Providing Incentives for Volunteers

Tips for Giving Recognition

from Building Better Skills, by Betty Stallings

1. The most important way to recognize a volunteer is to place him/her in the most suitable volunteer job. The job itself is the greatest motivator, and it gives the volunteer the most satisfaction. Without a good job, most volunteers won't be around for the end of the year recognition.
2. A major trap we fall into in recognition is that frequently we want to give volunteers the kind of recognition that we like. The cardinal rule of recognition is that it be meaningful to the recipient (i.e., if a plaque would be meaningful to him/her and you don't happen to care about plaques, you go with what would please the volunteer).
3. Some of the best, most creative recognition does not need to cost much money (i.e., giving a banana to the "top banana," staff putting on a humorous skit for its volunteers).
4. Formal awards should be given as personally as possible, preferably by a person the volunteer knows or at least by a person who can pronounce the volunteer's name correctly.
5. The "different strokes for different folks" really holds true in volunteer recognition. For people motivated by social interaction, a social party and good food may be the best way to say "Thank you." For people who are primarily motivated by professional development, being sent to a seminar or being given a plaque may be the best form or recognition. For people motivated by the opportunity to use their power to influence, a picture and article about them in the paper or an award named after them may fit the bill.
6. When you must recognize all volunteers in one event, make certain that you have elements that will please different types of people.
7. Recognition should be given as soon as possible after the activity. If someone chaired your event in the fall and your recognition event is in the spring, make certain that you do something in the way of appreciation before the event in the spring.
8. Using humor and creativity in recognition demonstrates that you have put time and thought into personal recognition. And time is the greatest gift we give one another.
9. Make certain that recognition is fair. If you reward volunteers who are not performing well, you will de-motivate the volunteers who are performing well.
10. The informal everyday acknowledgement of our volunteers is the most powerful and effective way of saying, "Thank you!"

Volunteer Recognition Ideas

• Greet by name
• Stop by while volunteers are working to speak to each
• Remember birthdays, anniversaries, and personal times of importance
• Parking spaces
• Coffee cups with their names on them
• Keep track of length of time worked so as to recognize accurately
• Suggestions box
• Volunteer of the week, month, and year awards
• Profiles in newsletter
• Flexibility in job assignment
• Occasional surprise treats to say thank you
• Holiday parties
• Discounts in area stores, restaurants, etc.
• A coffee area with places to sit
• Banquets
• Personal notes
• Letters of commendation
• Opportunity for advancement
• Documentation for resume
• Awards
• Impressive job title
• Allow time to listen to their ideas
• Put on Board of Directors
• Enlist to train other volunteers
• Say thank you
• Smile!