Although today marks the finale of National Volunteer Month, it is time to carry volunteer recognition year-round! Did you have fun recognizing your volunteers dedicated work during National Volunteer Day? Want to know how you can do this more often? Answer these 10 questions and your recognition program will come to life before your eyes!
1. How much staff time can be devoted to developing a recognition program within your organization? Will your program by administered by the local office or national headquarters?
If your organization has the available resources, develop a recognition team who can focus on developing this program. If you have a bi organization, decide whether or not your award program can be based locally. Decide which local chapters can support awards, and which awards are local.
Who should be included in the development of the program?
If you make the decision not to form a recognition team, who should be involved instead? The CEO, the marketing team, and/ or the programs team?
3. How can senior management contribute to the program?
Should your program get funding from sponsors or internally? How can board members be included?
4. How can the volunteer program meet the needs of the overall volunteer program and recognition requests?
The recognition program can help meet volunteer goals because it will motivate them to continue their work and excel at their assigned tasks. It will help volunteers feel motivated and appreciated for their work.
5. What are the best practices of similar organizations’’ recognition programs?
Network with other organizations and find out their best and worst practices with implementing a recognition program so that your program will be effective.
6. Is there an existing recognition program that your organization can model?
Check out Points of Light’s Daily Points of Light Award, the President’s Volunteer Service Award, or the Service Impact Award. Implement the best practices of these programs into your program.
7. Decide the best way to recognize your volunteers’ service. How do they want to be recognized?
It is most important to choose recognition program that best suits your organizations goals and needs. If you choose to hold a monthly volunteer social or write personal thank you cards for an extraordinary volunteer make sure you choose a program that models your program’s attitude.
8. What will the award criteria and eligibility rules include? Who will judge the final nominations?
Make decisions about what applications your award will consider and which it will not. Make sure to include these rules in your description of the award to make the applicants aware. Make the decision to designate a special team to judge applicants or another system.
9. How will the volunteer award be announced? How can you promote the award and the honorees?
Make the decision whether you will hold a luncheon, a public ceremony, or contact local media press. Will you promote the award through social media, emails, or newsletters? If you decide to promote externally, will you contact your local paper or use word of mouth?
10. Should this award be developed externally?
Do you need to bring in extra minds to develop the project? How will you fund the program? What skills will you need?
It is easy to develop a volunteer recognition program for your organization. Make a list and answer these questions based on your organization’s goals and resources. Recognition can vary from volunteer breakfasts to newspaper write-ups. Choose a program that will work for you!
Have you implemented a volunteer recognition program? We would love to hear your ideas in the comments section below!
April 22-29 is a very special week for many reasons. Not only do Earth Day, Arbor Day, William Shakespeare’s birthday, and National Pretzel Day occur, but it is also National Princess Week!
Snow White: When Snow White is not busy keeping up with her 7 little friends, she is busy promoting health issues! Back in 1937, Snow White was fed a very bad apple by her an evil Queen, and almost died! Since the horrific event, Snow White has made her passion in life community health education. She has donated 5 million hours of community service to her organization Prevent Bad Apples whose focus is safe food storage and healthy eating habit learning.
Cinderella: Cinderella spent her teens as an indentured servant to her stepmother. She lived a life of poverty and economic turmoil. One day, Cinderella’s life changed completely when she met Prince Charming. Since Cinderella became a princess, she has dedicated her life to helping the young girls in need. Cinderella founded the organization Operation Glass Slipper. Her organization is dedicated to donating prom dresses to girls from low income homes.
Ariel: Although Ariel left her world under the sea for Eric, she made it her mission to protect the world’s oceans. Ariel developed The Triton Foundation after her father. Ariel’s foundation focuses on protecting ocean wildlife from pollution. Since its founding in 1989, The Triton Foundation has taken over 700 tons of trash out of the Atlantic!
Belle: Belle found her community calling thanks to her beast-like boyfriend. Belle took her inspiration from teaching the Beast how to love into teaching low-income students. She has established many charter schools across the magic kingdom thanks to her foundation Beauty and the Pencil. Belle has changed schools from failing to soaring thanks to her donations and educational resources. Her organization currently operates 13 different schools!
Did you volunteer during 
ilding is the safest alternative. Do not seek shelter in a hallway or bathroom of a mobile home. If you have access to a sturdy shelter or a vehicle, abandon your mobile home immediately. Go to the nearest sturdy building or shelter immediately, using your seat belt if driving. Do not wait until you see the tornado.
Today’s post comes from Gregg Michaelsen, Fundraising Consultant at Simple Fundraising Ideas. Gregg specializes in providing 
banner in the fundraiser’s venue with the restaurant’s information on it.
The birds are chirping, the weather is perfect, and you need an activity to get you outside and active! Spring is the time to organize a community sports activity! There is no better reason than perfect weather to get your community together for a fun activity?
you would like to collect donations or you will charge for admission. Determine your space size and how many participants it can hold.
Forming a sports team is a great way to start the process of neighboring in your community. Whether you form a little league baseball team or an adult swim team it is a great way to be social with your community members, while improving overall health through being active.
Spring is in full force! And with it comes Earth Day, a celebration of the day the modern environmental movement was born. Our friends at 
Pledge an Act of Green Earth Day Network has set a goal of a billion 
celebrating non-traditional artistic expression, and is located right along Baltimore’s Inner Harbor. The Museum’s celebration of innovative perspective and accessibility made it a fitting backdrop for Schmitz’ message (and his book with the same title): Everyone Leads.
nonprofits and communities that need them most. BVU serves as the primary resource for recruiting, developing and organizing volunteers in the Greater Baltimore area. 
Visit a hospitalized veteran or a veteran living in a veteran’s home! Why wouldn’t a veteran appreciate someone taking the time out of their day to come and visit them in the hospital to remind them that they are grateful for their service to our country!
National Volunteer Weeks is a time to “celebrate people in action!” Volunteers contribute so much everyday to the community, with little or no recognition for the work that they do. The 
It is important to show your volunteers how much your organization appreciates the work that they do. We hope that you will take a minute and recognize them for their commitment to service this week and beyond!
