NONPROFIT
ENCOURAGING AND RECOGNIZING NONPROFIT VOLUNTEERS By Cecilia Harris, writer, KSAE Magazine
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ecause of her love for history, Susie volunteered at a historical society where she spent several hours of her free time every week looking through the archives for misplaced items that she then returned to the correct location. Months later, when she proudly announced to the director she finally had everything in order and had found the missing item he had been searching for over the past year, he mumbled a quick thank you without looking up. She left to find another nonprofit where her organizational skills would be both useful and appreciated. It wasn’t that Susie desired to be the guest of honor at a fancy banquet – she only yearned for the director to acknowledge in a more meaningful way the important work she accomplished for the organization. According to Michigan State University (MSU) Extension, human beings need to be recognized for their efforts for their own self-esteem, motivation and selfassessment. Unfortunately, however, the recognition of these essential workers who give freely of their time and skills to nonprofits often is overlooked, given little thought or hastily planned at the last minute. In The Ultimate Volunteer Appreciation Guide, author Tatiana Morand states that no matter the role volunteers play in an organization, finding regular and creative ways to frequently say thank you goes a long way toward building loyalty, retaining a dedicated volunteer base and helping
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those who support your mission feel great about their efforts. In addition, former volunteers who feel appreciated are more likely to return to assist with special events or projects. Volunteer management software company Galaxy Digital agrees, stating on its website that recognizing volunteers for their time and efforts is essential for better volunteer engagement and retention: “Volunteers are more likely to become lifelong supporters of your cause when they feel appreciated. They look to your organization for a sense of community, kinship and an opportunity to feel good while doing good. Showing appreciation and recognition goes a long way toward supporting a welcoming environment where volunteers regularly enjoy taking part.” Galaxy Digital defines volunteer appreciation as showing your volunteers you care about them, while volunteer recognition is about acknowledging and celebrating their achievements and impact with your organization. Simply talking to volunteers and getting to know them cannot be underestimated; people feel valued when someone gives them attention. The Minnesota Association for Volunteer Administration suggests trying “little things” to show appreciation, such as handshakes, kind words, smiles, handwritten thank-you notes, gift cards, photos, small tokens, snacks at meetings and asking about their families. www.ksaenet.org
