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

Factsheets
1 minute read

Volunteer Reward and Recognition

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

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.

Contribute to the Gateway


More like this

Templates

Interviewing and Screening Volunteers

This downloadable template helps volunteer managers conduct effective interviews during the onboarding process.
1 minute read
The Knowledge Base, Volunteering ACT, The Centre for Volunteering, Volunteering Queensland, Volunteering SA&NT, Volunteering Tasmania, Volunteering Victoria, Volunteering WA
General
Research and Reports

The Social And Economic Sustainability Of WA’s Rural Volunteer Workforce

This report explores the crucial role volunteers play in sustaining rural communities across Western Australia (WA). It highlights the social and economic benefits volunteers bring, focusing particularly on the contributions of women and parents with young children.
1 minute read
Kirsten Holmes, Amanda Davies, Leonie Lockstone-Binney, Mary O’Halloran, Faith Ong
Youth or Student, Women +1 more
Weblinks

Charity Register

The Australian Charities and Not for Profits Commission (ACNC) Charity Register contains information about Australia's registered charities. It is free to search and is available to everyone.
1 minute read
Australian Charities and Not-for-profits Commission
General
Emergency Support Volunteering website
Tech

Emergency Support Volunteering website

The Emergency Support Volunteering website allows volunteers in Western Australia to register to help in emergencies, organisations needing support can also register to contact volunteers for assistance.
Volunteer database Recruitment Reporting
Rosterfy
Tech

Rosterfy

Rosterfy is an end-to-end volunteer management software solution, that helps organisations streamline their volunteer management and engagement. Rosterfy offers automated solutions to manage volunteers efficiently.
Volunteer database Recruitment Rostering / scheduling Onboarding / training Volunteer performance/recognition Communication / engagement Task management Compliance Reporting Resource management Social media Event management
INVOLVE
Tech

INVOLVE

INVOLVE is a flexible and fully-featured volunteer management technology app, centred around your volunteers.
Volunteer database Rostering / scheduling Onboarding / training Volunteer performance/recognition Communication / engagement Task management Compliance Reporting Event management
scheduled

Rethinking Volunteer Roles

Take a second look at volunteer roles with the Sector Development Coordinator, Tony Ward
The Centre for Volunteering
Free
scheduled

Panel Discussion: Successful and Rewarding Volunteer Recruitment

Join us for a panel discussion on Standard 4 of the National Standards for Volunteer Involvement
The Centre for Volunteering
Free
scheduled

NSW Youth Volunteering Guidelines

Join us for a deep dive into the NSW Youth Volunteering Guidelines with our Director: Sector Development and Enagagement, Clint Bertenshaw.
The Centre for Volunteering
Free