There must be 40 ways to thank your volunteers

In the month to praise those who give their time, here’s a list featuring gestures — obvious and unexpected.

Rarely, do we say it better than William Shakespeare, “I can no other answer make, but, thanks, and thanks.” While frequently cited, “Thank you” is never a cliché in our nonprofit world. In fact, it is inarguably the most important term in volunteer management.

April is National Volunteer Month. Honoring your volunteers, and taking every opportunity to say “thank you” for advancing your mission, is the single most important component of volunteer management.

Here is a list of creative – and cheap – kudos you can add to your toolbox.

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Reasonable pay? It’s a tough question

Nonprofits need to be open, honest and follow previous examples of what top executives are earning.

When asked about salaries in the nonprofit sector, I often respond cheekily. “Nonprofit staff bank on karma.” I think this is ironic and even funny. But the IRS? Not so much.

Questions about pay, and what is or is not reasonable pay, are not new. Boards have been juggling compensation issues for years. And multiple years of economic woes – with attendant decreases in nonprofit revenues and increases in demand for nonprofit services – have only exaggerated the situation. In addition, the nonprofit sector has been under increased scrutiny from state regulators and the IRS, not to mention the media, our donors and stakeholders.

It’s nearing budget time for many nonprofits, which means it is time to address compensation again. How much compensation is reasonable?

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Want real commitment? Get it in writing

Signing on the dotted line is a powerful tool for nonprofits, something they should require of board members.

For two months I’ve told a friend that I would join her in a 39-mile walk for breast cancer.

But it wasn’t until this weekend, when I actually sent in my registration forms – when I literally signed on the dotted line – that I committed to this very big endeavor.

Signing on the dotted line makes it real. It formalizes the commitment and, to ensure success, it requires me to create a plan.

Writing down our goals and signing on the dotted line is a strategy a lot of nonprofits would find advantageous.

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Tell your volunteers why they matter

Nonprofits can drum up more support by giving a precise, personal picture of the good work they do.

I do not work for a nonprofit by accident.

It’s my passion. It’s what drives my interests.

You can imagine what that means for my family and friends, who frequently are conscripted to paint murals and collect books; to plant and dig.

And I’ll be honest. As much as we are out and about engaging with nonprofits throughout Orange County, my family has favorites. There are a handful of nonprofits that I can always get young and old excited about.

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Kids as volunteers? Why not

Special care is needed if you want to incorporate children into your nonprofit. The results are well worth the effort.

In March, not only do we celebrate mischievous green leprechauns, we also celebrate the ubiquitous green boxes of cookies and the many, many Girl Scouts who sell them.

Everywhere I have turned this month, there has been an industrious Girl Scout selling her wares and – according to the cookie box – learning skills such as goal setting, money management and ethics.

It paints a vivid picture of thousands of children volunteering in their communities.

There is a strong movement of getting kids involved in their communities. Many schools – even public schools – build community service hours into their curricula. Nonprofits are creating opportunities to get children involved, hoping to build lifetime volunteers.

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Getting in the News

So you want to see your story in the news, but not sure how to make the magic happen.

Well, you’re not alone. These days, reporters receive about a zillion story pitches via email, Twitter, telephone and even snail mail from well-meaning nonprofits with great stories to tell just like yours. To stand the best chance of seeing your story in the news, here are a few steps to consider:

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