Most Volunteers Serve Multiple Groups and Want Recognition, Not Gifts, as Thanks, Report Says

Seventy-five percent of volunteers serve at more than one organization, and four out of five are more willing to donate to a group they volunteer for, according to a study of 7,215 active volunteers.

The findings come from VolunteerMatch, an engagement network, and Verified Volunteers, a division of the company Sterling Talent Solutions, which performs background checks. Researchers said their goal was to find trends among individuals who regularly volunteer. The study was conducted last September and October.

When recognizing the work of a volunteer, more than two-thirds of respondents said they would prefer a handwritten thank-you note or “kudos” from staff members rather than pricey gifts and trinkets. They also said being shown more opportunities to volunteer online and in-person would keep them more engaged with nonprofits.

Appealing to a volunteer’s heartstrings might also increase engagement.

“My husband and I volunteer in honor of our daughter. … She was extremely involved in the community, and we know it is what she would want us to do,” said one respondent in reference to the daughter’s death.

Other take-aways from the 2019 report:

• About 83 percent of respondents volunteer to contribute to a cause they care about, 66 percent to improve their community, and 63 percent to do something they are interested in.
• Volunteers age 35 and older said they are OK with a website or online application keeping track of their volunteer hours and personal background-check credentials.
• 79 percent identified as women. Most respondents, 56 percent, lived and volunteered in suburban communities, followed by 35 percent in cities and 9 percent in rural areas.
• Just 6 percent of respondents said they were under age 18. About 48 percent said they were 18 to 54. The remaining 46 percent were older than 55.