Showing Volunteer Appreciation & Ideas to Recognize Their Effort

Volunteers give their time, energy, and expertise to support causes and nonprofit organizations they care about without expecting anything in return. Without proper recognition, even the most dedicated volunteers will begin to feel overlooked and burnt out. Properly recognizing and showing appreciation for your hard-working volunteers avoids disengagement and turnover.

Volunteer appreciation is a thoughtful, strategic effort to acknowledge contributions, build stronger relationships, and create a desire for long-term commitment to the role. Organizations that prioritize volunteer recognition see higher retention rates, increased involvement, and a stronger sense of community in their volunteer programs.

Volunteer appreciation matters, so much so that there is a national volunteer appreciation week during the 3rd week of April every year. Using creative ways to celebrate volunteers keeps them active and excited to be involved. From gifts and “thank you volunteers” events, to public recognition and offering job references, we have plenty of volunteer appreciation ideas to keep everyone happy, healthy, and wanting to make a difference. 

Why Does Volunteer Appreciation Matter?

Appreciation for volunteers maintains a strong and committed volunteer base (opens in a new window). Organizations and charities with active volunteer recognition programs experience higher engagement (amongst both volunteers and employees!), lower turnover, and increased participation in volunteer opportunities. Celebrating your volunteers builds stronger relationships, encourages new volunteers to get involved, and creates a lasting connection between them and the cause they support.

When to Show Appreciation for Volunteers

People who volunteer are giving their time to your cause. The current estimated national value of each volunteer hour (opens in a new window) is $33.49. Volunteer recognition should be happening year-round. Creating constant recognition strategies shows the respect and appreciation you have for your helpers. There are key moments when you want to be sure you have a plan in place to recognize volunteers. These include:

• National Volunteer Week (April 20-26, 2025): A national holiday week dedicated to thanking those who lend their time and talent to your organization. It’s the perfect opportunity to host volunteer appreciation events and publicly recognize your volunteers' efforts.
• Volunteer milestones: Volunteers who put their all into boosting your cause time after time deserve to be recognized! Celebrate volunteers who reach years of service, complete major projects, or achieve key goals within the organization.
• Volunteer appreciation events: You don’t have to wait for National Volunteer Week to show your gratitude for the help. Plan a volunteer appreciation event to reinforce the value you see in your volunteers.
• After major events or fundraising campaigns: When your gala or raffle night goes off without a hitch, acknowledging the workers who made it all possible spreads goodwill and makes them want to continue helping. Something as simple as a personal thank you for volunteering your time and expertise goes a long way. Consider phone calls, emails, or thank-you cards.

Volunteer Appreciation Ideas & Ways to Say Thank You

When it is time to show gratitude, a thoughtful thank-you can inspire volunteers, boost morale, and strengthen the connection to the mission. There are countless ways to make volunteers feel valued. Use our volunteer appreciation ideas to find creative ways to recognize and appreciate the people who give so much.

1. Heartfelt Thank You Volunteers Messages

Handwritten thank-you cards may seem old-school, but they make a lasting impact in a world full of emails and social media shoutouts. Taking a few minutes to write a personal thank you note shows volunteers that their contributions are valued, making the appreciation feel sincere and memorable. A handwritten thank you letter is something volunteers can keep, reminding them of the difference they make when they are donating their time and talent to your cause.

Phone calls and in-person thank yous for volunteers are a direct acknowledgment that makes a significant impression. When a CEO takes the time to speak to each volunteer on the team, it shows their personal respect and appreciation. 

2. Provide Branded Merchandise and Swag

Branded merch is a simple way to make volunteers feel like they are part of something bigger. Providing branded apparel like custom t-shirts and embroidered hats makes your volunteer squad look cohesive and gives them a way to show off their role. After an event, it becomes a reminder of the impact they make and is a way to show off their commitment to a cause they believe in. As a bonus for you, when volunteers wear their branded apparel and carry their swag, it spreads awareness without even trying. 

3. Volunteer Appreciation Gift Ideas

Give volunteers a token of appreciation to reinforce their value within your organization. Volunteer appreciation gifts can range in price and style. Give gifts that are practical and that align with your cause. Adding a logo to volunteer appreciation gifts gives a reminder of how much your nonprofit or faith organization values participation. 

Budget-Friendly Volunteer Appreciation Gifts

At 4AllPromos, we carry customizable products that fit your budget. A premium custom tote bag that shows off your logo or slogan is a great gift option when you are on a budget or have a large volunteer base you want to thank. Keychains are another great option. They’re small but make keys easy to identify and can have extra features like carabiners and flashlights incorporated in them making it a useful tool.

Mid-Range Volunteer Appreciation Gift Ideas

Create goodie bags or gift baskets for your volunteers to hand out during National Volunteer Week or after you successfully complete an event. We carry gourmet gift baskets and popcorn sets that make it easy to say thank you. When your volunteer events are outdoors or involve being on your feet all day, create a self-care goodie bag with branded sunscreens, massage rollers, and aromatherapy sprays. 

Premium Volunteer Appreciation Gifts

Celebrate milestone achievements with your volunteers with premium branded gifts. Branded insulated tumblers and water bottles from brands like Yeti and Owala are appreciated and sure to be used. Upscaled branded apparel like vests and quarter-zip pullovers are great gifts to welcome volunteers to the team and can be part of the uniform during public-facing events. 

You can also align your volunteer gifts with themes of your cause or the work that you do. For instance, an organization working to clean up the environment can look at our sustainable gifting options, while an organization that focuses on animal welfare or providing service dogs can choose to get pet-centered gifts for their volunteers. 

4. Host an Event For a Creative Way to Say Thank You for Volunteering

Hosting a volunteer appreciation event brings people together and gives them an opportunity to recognize contributions with the whole team. Volunteer luncheons or dinners are more of a formal gathering where board members and staff members can thank volunteers in person. Volunteer appreciation picnics, movie nights, and parties are more casual events with fun activities, games, and great PR for social media too! 

For milestone achievements, consider having a volunteer awards ceremony. You can create categories such as “Most Dedicated Volunteer” or “Best New Volunteer.” Highlight individual achievements and outstanding performance throughout the night. 

5. Provide a Learning Opportunity or a Chance to Upskill

Along with furthering a cause they care about, many people take volunteer roles as a way to gain experience and build skills. Though your volunteers will be learning through the work they are doing, a great way to show them you care about their career growth and contribution is to provide webinars and training sessions in areas they are interested in. Offer professional development opportunities, certification courses, and shadowing opportunities for volunteers to grow in their positions. 

6. Public Volunteer Recognition

Shoutouts in newsletters and social media posts encourage engagement and inspire others to get involved. Writing a volunteer appreciation post on LinkedIn publicly recognizes volunteers and highlights their hard work. In your post highlight the impact the volunteer has made in furthering your organization’s goals and efforts. 

Volunteer Recognition Builds a Long-Term Team

A strong volunteer program is built on more than just recruitment. It thrives on engagement, appreciation, and a sense of community. Effective volunteer management goes beyond scheduling shifts and assigning tasks. It’s about fostering meaningful relationships and being sure volunteers feel valued.

When organizations take the time to recognize and celebrate their volunteers, they create a culture where people want to stay (opens in a new window), contribute, and grow. Thoughtful appreciation strengthens commitment, boosts retention, and turns one-time helpers into long-term advocates. Investing in volunteer recognition is not just a nice gesture, it is the foundation of a dedicated and passionate team.

A strong volunteer recognition program goes beyond a single event or week. Consistent appreciation strategies contribute to higher volunteer retention rates. Consider these ongoing ways to thank volunteers like:

• Offer leadership roles: Rewarding volunteer work with mentorship or leadership opportunities keeps them engaged.
• Create a sense of community: Encourage partnerships with local businesses to provide special offers to volunteers.
• Provide professional endorsements: Recognizing volunteers’ contributions through LinkedIn recommendations or letters of endorsement can add value to their experience.
• Celebrate volunteers’ contributions year-round: Host informal volunteer appreciation activities such as coffee meetups or appreciation breakfasts.

Cheers to Volunteers and the Impact They Make

Organizations that make volunteer appreciation a priority see increased volunteer retention rates, a stronger volunteer experience, and better engagement from new and returning volunteers. Whether through volunteer appreciation gifts, planning a volunteer appreciation event, or simply thanking volunteers with a thoughtful message, recognizing volunteers strengthens their relationship with you and your cause.

Invest in a volunteer recognition program that makes a difference. Consider implementing volunteer appreciation activities, rewarding volunteers with personalized thank-you gifts, and celebrating volunteers throughout the year.

We at 4AllPromos want to send a thank you to volunteers everywhere who give their time, effort, and passion to making the world a better place.

Sources

Independent Sector. (n.d.). Value of volunteer time. Retrieved from https://independentsector.org/resource/value-of-volunteer-time/ (opens in a new window)

United Way of Greater Milwaukee & Waukesha County. (n.d.). Recognition: Matching motivations to rewards. Retrieved from https://www.unitedwaygmwc.org/UnitedWay/Volunteer-Resources/13bRecognitionMatchingMotivationstoRewards.pdf (opens in a new window)

Tung, L., Goh, Y. M., & Lim, C. W. (2020). Understanding the motivations and expectations of volunteers in non-profit organizations: A systematic review. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(24), 9491. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17249491 (opens in a new window)