Why Praise and Gratitude Matter More Than Ever for Your Volunteers
- Jun 1, 2015
- 3 min read
Updated: Feb 3
Volunteers are nonprofit gold. They provide time, money, expertise, and influence. It's important to show them you care, or they might leave to help a nonprofit down the block.
Why Praise and Gratitude Matter More Than Ever for Your Volunteers
I want to talk with you about something that’s simple, powerful, and often overlooked—showing praise and gratitude to your volunteers.
At the end of the day, nonprofit work is a human endeavor. You only have 3 groups of people doing the work: board members, staff, and volunteers. That’s it.
The Quick Takeaway
The more volunteers you engage—and genuinely appreciate—the more time, talent, and resources your organization has to fulfill its mission. Ignore them, and they won’t complain.
They’ll just leave.
Volunteers Are One of Your Greatest Assets
Volunteers don’t just give their time. They give:
Skills
Expertise
Energy
Passion
Contacts
Often, their own money
And the more volunteers you have who feel valued, the more capacity your organization has to create impact.
But here’s the hard truth.
If you don’t take care of your volunteers, they will pack their bags and go down the block. There are plenty of organizations that would love to have them.
So Ask Yourself This Question
What are you doing right now to regularly show praise and gratitude to your volunteers?
If you’re being honest, the answer might be:
Not much
Not consistently
Not intentionally
And that’s not because you don’t care. It’s because appreciation often gets pushed to the bottom of the list.
Start with a Simple Brainstorming Session
I want to encourage you to have a brainstorming session with your board and/or your staff.
Have some fun and ask this brainstorming question:
How can we do a better job of showing appreciation to the volunteers we already have?
You’ll come up with plenty of good ideas, like:
Hosting a volunteer appreciation party
Writing handwritten thank-you notes
Sending photos of volunteers working with beneficiaries
Highlighting volunteers in newsletters or on social media
Having a board member call them
All of those are great.
The Most Powerful Option Is Also the Simplest
Here’s something even more effective—and it costs nothing.
Spend time with volunteers one-on-one.
People want to be valued and appreciated not just for what they do, but for who they are. Read that again.
Pull someone aside and say something real. Something specific. Something human.
For example:
“Jim, I want to thank you for the work you’ve done with our kids who have disabilities.”
“You make them smile. You make them laugh.”
“We truly couldn’t do this work without you.”
Then take it one step further.
Ask them:
What else can we do to make your experience here better?
How can we make your role easier or more meaningful?
That’s how you show people you genuinely care.
Takeaways
Volunteers are a critical nonprofit resource
Appreciation must be intentional and consistent
Generic thanks are good—specific thanks are better
One-on-one gratitude builds deeper loyalty
People stay where they feel seen, valued, and respected
Summary
Showing praise and gratitude to your volunteers doesn’t require a big budget or a complicated strategy.
It requires sincerity.
Be genuine. Be specific. Show that you care.
Have that brainstorming session. Put the ideas into action. And remember—do what’s right for your nonprofit, not what’s convenient or easy.
Tom Iselin
Rated One of America’s Best Board Retreat
and Strategic Planning Facilitators
About the Author
Tom Iselin is recognized as one of America’s leading authorities on high-performance nonprofits. He has built nine sector-leading nonprofits and two software companies, written six books, sits on multiple boards, and has been rated one of America’s Best Board Retreat and Strategic Planning Facilitators. His work on nonprofit strategy, board leadership, and culture has been featured on CNN, Nightline, and in Newsweek.
Tom is the president of First Things First, a firm specializing in board retreats, strategic planning services, fundraising strategy, and executive coaching for nonprofit CEOs.
Board Retreats & Strategic Planning
If you’re looking for a board retreat facilitator or strategic planning facilitator who has been in the trenches and understands real-world nonprofit challenges, Tom can help your board gain clarity, build alignment, and create an actionable plan that improves performance and impact. His sessions propel organizations to the next level of performance and impact . . . and they're fun!
Board Retreats and Strategic Planning Services:
858.888.2278
