Are you celebrating volunteers and their efforts this year?

Volunteering brings individuals and communities together to make a positive impact, build a stronger society, and be a force that transforms the world. From helping tutor students to serving as a Board Member to distributing food at a local homeless shelter, volunteers play a critical role in tackling some of society’s greatest challenges. And, for many nonprofits, volunteers are a necessity to drive missions forward.

Volunteers donate their time, energy, efforts, skills, and talents – and are often the biggest supporters and advocates of an organization’s mission. They are invaluable resources. In addition to overall organizational support, volunteers help save money. In fact, volunteerism has an economic value of over $167.2 billion according to the AmeriCorps and the US Census Bureau’s collaboration to collect data on volunteering and civic engagement. “An estimated 28.3 percent of Americans, or more than 75.7 million people, formally volunteered with organizations between September 2022 and 2023. In total, these volunteers served an estimated 4.99 billion hours. *

By celebrating “National Volunteer Appreciation Week,” organizations and nonprofits can show volunteers that their efforts are valued, which can boost morale and potentially inspire new volunteers to join the cause. Although volunteers are not necessarily giving their time in hopes of receiving something in return, most appreciate being recognized for their hard work and deserve to be celebrated.

The power of gratitude goes a long way and there are many ways to show appreciation:

Celebrate Volunteers – Give back to volunteers by creating and/or scheduling an in-person opportunity for them to socialize with staff and connect with each other. Volunteer appreciation ideas are endless and even a simple breakfast or coffee break celebration can create a sense of gratitude. Appreciation events are an excellent opportunity to remind volunteers how important they are. If volunteers are not local to the area or gathering in person is not an option, schedule a fun virtual gathering for the team to celebrate the positive outcomes that were possible because of their support.

Recognize Volunteer Efforts – Social media platforms provide a great outlet to feature volunteers and their amazing efforts. Create a volunteer thank you social media post, highlight individual volunteers, and show the world the tremendous impacts that have made as a result of their efforts. As an additional (free) way to recognize volunteers, create a LinkedIn endorsement to give a professional boost highlighting skills and efforts beyond normal day-to-day work endorsements.

Say “Thank You” – Send a personalized email, a handwritten thank you card, or a quick text message to volunteers to thank them for their efforts and let them know you are thinking about them.

Appreciation Gift – Surprising volunteers with a gift is another way to recognize their efforts. Branded merchandise, paired with a thank you note, will surely bring a smile to the faces of volunteers. These are items that could be distributed at the in-person gathering or at an upcoming volunteer event.

Ask For Feedback – Volunteers are essential to causes. Provide an opportunity for volunteers to provide feedback, create a survey, or ask for general comments about how the organization as a whole can improve. Volunteers hold critical information to help create and improve organizational culture and experiences.

Impact Reports – Lastly, gather statistics, share numbers, provide an inspirational story or client success story, and give insight to volunteers regarding the tremendous impacts their hard work and efforts have helped make. These numbers are a direct result of their charitable contributions, and they will appreciate knowing their efforts are driving results.

On behalf of the entire KEES team, thank you to all volunteers and the organizations they serve. This is a perfect time to show gratitude to the people who spread kindness through their volunteerism and make this world a better place. Volunteers make a difference, and whether an in-person event is planned or a thank-you note is distributed, volunteers will truly appreciate any and all recognition received throughout this special week.

* Source: Volunteering and Civic Life in America: https://www.americorps.gov/about/our-impact/volunteering-civic-life