Ten Volunteer Appreciation Quotes Guaranteed To Make Your Supporters Feel Valued

Let's be real, your nonprofit wouldn't be where it is today without the amazing volunteers who show up and give their time, energy, and passion to your cause. These rockstar humans are the unsung heroes behind the scenes, making the world better one small act at a time.  

But here's the tough reality—showing genuine appreciation for your volunteers is about more than just an annual "Volunteer Appreciation Night" with lukewarm pizza and polite applause. To really make your supporters feel valued and invested in your mission, you need to make them celebrated protagonists of your nonprofit's story.

Why Volunteer Appreciation Quotes Matter for Donor Relations  

Your volunteers are potential donors and fundraising ambassadors for your cause. Feeling truly appreciated and celebrated isn't just a warm fuzzy feeling—it inspires people to give more of their time, talents, and financial resources to a nonprofit they feel connected to.

With the right volunteer appreciation quotes working their magic, you'll be able to:

— Boost volunteer retention rates by making people feel valued

—Inspire donors to give more by reminding them of the change they're creating

—Turn volunteers into fundraising ambassadors who rally more supporters

—Create a ripple effect of people giving back in ways big and small

In other words, showering your supporters with heartfelt appreciation isn't just a nice thing to do— it's a key part of your fundraising and donor management strategy.

Ten Quotes to Make Volunteers Feel Valued

Enough preamble; let's get to the good stuff! Here are ten top-notch quotes your nonprofit can use to celebrate your volunteers:

1. "Volunteers don't get paid, not because they're worthless, but because they're priceless." — Sherry Anderson

2. "We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give." — Winston Churchill

3. "The smallest act of kindness is worth more than the grandest intention." — Oscar Wilde  

4. "No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." — Aesop

5. "The heart of a volunteer is not measured in size, but by the depth of the commitment to make a difference in the lives of others." —DeAnn Hollis

6. "Volunteers are the only human beings on the face of the earth who reflect this nation's compassion, unselfish caring, patience, and just plain loving one another." —Erma Bombeck

7. "If our hopes of building a better and safer world are to become more than wishful thinking, we will need the engagement of volunteers more than ever." —Kofi Annan  

8. "Volunteers are the roots of strong communities, where respect and kindness grow." —Sharon Eubanks

9. "Volunteering is the ultimate exercise in democracy. You vote in elections once a year, but when you volunteer, you vote every day about the kind of community you want to live in."—Marjorie Moore

10. "One of the great ironies of life is this: He or she who serves almost always benefits more than he or she who is served." —Gordon Hinckley  

Take the Next Step: Appreciate Your Volunteers

Those quotes are just the tip of the iceberg! The possibilities for making your volunteers feel valued and celebrated are endless. 

Here's your call to action: Schedule a brainstorming session with your team (your volunteers would be great to include here!) to come up with creative ways to incorporate these quotes into your regular outreach and communications. A few ideas:

—Create shareable social media graphics

—Print the quotes on fundraising merch like t-shirts and water bottles

—Feature a "Volunteer of the Month" and their favorite quote on your website  

—Include a handwritten quote in personal thank-you cards

The key is to get creative, have fun with it, and always tie your messaging back to the incredible impact your volunteers are making.

Your volunteers are the real MVPs of your nonprofit's work. It's time to start shouting their praises from the rooftops! With genuine appreciation as the driving force behind your fundraising and donor management, you'll be able to supercharge your mission and leave a bigger mark on the world than ever before.

Ready to take your volunteer appreciation to the next level? Schedule a brainstorming session with your team (don't forget to include your rockstar volunteers!) and let the creative ideas flow! And if you need extra support, we invite you to schedule a free nonprofit strategy session with our Quirk team!