with volunteers on the platform, endorsing them for skills they demonstrated during their time with your nonprofit, and writing a recommendation . Skill endorsements and recommendations help professionals showcase their strengths to potential employers, so this can be a great way to meaningfully thank them for their hard work.?
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Does your nonprofit have an innovative way of thanking its volunteers? Join the conversation by using the hashtag #MovingForward or sharing your thoughts in the comment section.
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Guide | Mentor | Nonprofit Advocate | Philanthropy Professional | Board Member | Disruptor
2 年This is a wonderful closeout to the month of April. I'd also complement these great 5 tips by adding that, from a volunteer retention and broader human capital strategy, organizations could also create volunteer "lead" positions (i.e., level 2, senior, etc.). These advanced opportunities could be great for those who have committed themselves over many years to the agency, or for those that are coming in with a unique set of skills and who may not fit the traditional "skills-based" menu of giving. For example, I've found successes when volunteers: - work alongside gift officers to steward a portfolio of supporters; - train and help onboard new volunteers alongside staff teams; and - participate in story/impact/outcome attainment with communications and evaluation teams. Again, great topic! #MovingForward #philanthropy #volunteerism
Program Delivery Manager | Educator | Passionate Advocate for Social Services & Education
2 年Thank you for writing this. To no 4., it is vital that #nonprofits are both cautious and explicit about how, why, where, and when they provide support, growth, and #professionaldevelopment opportunities. #artificialntelligence has become a powerful tool for #exploitation, #phishing, #data and #intellectualproperty theft - using a #synthetic approach that, on appearance , can be 99% consistent with #organic, authentic, #valuesbasedleadership.
Content with Intent | Social Impact Advocate | Startmate ClimateTech Fellow | Digital Media | Community & Engagement Driver
2 年Great list to give back to the volunteers Leo P.. Recently VSA (Volunteer Service Abroad) promoted my volunteering for a women’s association in Samoa by including me in a billboard campaign, I was stoked! https://www.dhirubhai.net/posts/moumitadasroy_wonderingmo-volunteering-contentmarketing-activity-6920123980527906816-jb1M