Thanking Those Who Fill Volunteer Opportunities

Want to send your appreciation to individuals who take part in volunteer opportunities? Sweetest Day – October 16^th – is the perfect opportunity to do so. Celebrated primarily in the Northeast United States, Sweetest Day is known as a day to appreciate those who are important in your life. For relief organizations and agencies dedicated to helping others, volunteers are often the most important people in the day-to-day running of their charitable efforts.

Ensuring That Volunteer Opportunities Provide a Positive Experience

Volunteer opportunities often takes great effort and time away from other activities that are important to the volunteer, and very often these individuals sacrifice aspects of their own personal life in order to help others. With this in mind, how do organizations ensure that their volunteers enjoy their experience and come back to help again? If you are an organization requiring the help of volunteers, consider the below suggestions:

Have a Plan. If possible do some pre-planning. Before your volunteers arrive, ensure that you match their skills to the task at hand. When they arrive, have definite tasks in mind for each individual. Ensure that they have the tools necessary to carry out their job effectively.

Communicate Clearly. At WomenOnCall.org, an agency dedicated to helping nonprofits, organizations that require volunteers are encouraged to write to them about the upcoming opportunity. The organization recommends that any description of volunteer opportunities be totally clear, for example – estimate how much time the task may take, and describe the end-goal of the activity. Also ensure that different jobs are available to each volunteer, so that they can step into an alternative role during any “down time”.

Show Your Volunteers Your Appreciation. Everyone likes to be thanked. Remember that your volunteers also like hearing the words “thank you”. Maybe take advantage of Sweetest Day, and send them some candy to show the organization’s appreciation of their efforts.

Microgiving appreciates the hard work of those that take part in volunteer opportunities – If you would like to join our donors in our efforts to help others, please sign up today, or if you might benefit from our assistance by signing up as a recipient, please visit our website.

Tags: act of kindness, charitable giving, charitable resources, MicroGiving, volunteer opportunities