Skip to main content

What are you looking for?

Enter keywords to search across resources, guides, training, tools, and more.

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

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

Contribute to the Gateway

Leave feedback

Was this resource useful?

More like this

Articles & Reports

State of Volunteering Reports

The State of Volunteering reports detail the trends, demographics, challenges and successes in the volunteering sector in Australia, its States and Territories.
1 minute read
Volunteering Australia, Volunteering ACT, The Centre for Volunteering, Volunteering Queensland, Volunteering SA&NT, Volunteering Tasmania, Volunteering Victoria, Volunteering WA
General
Resources

Volunteer Recognition

This article and guide highlights the importance of recognising volunteers and provides suggestions of various methods to show your appreciation.
1 minute read
The Centre for Volunteering, Volunteering ACT, Volunteering Queensland, Volunteering SA&NT, Volunteering Tasmania, Volunteering Victoria, Volunteering WA, The Knowledge Base
FreddyMatch
Tech

FreddyMatch

FreddyMatch is a web-based platform that facilitates and optimises the process of volunteering. We help match organisations and volunteers based on their unique interests, skill sets, location and availability using the “FreddyMatch” algorithm.
Volunteer database Recruitment Rostering / scheduling Onboarding / training Volunteer performance/recognition Communication / engagement Task management Compliance Reporting Resource management Social media Event management
SEEK Volunteer
Tech

SEEK Volunteer

SEEK Volunteer helps connect people to volunteering opportunities that enrich their communities, lives and careers.
Recruitment
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
scheduled

The National Standards for Volunteer Involvement and Accreditation

Take the next step in your volunteer involvement by pursuing National Standards accreditation
The Centre for Volunteering
–
Free
scheduled

Foundation Workshop: Understanding Volunteer Management, Challenges and Opportunities

If you are a new volunteer manager or an emerging Volunteer involving organisation this information-rich workshop is essential for you. This session looks at, but is not limited to: What volunteer management entails and the best practices as a leader, The changes and trends in volunteering & more.
Volunteering WA
–
This workshop is free for VWA members and $30 for Others
scheduled

Workshop: Applying the National Standards for Volunteer Involvement

Join us on the Wednesday 3 December 2025 for a workshop tailored for Volunteer Managers, Coordinators, and Leaders. This workshop, facilitated by Volunteering Tasmania, focuses on the National Standards for Volunteer Involvement and how you can apply them in your Volunteer Involving Organisation.
Volunteering Tasmania
–
Free