Recognizing Your Group Volunteers – A Great Idea

We understand that volunteering your time and energy to a cause or organization is about helping others and helping you feel better about yourself. But there’s nothing wrong with giving a little recognition to members of your group or organization who go above and beyond when it comes to their volunteer work.

There are dozens of awards which are given out every year to those who excel at volunteering, such as The President’s Volunteer Service Award, the Do Something Awards, or the Prudential Spirit of Community Award. You can find most of them by doing a quick search online.

Perhaps there is someone in your group or community that you could nominate for one of these awards. Just being nominated would be a great way to show them that their efforts do not go unnoticed. It also shows that as a leader, you respect everyone in your group and the goals you are all working for.

If it’s too late to nominate someone for one of these awards, or if you can’t find one that fits your organization, there’s no need to worry. You can simply create an award of your own and nominate several of your group members to receive it. After a set amount of time, and if the award goals are met, you can present it to the winner(s) at a group meeting or get-together.

You can find free printable certificates online. They’re customizable, they look official and you can’t beat the price! Or, if you have the funds, you may also consider giving a gift to the winner(s) or those who gave it their best effort. Things like keychains, patches, coffee mugs or ornaments make great gifts for volunteers.

So take a little time and decide how you can recognize your go-getters. Not only will this completely make the day of the person(s) who receive the award, but it can also serve as an incentive for the rest of your group (and even yourself) to get out there and do even more.

Have you ever been nominated or won a prestigious volunteer award? Do you have other ideas for volunteer recognition? We want to know how you have recognized your group members, or been recognized in the past. Share your stories with us by leaving a comment below.