Recognizing Volunteers:

Goals for a Recognition Event

Recognition makes volunteers feel appreciated and valued. If volunteers feel like their contribution is valuable or necessary, they are more likely to volunteer again. Volunteer recognition can take many forms, from a simple thank-you card to a large annual event. If you choose to hold a recognition event, plan it with the following goals in mind.

Educate

• Educate everyone attending about the scope, meaning, and value of volunteer services to your organization.
• Report the outcomes of volunteer efforts.
• Gain publicity for the organization and the volunteer program.
• Gain respect for the volunteer program and the program’s directo

Inspire

• Recommit (re-enthuse) volunteers for the coming year.
• New volunteers for vacant positions.
• Challenge all volunteers to achieve the same level of commitment through recognition of the accomplishments of a selected fe

• Say thank you for everything and anything volunteered to the organization during the past year, and make sure everyone volunteering during the past year feels appreciated.
• Acknowledge the contributions of some paid staff supervisors to the success of volunteers

• Allow volunteers, and staff, a chance to have fun and meet each other.

Portions of the above information are taken from materials by Make A Difference, a member organization of Hands On Network; Volunteer Management by Steve McCurley and Rick Lynch (1997); http://www.serviceleader.org; and http://www.independentsector.org.

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