43 Volunteer Appreciation Ideas That Actually Work (and Keep Volunteers Coming Back!)

Volunteers are the lifeblood of your mission – they’re critical to our success.

Building a volunteer appreciation strategy can be hard. But, it’s essential to keeping our volunteers engaged and coming back for more.

I remember sitting at my desk talking to our volunteer coordinator who was constantly trying to drum up some kind of new idea.

In honor of that struggle, we’ve rounded up 43 appreciation ideas from affiliates and research that you can steal and implement at your affiliate.

Virtual Volunteer Appreciation Ideas for Nonprofits

1. Give Volunteers a Personal Call… From Someone New

That’s right. They’ve probably heard you say it 1,000 times (or at least I hope they have). Try bringing in someone new – perhaps your ED, board chair or construction manager. Phone calls feel personal. Hearing from someone else will feel meaningful.

2. Send a Personalized Thank You Email… From Someone New

Forget the email blasts with general appreciation. Get someone new (see item above for ideas) to send a personalized email. Make sure to be specific in the email about the impact or milestones your volunteer has reached.

3. Video Message from Your Executive Director

If you can’t see someone in person, the next best thing is a video. Record a short, authentic thank-you video message from your ED. Make sure the ED includes something personal about the volunteer’s impact so it doesn’t feel like a marketing piece. Send it directly to the volunteer.

Our volunteers often get to work directly with Habitat partner families, and build real bonds with them. Hearing “thank you” directly from people they help makes volunteer efforts tangible. If filming isn’t possible, even a heartfelt photo in an email can make a big impact.

5. Send Personalized Impact Reports

Regular impact reports validate the importance of volunteers’ efforts and keep them connected to your mission. Write a personal note in your impact report that highlights how the individual volunteer has contributed to something highlighted in the report. It could be the number of hours worked all year, or a specific task they did to build a home. Be specific and personal.

Custom filters boost social engagement significantly! Volunteers love sharing branded social posts, spreading the word about your organization to their network.

Volunteer Appreciation Event Ideas

7. Host a Volunteer Party

Throw an appreciation event with music, food, drinks, and fun activities like raffles. It’s all about celebrating your volunteers in style.

8. Roll Out the Red Carpet – Special Event Access

Treat volunteers like celebrities! A little glamour and pampering can make them feel truly special. If you have an annual Gala, invite a volunteer to be a special guest or speaker to share their story and enjoy a fun night on the town.

9. Host a Block Party in a Habitat Development

As a community builder, Habitat has a huge opportunity to build community experiences where volunteers can build meaningful relationships with their community. If you’ve completed a multi-home development, ask the residents if they’d be willing to host a BBQ or block party (Habitat will pick-up the tab of course).

10. Throw a Surprise Party

Turn a regular volunteer shift into a surprise party focused entirely on recognizing and celebrating your volunteer. This could be for a major volunteer milestone, or for their birthday or other occasion. It’s unexpected and memorable.

11. Potluck Gathering

Hosting a potluck is informal, community-focused, and allows genuine conversations to deepen relationships with volunteers.

12. Night Out at the Local Theater

Partner with a local theater for discounted tickets to thank volunteers and their families who enjoy cultural experiences. Popcorn and soda on the house!

13. Brunch Appreciation Gathering

Morning meet-ups at a favorite brunch spot can be ideal for volunteers who prefer daytime events. This could be a group event, or just an informal small gathering of friends. Consider what the volunteer is motivated by before planning any gathering – not everyone likes to be in the spotlight.

14. Buy Lunch on the Construction Site

Does your volunteer have a favorite local restaurant that they like to order from at lunch? Maybe there’s a food truck nearby? Surprise everyone by catering lunch one day to say “Thank You!”

15. Bowling Night

Take volunteers and their families bowling, perhaps with a fun theme like retro costumes. It encourages social interaction and team bonding.

16. Dinner for Special Volunteers

Reserve dinner outings as a thank-you for senior volunteers or those you’d love to keep around long-term.

17. Service Auction

Have staff auction off fun services (like cleaning or cooking dinner). Volunteers can bid and win these practical gifts.

Gift Ideas for Volunteer Appreciation

18. Signed Thank You Cards from the Whole Staff

Physical “thank you” cards signed by your entire team can be meaningful keepsakes for volunteers. Alternatively, get the whole board to sign a card if the volunteer has reached a key milestone.

19. Local Sports Tickets

This may be on the pricier side, but perhaps you have a partnership with a local sports team. Offer free tickets to a local sports event. It’s a fun, community-centered thank-you gift. Or, arrange a day when you know that there is a ticket special going on.

20. Movie Tickets

Gift passes for a night at the movies—a universally appreciated and easy-to-use gift.

21. Volunteer Raffle

Distribute raffle tickets to recognize milestones, with prizes like gift cards or local experiences.

22. Coffee and Breakfast Treats on the Construction Site

Those mornings on the construction site can be that much sweeter with a large carafe of coffee and some donuts to go along with it.

23. Welcome Gifts for New Volunteers

Branded swag (tote bags, notebooks, keychains) and handwritten notes warmly welcome volunteers to your team. Incorporate these gifts into early milestones: first day, first return volunteer day, 5 days, 10 days, etc.

24. Baked Treats from Staff

Who doesn’t like a good homemade cookie? Homemade baked goods are always heartfelt and easy to coordinate—plus delicious.

25. Flowers or Plants

Potted plants or flower deliveries are thoughtful, easy to transport, and universally appreciated.

26. Customized Gift Baskets

Create gift baskets filled with branded items, snacks, or personalized touches unique to each volunteer.

27. Personalized Hard Hat and Toolbelt

Many construction volunteers take pride in their gear. There’s nothing that says “I love Habitat” like a customized Habitat hat and a sweet toolbelt to give someone some flair while they’re out working.

Quick reels or TikToks spotlighting volunteer contributions or behind-the-scenes moments engage and energize your audience.

29. LinkedIn Endorsements

Endorsing volunteers’ skills on LinkedIn helps boost their professional presence and shows sincere appreciation.

30. Blog Posts Spotlighting Volunteer Stories

Regularly publishing stories about volunteers can encourage new volunteers to join your cause.

Branded visuals highlighting volunteers can amplify your organization’s reach and make volunteers feel recognized.

Bonus Volunteer Appreciation Ideas

31. Volunteer Leadership Roles

Not everyone wants additional responsibility, but for those that do, giving them a role as a volunteer manager for construction crews can feel cool, and is a recognition of their skill set.

32. Skill Training Opportunities

Whether someone is in the office learning the latest software, or out on the construction site learning to hang drywall, many volunteers like to use their experience to upskill. For committed volunteers, make sure to provide opportunities for them to learn and thrive with new skills.

33. Volunteer Reference Letters

Professional reference letters can greatly benefit your volunteers, highlighting skills they’ve demonstrated through their work.

34. Lunch Meetings with Volunteers

Treat volunteers to lunch, providing an opportunity for personal connection and deeper relationship-building.

35. Create VIP Volunteer Parking

Nothing says employee of the month… excuse me… volunteer of the month, like special parking spots can make volunteers feel extra valued every day. Don’t just give them the spot, make sure they have a cool sign showing for all to see.

36. Offer a Board Seat to Volunteers

Giving volunteers a voice on your board shows trust and respect for their insights and contributions.

37. Dedicate a Space in Their Honor

Often donors have the honor to put their name on Habitat developments for a certain donation amount. Consider carving out space to include volunteers for the contributions too. Name spaces named after dedicated volunteers as a permanent reminder of their impact.

38. Write and Perform a Thank You Song

Compose and share a playful thank-you song, adding personality and creativity to your appreciation efforts. WARNING: make sure you have some good singers on staff… haha!

39. Highlight Volunteers in Media Coverage

Make sure you know your volunteer’s motivations for the volunteer work before you do this one. Not everyone likes to be in the limelight. For those that do, give volunteers media exposure to publicly recognize their contributions.

40. Exclusive Volunteer SWAG

Create branded items exclusive to volunteers, making their experience feel special. You can throw a special celebration to gift the SWAG. It’s also important to incorporate this SWAG into the culture of your volunteer program so it feels like a big deal.

41. Annual Volunteer Awards

Yearly awards recognizing standout volunteers build excitement and friendly competition.

42. Board Recognition

This can be done in-person, virtually, or through a written letter. You must make this personal to ensure that it feels meaningful. You could also combine this item with things like Exclusive Volunteer SWAG, or other gifts to make the gift feel more important.

43. Recognition at a Home Dedication

If the partner family has a personal connection to the volunteer, ask them to call them out when accepting their keys. If not, then your ED, construction manager or someone else on the team can call out the contributions of the volunteer.

Wrapping Things Up

Remember, genuine volunteer appreciation doesn’t just feel good—it strengthens your nonprofit by fostering a loyal community. Try these volunteer appreciation ideas today to boost retention and energize your mission!