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

Examples

Sample reference check template

Template to support organisations to complete structured reference checks during volunteer recruitment.
1 minute read
Volunteer Ireland
General
Guides

How to adapt volunteer roles

Guide outlining how volunteering roles can be adapted to be more inclusive of people living with disability
1 minute read
Volunteering Victoria
Disability
Guides

How To Reach and Recruit Volunteers - a guide for multicultural community organisations

This resource offers practical advice on how to promote volunteering opportunities and build a strong volunteer workforce in multicultural organisations. It highlights the importance of clear communication, advertising, and making information accessible.
1 minute read
Department of Social Services
Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD), Migrants +1 more
Be Collective
Tech

Be Collective

A volunteer management & community engagement platform. Be Collective is all about empowering volunteering and the organisations supporting volunteering to build stronger, more sustainable networks for doing good.
Volunteer database Recruitment Rostering / scheduling Onboarding / training Volunteer performance/recognition Communication / engagement Task management Compliance Reporting Resource management Social media Event management 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
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
scheduled

Volunteer Screening Deconstructed 

This interactive session examines best-practice volunteer screening, providing practical guidance on implementing robust safeguards that protect your organisation while avoiding unnecessary administrative burden.
Volunteering Victoria
–
Free
scheduled

National Standards Conversations

The session includes small-group discussions, where participants can share their approaches, ask questions, and explore challenges in a collaborative setting. You’ll also have the opportunity to seek guidance from our experienced trainer.
Volunteering Victoria
–
Free
scheduled

Governance for Inclusion and Belonging

Explore how leaders, boards and committees can build inclusive volunteer cultures through effective governance, policies and practice. Gain practical strategies to reduce barriers, foster belonging and support diverse volunteer participation.
VolunteeringWA
–
Free