Free download: volunteer appreciation toolkit
Recognizing the vital role that volunteers play in your mission is essential to volunteer engagement and retention. When volunteers feel appreciated, they’re more likely to be motivated, productive, and eager to continue helping to progress your mission.
In this article, we’ll explore the top volunteer appreciation gift ideas that will make your supporters feel valued and inspired while staying on a budget.
Recognizing the vital role that volunteers play in your mission is essential to volunteer engagement and retention. When volunteers feel appreciated, they’re more likely to be motivated, productive, and eager to continue helping to progress your mission.
In this article, we’ll explore the top volunteer appreciation gift ideas that will make your supporters feel valued and inspired while staying on a budget.
Why Giving Volunteer Appreciation Gifts Matter
Recognition through volunteer appreciation gifts on a budget is about more than just saying “thanks.” It's a strategic approach to nurturing a positive and productive volunteer program.
Volunteer appreciation helps boost:
Engagement: Engaged volunteers are more enthusiastic and invested in their roles. Gift-giving, especially when the gifts are meaningful and personalized, fosters a deeper connection between the volunteer and the organization, leading to higher levels of involvement.
Retention: Thoughtful gifts, which can make volunteers feel appreciated, can encourage them to remain committed to your organization.
Recruitment: A culture of appreciation can be a powerful recruitment tool. Prospective volunteers are more willing to join an organization that visibly values and celebrates its members. This creates a positive feedback loop, attracting more volunteers.
Top Budget-Friendly Volunteer Appreciation Gifts
Personalized Volunteer Impact Report
One of the best ways to show volunteers you appreciate their efforts is to create a personalized volunteer impact report that summarizes their efforts and how they've helped progress your mission.
Winter Warmth Kit
Consider giving seasonal gifts to volunteers that are both thoughtful and practical. A Winter Warmth Kit is an excellent choice, showing your volunteers that you care about their comfort during outdoor activities or events in the colder months.
Include insulated gloves, cozy scarves, and hot chocolate or gourmet coffee packets. A high-quality thermal mug can also be a great addition.
Summer Care Package
A Summer Care Package is an excellent way to help your volunteers stay cool and protected.
Fill the package with summer essentials, a high-SPF sunscreen, a durable, reusable water bottle, a lightweight sun hat, and a portable fan. Opt for eco-friendly items for outdoor activities, reflecting your organization's commitment to sustainability and volunteer care.
Milestone Anniversary Awards
Create special awards or tokens for volunteers hitting milestones like one, five, or ten years of service.
Consider personalized pins, automated badges, small trophies, or even a framed photo of them with volunteer leaders or fellow volunteers as a touching memento of their journey and the connections they've made.
Exceptional Service Trophy
Partner with local artisans to create unique trophies or plaques for volunteers who have shown exceptional service. Whether it’s a special pottery design or a handmade tile, these custom pieces can uniquely honor those who lead significant projects or consistently go above and beyond.
Team Experience Day
Plan an engaging activity like a local retreat, a team-building workshop, or a fun outing such as a picnic or a day at a park, community garden, or botanical garden. Ensure the event includes elements of relaxation and fun, allowing volunteers to bond and create lasting memories together.
Volunteer Group Photo Album
A print mini photo album book is a classic and heartfelt gift, perfect for capturing and cherishing memories. Compile a high-quality photo album with photos from various volunteer events, including action shots, group photos, and candid moments.
Be sure to add captions with dates, event names, and fun anecdotes or quotes, and be sure to leave space for volunteers to add their notes or messages.
Personalized Letters
Personalized thank you for volunteering letters are effective and budget-friendly thank-you gifts for volunteers. They offer a simple yet heartfelt way to show appreciation.
To make the letter stand out, add a photo of the volunteer in action or with the people they've assisted.
A Gift Card to Their Favorite Restaurant or Store
Offering gift cards to volunteers is a classic example of volunteer gift ideas for appreciation. Many restaurants and stores generously donate them as nonprofit gifts to volunteers, making them a cost-effective choice. Be sure to tailor the choice of the gift card to the volunteer's preferences, such as a card from their favorite local café or bookstore, making it a more personal and thoughtful gift.
Whenever possible, opt for gift cards from local businesses to support the community and align with the spirit of volunteerism, too.
Homemade Meal
Cooking a meal for your volunteers is a heartfelt way to show gratitude. This personal gesture demonstrates appreciation and care for their well-being.
Plan an inclusive menu that caters to various dietary needs and preferences, such as vegetarian, vegan, gluten-free, and pescatarian options, to ensure everyone can enjoy the meal.
Volunteer Day Off
Your volunteers work hard. So why not give them so much-needed rest? This can be a great way to show your appreciation and give them a chance to relax and recharge.
A day off doesn't have to be a traditional day off — get creative and come up with something fun and relaxing for your volunteers.
A Plaque, Certificate, or Weekly Volunteer Award
You can offer a plaque or certificate to volunteers who go above and beyond or have been with your organization for a long time.
You can use a free online design tool, like Canva, for instance, to create attractive, branded designs that match your organization's image. Remember to highlight your volunteers' achievements in large, bold font so they can proudly display their certificates.
Special Events and Volunteer-Only Raffle Tickets
Hosting special events like galas or fundraisers are excellent appreciation gifts for volunteers.
During these events, add a unique touch with a "volunteer-only" raffle program, a standout among volunteer appreciation gift ideas. Offer raffle tickets based on the number of volunteer hours they contribute within a certain period.
A Gift Basket
Choose a basket that is both practical and stylish. It should be something that the volunteer can use and enjoy.
Fill the basket with items that the volunteer can use daily, like a mug, tea, or coffee from your local cafe, or personalized stationery and pens. Send the basket to the volunteer's home or office as a surprise to make it even more enjoyable.
A Special Mention to Volunteer Leaders
This one’s simple and powerful: Give a special shout-out to your stand-out volunteers on social media. Of course, be sure to choose a platform that is easy to use and has a wide reach.
Volunteer Training Opportunities
Offering training opportunities is a great way to show appreciation for volunteers. By providing training relevant to their interests and needs, you can help them develop new skills and knowledge that will be valuable to them personally and to the organization they support.
Coupons for Free Services
Give a gift certificate for anything from a free massage to a free car wash. Think about the local establishments and services that mean the most to your volunteers!
Of course, be sure to choose a service appropriate for your volunteers, and opt to use a donated service, if possible.
A Subscription to a Magazine or Online Service
Choose a magazine or online service that your volunteers will use and enjoy. For example, you may give a subscription to a cooking magazine for your food pantry volunteers or a subscription to an online gardening service for your community garden volunteers.
Curated Book Selection
Books are a thoughtful way to show appreciation and offer personal growth. Gift a book, or a few, that align with their interests or role in the organization.
Plant or seed packets
Show your plant-loving supporters some love with small potted plants or seed packets. In addition to giving them this green gift, add a personalized note of appreciation about their help in “growing” impact or “planting the seeds of change.”
Homemade Treats
Homemade gifts are always a fun, thoughtful way to show volunteers your care. Bake cookies, muffins, or other simple treats and package them with custom thank-you labels. You might even add a recipe card for an extra personal touch.
Best Practices for Giving Volunteer Appreciation Gifts on a Budget
Finding volunteer appreciation gifts on a budget requires a strategic approach to ensure that appreciation gestures are both meaningful and financially sustainable.
Here are some strategies for finding budget-friendly appreciation gifts:
- Set a Max Gift Amount: Before selecting gifts, determine the available budget for volunteer appreciation, and for each individual gift. This helps filter options and avoid overspending.
- Personalize Inexpensive Items: Often, the thought behind a gift matters more than its price. Personalizing items like thank-you cards, custom certificates, or small handmade gifts can make them more meaningful without a high cost.
- Leverage Bulk Purchasing: Buying items in bulk often reduces unit costs. This is especially effective for organizations with a large number of volunteers.
- Explore DIY Options: Handmade gifts or DIY projects can be cost-effective and carry a personal touch. Depending on the organization's resources and creativity, these can range from baked goods to crafted items.
- Utilize Digital Platforms: Automated recognition and reward software can take the redress out of gift-giving, and be cost-effective at the same time.
- Take Advantage of Sponsorships and Partnerships: Engage local businesses or sponsors to contribute to volunteer gifts. This could be in the form of donated items, services, or financial support. It's a win-win, as businesses get recognition and the organization saves on costs.
- Offer Experiences Over Items: Sometimes, offering experiences (like a workshop, a day out, or special training sessions) can be more budget-friendly and memorable than physical gifts. These can often be organized at a low cost or even for free.
- Consider Group Gifts: Consider group experiences or items for the team rather than individual gifts. This could be a group lunch, a shared piece of equipment for volunteer use, or a team outing.
- Seek Volunteer Input: Getting ideas from volunteers themselves on volunteer appreciation gifts can lead to cost-effective and desirable gift options. They may value certain types of recognition over others, which could be more budget-friendly.
Automate Your Volunteer Appreciation Efforts With Get Connected
Volunteer appreciation is one of the most important parts of any volunteer management strategy. But, lots of nonprofits — facing both monetary and time constraints — often leave volunteer appreciation by the wayside, or forget about it altogether.
One of the most efficient and budget-friendly options for volunteer appreciation gifts is to leverage all-in-one volunteer management software that automates volunteer recognition. With tools like Get Connected, nonprofits can acknowledge volunteers through custom, automated badges and personal emails and even create individual volunteer impact reports to share far and wide.
