ARTICLE
Recruiting Volunteers Who Stick Around: Engagement, Stewardship, And Recognition Strategies
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Updated - 04/18/2025
What’s the secret to having loyal volunteers? Building a highly loyal volunteer base comes down to a mix of purpose, appreciation, and connection.
If you want faithful volunteers, you need to treat them just like donors by learning about their interests and sharing their impact.
How can you make sure you deliver stellar experiences that keep them coming back? Craft a volunteer stewardship plan that thanks and cultivates your volunteers by telling them how their support makes a difference.
To get you started, here are six strategies to ensure your volunteers stay loyal
1. Onboard with ease
The secret to happy, loyal volunteers who want to give you their time (and money) is making sure their experience is rewarding.
Remember that 1980s shampoo commercial: “You never get a second chance to make a first impression”? How’s your first impression?
Imagine coming in for a shift, but nothing’s ready. When you finally find someone in charge and ask them what needs to be done, they act like they’re being put out of their way to find something for you to do.
Make your volunteers feel valued from the start by offering a warm welcome, a quick introduction, or even a short tour of your work. But don’t stop there—invite them into the conversation! Ask questions to understand what brought them to you, what excites them about getting involved, and how you can best support their experience:
- How did you hear about us?
- What motivated you to get involved?
- What type of projects are you interested in?
- Do you have any special or technical skills?
- How do you prefer to be contacted?
2. Share impact stories, testimonials, and updates
Volunteers want to know their time matters. Use real stories and updates to connect their efforts to the impact they’re making. This isn’t just for orientation—it’s a critical part of your volunteer follow-up and stewardship, helping you build dedicated, loyal volunteers who keep coming back.
Here’s an example of a volunteer email follow-up series from Feed My Starving Children:
Each email in this series shows the volunteer the impact of the meals she packed and invites her to take a survey—helping the organization learn more about her and encourage her to volunteer again or fund more meals.
3. Be organized
The fastest way to burn out a volunteer? Poor planning. Make sure shifts run smoothly with clear communication, organized tasks, and well-defined roles.
4. Make it fun
People stay where they feel connected. Here are some unique ideas to build camaraderie with your volunteers:
- Take photos of your volunteers in action and frame them as a thank you. For example: “How it started vs. How it’s going” photos of a big project.
- Award a ‘volunteer of the year’ (or month). Put their photo in your lobby, in the newsletter, and on social media. Share it with their boss, spouse, parent, or children.
- Organize a volunteer appreciation party or other social gathering to build friendships among your volunteers.
- Give a creative toy to celebrate great service, like the Energizer Bunny.
- Give volunteers lottery tickets with the note, “Our clients don’t have to take a chance on their future thanks to you.”
5. Make it personal
Volunteers want to feel seen and valued. Personal outreach, like a birthday card, a card marking the anniversary of when they started volunteering, or just a quick “saw this, thought of you” text goes a long way!
Here are some fun, affordable ideas to reach out and make your volunteers feel special:
- Volunteer spotlight: Feature a volunteer in your newsletter, website, or bulletin board with a short bio and a thank-you message.
- DIY treat bags: Fill small bags with inexpensive goodies like candy, granola bars, or homemade cookies and tag them with a simple “Thanks for being awesome!”
- Coffee or tea station: Set up a small table with coffee, tea, and some snacks during volunteer shifts as a small but appreciated perk.
- Create a thank-you video: Gather staff or beneficiaries to record short, heartfelt thank-you messages and compile them into a simple appreciation video.
- Host a potluck or dessert party: Invite volunteers to bring a dish (or provide some low-cost treats) for a fun and casual appreciation event.
- Small gift cards: Even a $5 gift card to a coffee shop can make volunteers feel valued.
6. Give meaningful volunteer recognition
A generic “thanks” isn’t enough. Share regular feedback, rewards, and volunteer recognition. Tailor appreciation to each volunteer. Some love public recognition, others prefer a heartfelt note. Small perks like special privileges or incentives, birthday cards, gift cards, an annual volunteer appreciation event, or even a “Volunteer of the Month” spotlight help reinforce that they matter.
Don’t stop there. Try “positive gossip,” where you brag about your volunteers to their peers, boss, and/or family members.
What are your favorite tactics for volunteer recognition? Drop them in the comments section below!
Ready to put these strategies into action to recruit, retain, and recognize your volunteers?
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