101 Ways Why do we worry about this

so much when people tell us it

to say
is not necessary..
Thank You We want to APPRECIATE Volunteers
to We hope to RECOGNIZE Volunteers
We need to RETAIN Volunteers
Your Volunteers We seek to MOTIVATE Volunteers

Appreciate Volunteers
“Leaders don’t Recognize Volunteers
create Retain Volunteers
motivation, Motivate Volunteers
they unlock
it. It is the Build Community among volunteers
leader’s job Celebrate work that has been
to keep the accomplished!
dream alive.” Because it is a part of a healthy
John Gardner on-going management style
On Leadership

We need to remember that Recognition with a light touch

quality appreciation…
1) Will cost us money and time.
2) Must be meaningful to
recipients!
3) Cannot be totally pre-
packaged. Must be
personalized.
4) Must be timely and clear!
1) Name the coffee pot each month after a
volunteer who has “served” well.
2) Put a survival kit (band-aid, coffee
packet, pacifier, etc) together and present
to particularly harried volunteers to perk
them up!
3) Send anonymous, humorous cards
during hectic times.
4) Leave candy kisses at volunteer stations.
5) Put up posters with motivational
messages.

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5) Call each volunteer by name. Match the appreciation you give to
6) Remember birthdays, anniversaries,
personal times of importance.
person who is receiving it…
7) Coffee cups with names on them.
8) Give them opportunity to decorate work
space.
9) Chart to show accumulated hours for Achievement Affiliation
individuals and teams.
10) Invited to paid staff team meetings.
11) Do a profile in parish bulletin/newsletter.
McClelland’s
12) Label area to place coat, hat, etc.
Motivation
Power
13) Volunteer of the week or month award.
Model

Appreciating Affiliatives
An Affiliation
motivated 13) Anything done in presence of peers,
family.
person... 14) Banquets.
15) Name in church bulletin.
16) Photo on bulletin board.
17) Personal note from supervisor.
likes to be with people
18) Opportunities for socialization on job.
works to make friends
19) Assignment that offers opportunity for
does group projects
personal interaction.
counts the feelings of others
20) Personal verbal greetings from
needs relationships supervisor.

21) Letters to family members thanking them for Matching the appreciation you give
sharing volunteer with church.
22) Unexpected notes on expressing thanks.
to person who is receiving it…
23) Potlucks, picnics with coworkers and
families.
24) Evaluations that measure success in
“people” terms.
25) Praising them to their friends! Achievement Affiliation
26) Awards that have pictures of clients on them.
27) Taking time to talk to them.
28) Take out for coffee. McClelland’s
29) Inclusion of them in slide show. Motivation
Power
30) Personal note from the Pastor Model

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Achievement Motivation Appreciating the Achiever

excellence 31) Opportunity to give in-put in goal

related decisions.
need specific goals
32) Ability to set their own pace on
works well alone project.
seeks responsibility 33) Letter of commendation for specific
driven achievement by pastor.
concrete feedback 34) Mail letter of commendation for
specific achievement to city
problem solver newspaper, etc..
tangible rewards 35) Job assignments that allow frequent
check points to measure success.

37) Name attached to specific accomplishment. Matching the appreciation you give
38) Job assignments that offer increasing
responsibility.
to person who is receiving it…
39) Job assignments with clearly stated goals.
40) Opportunity for advancement.
41) Clearly defined parameters for assignments.
42) Nomination for local awards. Achievement
43) Being careful not to waste their time.
Affiliation
44) Training that allows questioning, shaping by
recipient.
McClelland’s
45) Introductions to new people in terms of
proudest accomplishments. “Meet John Motivation
Power
Jones he was responsible for resettlement of
our refugee family this year!” Model

Power Motivation Appreciating Power People

46)Job assignments that permit them to
having impact persuade others.
self starter 47)Job assignments that allow them to
status interact with highest authorities.
verbally fluent 48)Job assignment that allow them to
forceful, teach.
outspoken 49)Awards named for them that
public applaud influential achievements.
mover & shaker 50)Having coffee with Pastor and/or
staff.

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51) Story in church newsletter telling of their 59) Documentation of
impact on people/programs. training & skills
52) Impressive Job title. Youth developed for
53) Note from Bishop, Diocesan staff. Volunteers resume.
54) Letters of commendation noting their impact 60) Letter of
and importance to Diocesan Newspaper, city commendation to
papers, etc.. parents,
55) Job assignments that offer increased grandparents,
responsibility and authority. teacher, etc..
56) Asking for suggestions on how church can 61) Letters to
achieve wider impact, recognition in colleges they
community. might be
57) On-going program or site named after them. considering.
58) Opportunity to innovate.

More Youth Appreciation! Appreciation

Ideas for
62)Opportunities to speak to other
Seniors!
youth and adults about involvement.
63)Possible credits for classes being 67) Transportation or
at least,
taken. transportation
64)Shortened job assignments rather allowances.
than year long commitments. 68) Meals at the site.
69) Discount
65)Letter to editor of school paper. coupons for
66)Letter to city/town paper. services, food,
entertainment,
etc..

Or, how about

More Ideas for Seniors…
Some Churchy Ideas…
75) When it is Good
70)Parking spaces near entrance. Samaritan Sunday, name
71)Socialization at peak lonely times some of your volunteers
(holidays, weekends). as Good Samaritans.
76) Service Pins with the
72)Recreation opportunities.
church symbol.
73)Networking information to 77) Free meal tickets for
agencies/people who might be able church picnic or suppers.
to provide them with assistance. 78) Bible inscribed to
volunteer.
74)Listening! 79) Start a Volunteer honor
roll.

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80) While doing a project
make a photo collage
that shows the people
who worked in it, it’s stages of
development, and its completion and
presentation. With just a little more
work this can also be turned into a
Power Point Demonstration for use
on Volunteer Recruitment Sunday to
tell a story about the power of
volunteers in your parish!
Coupons and/or Gift
Certificates you can give..
83) Subscription to magazine related to their
interest.
84) Free babysitting, so couple can have a
night off.
85) Bookstore.
86) Tickets to theater.
87) Car wash/gasoline
88) Couple: Marriage Encounter Weekend.
89) Local Coffee shop.
www.pointsoflight.org
www.greateventspublishing.com
www.streff.com A Milwaukee based
incentive and printing company.
www.volunteergifts.com
www.thankscompany.com
www.volunteersales.com
Sources
for Gifts
81) Ask three staff members to go up to
the volunteer and say, “______
(name of supervisor) asked me to
thank you for _________. Good
job!”
82)Develop a Behind the Scenes
award, specifically for those whose
actions are not usually in the
limelight.
Gifts and Trinkets
90) Mugs with design special for volunteer
thank you and/or parish logo. $5.50 -
$10.00 each. For something really unusual
have printing reappear when cup is filled!
91) Keychains. $1.25 - $2.95 each
92) T-Shirts. $7.79 and up
93) Refrigerator Magnets. Price varies
according to quantity.
94) Pencils or pens with Thank You message
on them. Price depends on quantity
95) Post-it pads! My personal favorite.
Some Ideas on Special Clothing
Items, i.e. T-
T-shirts, sweaters, hats..
96) Make an eye-catching design to feature the
project they participated in and/or feature parish
logo, placed prominently on item.
97) Opt for more subtle placement by sewing a tag
with parish name and logo onto a sleeve or cuff.
98) Create a special label to appear inside the
garment.
99) Place a crest with parish logo on pocket of shirt,
using a color slightly darker than that of the
garment.
100)For special volunteers purchase a high quality
brand name item with your parish name and
present with a special card conveying your
sincere appreciation for all their work.
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The MOST IMPORTANT
Affirmation you can do is…
101 The people we seek to
SMILE! recognize are our most
priceless resource and
therefore deserve our most
creative and sensitive
thinking!