Here are some ways to thank and support your volunteers.

1.       Create a climate in which volunteers can feel motivated

2.       Say thank you often, and mean it

3.       Match the volunteer’s desires with the organisation’s needs

4.       Send birthday cards

5.       Provide a clear role description for every volunteer

6.       Make sure new volunteers are welcomed warmly

7.       Highlight the impact that the volunteer contribution is having on the organisation

8.       Show an interest in volunteers’ personal interests and their outside life

9.       Tell volunteers they have done a good job

10.    Give volunteers a real voice within the organisation

11.    Set up a volunteer support group

12.    Provide meaningful and enjoyable work

13.    Send ‘thank you’ notes and letters when appropriate

14.    Smile when you see them!

15.    Say something positive about their personal qualities

16.    Involve volunteers in decision-making processes

17.    Give a certificate to commemorate anniversaries of involvement

18.    Develop a volunteer policy

19.    Allow volunteers the opportunity to debrief, especially if they work in stressful situations

20.    Let volunteers put their names to something they have helped to produce or to make happen

21.    Differentiate clearly between the roles of paid staff, trainees and volunteers

22.    Have a volunteer comments box and consider any suggestions carefully

23.    Make sure the volunteer coordinator is easily accessible and has an ‘open door’ policy

24.    Provide insurance cover

25.    Supervise volunteers’ work

26.    Have a vision for volunteer involvement in your organisation

27.    Do not impose new policies and procedures without volunteers’ input

28.    Ask volunteers themselves how the organisation can show it cares

29.    Permit volunteers to attend seminars, conferences and workshops from time to time

30.    Give volunteers a proper induction

31.    Celebrate the year’s work together

32.    Offer to write volunteers letters of reference

33.    Accept that different volunteers are able to offer different levels of involvement

34.    Accept that an individual volunteer’s ability to commit may change over time

35.    Ask volunteers’ opinions when developing new policies and strategies

36.    Make sure the Director (in large organisations) shows her/his personal appreciation of the volunteers’ work

37.      Always have work for your volunteers to do and never waste their time

38.    Pass on any positive comments about volunteers from clients to the volunteers themselves  

39.    Provide the opportunity for ‘leave of absence’

40.    Add volunteers to memo and e-mail distribution lists

41.    Set solid goals for volunteers and keep communicating them

42.    Provide car or bike parking for volunteers

43.    Give the volunteer a title which reflects the work they do (not just ‘volunteer’)

44.    Consider providing, or paying for, child care for volunteers who are parents

45.    Inform the local press about the excellent work of your volunteers

46.    Undertake individual supervision and support sessions

47.    Always be courteous

48.    Maintain regular contact with volunteers, even if they work ‘off-site’ or at odd hours

49.    Allow volunteers to ‘get out’ without feeling guilty

50.    Keep volunteers informed of changes in structure and personnel

51.    Provide adequate clothing and name badges if appropriate

52.    Use quotes from volunteers in leaflets and annual reports

53.    Devote resources (time and money) to volunteer support

54.    Count up how many hours volunteers contribute and publicise this

55.    Ensure all paid staff and trainees know how to work effectively with volunteers

56.    Provide accredited training

57.    Hang a volunteer photo board in a prominent position

58.    Give volunteers the opportunity to evaluate their own performance and role

59.    Do not overwhelm volunteers

60.    Build volunteers’ self-esteem by giving them a sense of ownership of their work

61.    Always be appreciative of volunteers’ contributions

62.    Ensure volunteers have adequate space and equipment to do their work

63.    Provide excellent training and coaching

64.    Recognise that volunteers play a unique role

65.    Have an annual volunteer award ceremony

66.    Focus on the problem, if there is one, not the personality of the volunteer

67.    Create two-way communication processes

68.    Have occasional lunches, dinners, barbecues, picnics, etc

69.    Create a volunteer notice board

70.    Set up a volunteers forum

71.    Allow volunteers to get involved in solving problems

72.    Pay for an eye test if they sit in front of a computer all day

73.    Review the progress of volunteers on a regular basis

74.    Reimburse out-of-pocket expenses

75.    Send a card at Christmas

76.    Conduct an exit interview when a volunteer leaves

77.    Have a ‘volunteer voice’ section in your newsletter

78.    Be honest at all times

79.    Provide constructive appraisal

80.    Make volunteers feel good about themselves

81.    Don’t treat volunteers as ‘second class citizens’

82.    Ensure confidentiality for your volunteers

83.    Present an occasional inexpensive gift

84.    Provide volunteers with a ‘rights and responsibilities’ charter

85.    Don’t bully them into doing tasks which they have made clear they don’t want to do

86.    Give free membership to your organisation

87.    Ensure you have adequate support skills yourself

88.    Ask why volunteers are leaving or have left

89.    Throw a volunteers party

90.    Use surveys as a way of eliciting your volunteers’ views

91.    Provide free refreshments during coffee and tea breaks

92.    Celebrate United Nations International Volunteer Day (5 December each year)

93.    Suggest sources of help and support for personal problems

94.    Allow volunteers to air legitimate grievances and make sure they are dealt with swiftly

95.    Send a card or flowers if volunteers are ill or bereaved

96.    Encourage them to sit on committees and attend meetings

97.    Ensure a safe and healthy working environment

98.    Allow volunteers to take on more challenging responsibilities

99.    Make sure that every volunteer has equal access to support

100. Evaluate volunteer involvement on an ongoing basis

Source: Volunteering Ireland