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

Volunteer Reward and Recognition

Meeting National Standards and Strategy Seal Meeting National Standards and Strategy What's this?

Introduction

Volunteers play a crucial role in many organisations, and understanding what motivates them can help in retaining their valuable contributions. This document explores the key factors that drive volunteer motivation and offers practical ways to show appreciation.

Summary

This document highlights the importance of valuing and appreciating volunteers. It offers practical strategies for volunteer organisations to enhance motivation and retention, such as saying thank you, including volunteers in decision-making, and offering training sessions. Implementing these strategies can lead to a more engaged and committed volunteer workforce.

Benefits for Volunteer Involving Organisations

This resource is beneficial for volunteer organisations and management practitioners as it provides insights into effective volunteer appreciation strategies. By implementing these strategies, organisations can enhance volunteer satisfaction and retention.

Practical Applications

Volunteers are motivated by feeling valued, respected, and appreciated. They also seek opportunities for personal and professional growth. Rather than flashy displays, volunteers prefer meaningful rewards and recognition. Volunteer organisations can apply these insights by:

  • Saying thank you

  • Holding team meetings

  • Including volunteers in decision-making

  • Using newsletters and social media stories

  • Offering training sessions, gift cards, and certificates

  • Organising events/functions

  • Appointing dedicated volunteer coordinators

Downloads and sources

Visit source (opens in new tab)

More about the author

Volunteering Queensland has for 41 years been the state’s peak body for advancing and promoting volunteering. It represents over 300 member volunteer involving organisations and support thousands more through a wider network, encompassing hundreds of thousands of volunteers, who contribute their time, money, and skills to the benefit of all Queenslanders.
reception@volunteeringqld.org.au 07 3002 7600
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

Factsheets

Support for Micro Volunteer Organisations and Groups

A curated collection of resources, templates, guides, and training designed to help small volunteer-involving organisations recruit, support, develop, and retain volunteers while meeting governance and compliance obligations.
1 minute read
The Knowledge Base
Guides

Guide to supervision

Comprehensive guide to supervision, including models of supervision and responsibilities within a supervisory relationship.
1 minute read
Volunteering ACT
General
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
Better Impact
Tech

Better Impact

Better Impact offers a comprehensive software solution for volunteer program management, to simplify administrative tasks and enhance volunteer engagement across every stage of the volunteer lifecycle.
Volunteer database Recruitment Rostering / scheduling Onboarding / training Volunteer performance/recognition Communication / engagement Compliance Reporting Social media Donations
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
on-demand

Certificate IV in Coordination of Volunteer Programs

Nationally recognised qualification for people who manage volunteers. Over a 12-month period, develop leadership and management skills to lead volunteers, or formalise your experience.
Volunteering Queensland
Peak body members: $1950. Standard course fee: $3,500.
scheduled

National Standards for Volunteer Involvement Online Tool Walkthrough

The workshop will demonstrate the online self-assessment tool available to Volunteer Involving Organisations to create an action plan to implement the National Standards and to show how the standards are met.
The Centre for Volunteering
–
Free
scheduled

Ready to Volunteer

Thinking about volunteering but not sure where to begin? Whether you’re looking to give back, meet new people, gain experience, or simply try something new, this workshop will help you find your place in the volunteering community.
–
Free