Warm Fuzzies for Volunteers
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!
