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As some of our customers are charities, not-for-profit and community-based organisations, we have provided the following ways of thanking and rewarding volunteers.
If you are interested in benefiting from our discounted software for charities, not-for-profit and community-based organisations, the Product Info box on the right has links to the relevant web pages.
Gifts
Reward what has been done with small gifts, such as a box of chocolates, book certificates, award pins, plants etc. Or, as a group, take them to see a film or out for a meal.
Have a record of their birthdays and send them birthday cards. On their anniversary with the organisation, send them a card.
Acknowledgement
Making volunteers feel important, that you recognise that what they are doing is valuable, is a key concept.
When they leave for the day, thank them, if you can (or have their senior thank them), for their help. It is both good manners and effective. However, although it costs the least, it is sometimes the hardest to do. The times a person is sincerely thanked in life for what they have done are few and far between. And yet we all know what it is like to be taken for granted.
Career
Look at how the type of voluntary work being done by the volunteer can enhance his or her career.
Send copies of letters of acknowledgement to their superiors or Human Resources at their place of work. Not only will they reflect well on their employee, the company may take a supporting interest in your activities.
Perhaps diplomas can be awarded that can be added to the volunteer?s CV.
Perhaps the voluntary work can involve experience that would give the volunteer another, useful dimension to their career.
Respect
Be careful not to segregate volunteers as ?just volunteers? with an attitude towards them that places them in a lower status to ordinary staff. If you want them to be part of the team, your actions towards them should reflect that they are part of the team.
Keep them up-to-date on what is happening. Because of their status or their schedule, it is not unusual for volunteers to feel left out and not part of the team because they don?t know what is going on and are left unaware of their contribution to achievements.
Put together a short pack of procedures and policies so that they know how things operate and don?t get into trouble or get someone else into trouble.
In large organisations, let others know who the fresh volunteers are, so they can say ?Hi Joe/Sue/etc.,? when they pass. Photos and a brief description on a notice board is one way.
Motivation
Send motivational quotes by email. One source is: www.motivationalquotes.com.
Dressing up
The above are the concepts. Use your imagination and dress them up in various ways. It enhances the idea that you care.
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