Skip to main content
Create an account for suggestions personalised to you and your organisation
Create account
Research and Reports
1 minute read

Volunteer recognition

This research report explores volunteering participation, including key motivations and barriers that influence engagement. It provides insights into how volunteers perceive recognition and the role it plays in sustaining involvement.

The findings support organisations to better understand volunteer experiences and identify ways to strengthen recruitment, engagement and retention.

Benefits for volunteer managers

  • understand volunteer motivations and participation trends.
  • identify barriers to volunteer involvement
  • strengthen recruitment and retention approaches.

How to apply this resource

This resource is most useful when reviewing volunteer engagement strategies, improving recognition practices, or strengthening approaches to recruitment and retention.

Downloads and sources

View original resource
Volunteer Recognition from Volunteer Canada | IPSOS
Visit source (opens in new tab)

More about the authors

National organisation supporting volunteering through research, advocacy, and sector development across Canada.
info@volunteer.ca Contact Volunteer Canada
Visit website (opens in new tab)
(opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)
Global research organisation providing insights into public opinion, markets and social trends across multiple sectors.
enquires@ipsos.com.au Contact Ipsos
Visit website (opens in new tab)
(opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab) (opens in new tab)

Contribute to the Gateway

Leave feedback

Was this resource useful?

Make a Suggestion

If you find a great resource that isn't in the directory or want to provide feedback on the Volunteering Gateway, drop us a line!

More like this

Articles & Reports

Rights and responsibilities of volunteers

Overview outlining the rights of volunteers and the responsibilities they hold when volunteering.
1 minute read
Volunteering Victoria
General
Weblinks

National Volunteering Guide

The National Volunteering Guide is an invaluable resource for organisations managing volunteers. It covers the entire volunteer lifecycle, from recruitment and induction to performance management and the conclusion of volunteer roles.
1 minute read
Not-For-Profit Law
General
Volaby
Tech

Volaby

Volaby is an end-to-end volunteer and people management platform, enabling organisations to do more with less! Built from the collective voice of our volunteer managers using the platform, Volaby helps you automate and simplify the volunteer and manager experience to save time and scale impact.
Volunteer database Recruitment Rostering / scheduling Onboarding / training Volunteer performance/recognition Communication / engagement Task management Compliance Reporting Resource management Event management
VIKTOR
Tech

VIKTOR

VIKTOR is a volunteer recruitment system designed to run a referral service for volunteers. It allows you to create and advertise volunteer roles, enter volunteers and match them to roles offered by your members.
Volunteer database Recruitment Reporting
MyPass
Tech

MyPass

MyPass is volunteer onboarding and compliance management software centred around a digital Skills Passport, designed to help volunteer involving organisations (VIOs) reduce their risk and cost of operations.
Volunteer database Recruitment Rostering / scheduling Onboarding / training Communication / engagement Compliance Reporting Resource management Event management
scheduled

August Volunteer Leadership Network meeting 2026

Hear from 2026 Queensland Excellence in Volunteer Management Award recipient Nicole Ashley on designing positive volunteer journeys, improving retention and building a culture of appreciation.
Volunteering Queensland
–
Free
scheduled

The Tuff Stuff: Volunteer Performance Counselling 

While managing volunteers is generally rewarding, there are times when performance issues need to be addressed. Performance counselling may be necessary to clarify concerns, support improvement and maintain a positive volunteering environment.
Volunteering Victoria
–
Free
scheduled

Becoming an Inclusive Volunteer Involving Organisation

This free inclusion workshop explores how to build inclusive volunteering opportunities for people of all abilities and backgrounds. Learn to identify and reduce barriers, support young people, and create inclusive teams and workplaces.
The Centre for Volunteering
–
Free