Volunteers

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Hand written notes make all the difference in the world

Hand written notes may be time consuming, but think of the difference they make. When was the last time you received a hand written note of any kind? Besides Christmas and Birthday cards, which are becoming more rare each year, it is highly unlikely you will receive many, if any, hand written pieces in the Post this year. Think back to your childhood (I may be dating myself here) when our parents wrote their parents and other relatives letters, rather than placing long distance telephone calls, and people took the time to say thank you in the most personalised fashion possible – with pen to paper.

Today, more and more of our communications are electronic, including birthday wishes. I receive a weekly report of the time I spend on my iMac, MacBook, iPad, and iPhone. The weekly reports never show a decrease from week to week.

I have written numerous blog posts over the last six years about the importance of stewardship. Those of us in the relationship business practice good stewardship in our business and in our personal lives. A 2014 news story out of the US called this to my attention and required me to take a moment to write (OK, type) about this very thing.

Why aren’t more charities taking the time to thank those important to them via a hand written note? Our heroes including our donors, volunteers, clients and staff deserve to have us take the time to thank them and to recognise them via a personalised note or phone call.

Does your organisation send personal notes or place phone calls to constituents who are closest to your organisation? Have you seen that this strategy made a difference?

Opportunities for personalised notes

Think for a moment about opportunities you have to write a personalised note. Opportunities may include:

  • Thanking first-time donors and new recurring donors.
  • Recognising donor’s anniversaries.
  • Thanking a volunteer who went the extra steps to help your organisation.
  • Recognising volunteers on the “hiring”/anniversary date.
  • Applauding staff for a job well done.
  • Recognising staff on the anniversary date of their hiring.
  • For suppliers – thanking a client or welcoming a new one.
  • Checking in with someone who needs a special touch.

INC Magazine advises us how to write a great note. In the article, the author suggests to keep the note brief, keep it personal, and never to include your business card.

Take the pledge – write a personalised note or call one donor each day this week. Experience the difference this will make, as “Doc” Emrick has, with his outreach. In addition to the gratitude you will show those close to your organisation, think about the impact this will have on your donor relations. People remember organisations that take the time to do something extraordinary for them. Everyone sends emails daily. Few take them time and the thought to craft a hand written note.

Hand written note

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It’s National Volunteer Week – let’s celebrate the Australian volunteer!

National Volunteer WeekThere are weeks and months to recognise various charities and causes. Few activities we do are more important than celebrating our volunteers. It’s National Volunteer Week – let’s celebrate the Australian volunteer!

Most of us volunteer in one way, shape, or form for a non-profit, community, or professional organisation. Some put in enough hours to equate to a part-time staff position. But, are we always recognised for our service and do we feel valued?

There are countless ways in which we can show our gratitude to volunteers whether they work one shift a year or volunteer on a regular basis. What are you doing to recognise your non-profit organisation’s volunteers? Here are some quick and easy ideas:

  • Send a thank you eMail to every volunteer.
    • Personalise the communications.
  • Segment an electronic communications to show real value and appreciation to those giving the most service.
    • Recognise the top tier and the number of hours each has dedicated to your charitable organisation.
    • Add a video naming the volunteer and thanking them for something in particular.
  • Send a thank you card signed by each member of your team.
  • Conduct a volunteer recognition social event.
    • Honour a small set of volunteers who have gone above and beyond this last year.
  • Nominate a volunteer for a community award.
    • Nominating someone will shed light on your non-profit organisation’s volunteer program and will encourage others to excel in their service.
    • Fundraising Institute Australia recognises a volunteer of the year in each state, as well as nationally, each year.
  • Feature a volunteer in each issue of your eNewsletter.

We do not need to what until national volunteer week to show gratitude. Remind volunteers each day how valuable their volunteer service is to your organisation.

Simply saying thank you each time someone finishes a volunteer shift will make a big difference. And, it’s free!

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What have your volunteers done for you lately?

Group of people saying ThankWhat have your volunteers done for you lately? Wrong question. What have you done for your volunteers lately?

It is National Volunteer Week in Australia. Every organisation needs to assess what it is doing to recognise volunteers and volunteers need to think about what organisations are doing to recognise the time they give to those organisations. Volunteering Australia gives us 101 Ways to Recognise Your Volunteers including 13 key ideas to celebrate National Volunteer Week

  1. Give a certificate to commemorate anniversaries of involvement.
  2. Take photos of volunteers ‘on the job’, imprint a ‘Thank you’ message and frame them – then give them to each volunteer.
  3. Hold special ‘thank you’ or social functions in honour of volunteers.
  4. For long-standing volunteers, collect coins in the amount of hours contributed, place them in a vase tied with a royal blue ribbon and present to them at a special afternoon tea.
  5. Have a morning tea with testimonials to the volunteers from recipients of services.
  6. Give them a mug with logo or ‘thank you’ motif.
  7. Create bookmarks for the volunteers with an acknowledgement of appreciation for work contributed.
  8. Hold a BBQ for your volunteers.
  9. Run a Volunteers Breakfast.
  10. Give a pat on the back: Trace your hand on plain paper and cut out. Write, ‘Here’s a pat on the back for _________________. Thanks for all you hard work.’ Invite staff or anyone else that has contact with the volunteers to make one in recognition of the service of particular volunteers. Hang them all together for visual impact.
  11. Create Volunteer buttons and pins
  12. Arrange discounts for your volunteers at local shops.
  13. Celebrate formal recognition events such as International Volunteer Day and National Volunteer Week with dinners, teas, dessert buffets, etc.

Some might seem basic or a little hokey; however, at the end of the day, isn’t it about taking a minute to say thanks and trying to be creative enough that the volunteers accept your thanks with appreciation for being recognised. Too few organisations take the opportunity to say thank you. It might be too late to action many fo these ideas this week during National Volunteer Week. But, what about hand written thank you note or simply a personalised mass Email sent to volunteers with a big “THANK YOU”?