Literacy Basics - Community Literacy of Ontario

Volunteer Recognition

Introduction

Recognition can be described as the formal or informal acknowledgement of achievements, abilities and contributions. It is about noticing people's efforts and letting them know about it.

There are no limits to the number of ways in which you can acknowledge the contributions made to your organization by your volunteers. To do this effectively, however, the recognition should be meaningful to the volunteer. As discussed earlier, people have a variety of motivations for volunteering. You will probably understand what is motivating your volunteers through the application or interview process and through your ongoing supervision and support efforts.

Linking recognition to individual motivation will ensure that your volunteers are recognized in ways that are meaningful to them. For example, for people who volunteered for your organization primarily because of their deep concern for literacy, having students write them a note of thanks would be very meaningful. For those who volunteered primarily to gain employment experience, a letter of recommendation from the board chair or executive director might be exactly the recognition they are looking for!

Volunteer recognition can come in a variety of formal and informal ways. In addition to, or instead of, a large annual event try spreading your recognition efforts out over the year. A simple thank you card or a potted plant or a packet of seeds can say more to the volunteer about your appreciation than an annual dinner. A little can go a long way!

The Community Services Council of Newfoundland and Labrador has some wonderful recognition tips on their website: www.envision.ca/templates/resources.asp?ID=2831. The Council also has information on innovative ways to say "thank you" at: www.envision.ca/templates/resources.asp?ID=2840.

Literacy practitioners know that recognizing volunteers is important, in fact, according to CLO's 2005 volunteer survey, 100% of literacy agencies informally or formally recognize their volunteers. Here are some of the ways that volunteer contributions are recognized by Ontario's literacy agencies:

• 83% recognize their commitment in informal ways (notes, phone calls)
• 75% of agencies host events to recognize volunteer contribution (lunches, teas, dinners, special events)
• 62% offer occasional rewards or incentives to volunteers (plaques, pins, certificates, movie tickets, vouchers from local merchants)
• 47% promote volunteer achievements to the local community (newspaper articles, posters, banners)

Community Literacy of Ontario's survey also revealed that most literacy volunteers (94%) feel that they are amply recognized for their services. Overwhelmingly, most literacy volunteers preferred informal recognition to formal. When literacy volunteers were asked how they would like to be recognized, here is what they told us:

• 58% of volunteers like informal recognition
• 24% like formal recognition events
• 22% like occasional rewards or incentives
• 7% like public recognition (community events, newspaper articles, etc.)

top of page

NEXT PAGE

Designed and hosted by in collaboration with CLO