7 Ideas to Thank Volunteers

Volunteers jump in and save the day on the regular for no pay and little-to-no thanks. But they do it anyway. Here’s the upside – it costs next to nothing to show some gratitude. We’ll show you how easy (and affordable!) it can be to thank your community’s volunteers. 

Volunteers organize events from the logistics down to the heavy lifting of tables and chairs, and are somehow ready to do it all again for the next event. And while PTAs, school clubs and community groups wouldn’t function without these heroes, volunteers rarely expect recognition, which makes thanking them even more important. 

Why Your Appreciation for Volunteers Goes a Long Way

Volunteers don’t sign up for the recognition, they sign up for the good of their school community – but that doesn’t change the fact that research consistently shows that feeling appreciated is one of the biggest factors that keeps volunteers engaged. In fact:

• Recognition is one of the top reasons volunteers continue volunteering year after year.
• Over 80% of volunteers say feeling appreciated motivates them to stay involved.
• Organizations that regularly recognize volunteers see significantly higher retention and long-term participation.

Maybe most importantly, volunteers who feel valued are more likely to recommend volunteering to others, helping communities grow their support networks. For PTAs and school communities, this matters more than ever, with schools relying on community members to help organize events, run fundraisers, support classrooms and bring school spirit to life.

The good news is that showing gratitude doesn’t have to be complicated or expensive – here are seven thoughtful ways to thank volunteers in your school community.

1. A Handwritten Thank You Note

Seriously, it can be this uncomplicated. A handwritten note from a teacher, principal or even students has the power to tug at any volunteer’s heartstrings. It shows that someone took the time to personally recognize their effort – something they likely don’t see often. 

Tip: Ask students to write a few lines about what the volunteer helped with – it adds a personal touch that’s hard to beat.

2. A Volunteer Appreciation Event

Hosting a small appreciation event is a great way to celebrate volunteers together, bringing their hard work out of the shadows and into the light. All that unseen support doesn’t need to be unseen! A teacher or student could give a brief speech or a toast to the volunteers, spotlighting their contributions before sharing some drinks and nibbles – non-alcoholic, of course! 

The event could be a:

• Morning tea
• Thank you breakfast
• End-of-year appreciation gathering
• Picnic in the park
• Casual afternoon tea in the staff room

It doesn’t need to be elaborate, the goal is to create the opportunity to say thanks and shine a light on the work of your volunteers.

3. Shout Out in the School Newsletter

Recognition doesn’t always have to be a physical gift – featuring volunteers in the school newsletter, PTA update or on social media is a great way to publicly acknowledge their contribution. And yes, it costs absolutely nothing.

You could try pitching a short “Volunteer Spotlight” section to the editors and, every week, you could introduce a volunteer, share what they help with and thank them for their time. It’s the perfect way to help build a culture of appreciation across the entire school community.

4. Create a Group Thank You Card

When appreciation comes from everyone, it changes the game – it’s not just about one person going through the motions or acting out of protocol. It’s about people from all areas of the school community coming together to show a little love. 

A group card from the class, school or PTA allows parents, teachers and students to add messages of thanks – and if you use GroupTogether’s online group cards, they can add unlimited photos and GIFs too. Seeing a page full of warm and fuzzy messages can be incredibly rewarding for someone who gives their time to help others – to see that care returned ten or even a hundred fold is like watching karma play out in real time.  

Don’t know what to write? We’ve got you covered with these funny, heartfelt and professional thank you messages that work for every occasion. 

5. Give a Flexible eGift Card like the AnyCard

Sometimes a small gift is the perfect way to say thank you and help volunteers buy something they could really use. The challenge is choosing something everyone will enjoy. One volunteer might love coffee and cake, while someone else might want to treat their family to dinner – Old El Paso answered this question years ago: Por que no los dos? And with the AnyCard, yes, they absolutely can have both! Or either, or neither – volunteers can mix and match between 150+ retailers and choose something they’ll love. 

Even a $5 eGift Card can be the perfect way to acknowledge someone’s time and effort, letting them treat themself to anything they’d like.

Got a lot of volunteers you’d like to treat? No problem – GroupTogether can help with this too, whether you’ve got 1 or 1000, we’ll show you how to send bulk eGift Cards and how easy it is. 

6. Create a Volunteer Wall of Thanks

Try creating a wall of thanks where students and staff can add notes or messages recognizing the people who help behind the scenes. It could be a physical noticeboard in the school hallway or a digital version shared in newsletters – either way, it helps highlight just how much volunteers contribute to the school community and makes it easy for students to share their appreciation too. 

Our advice: Ask students to be genuine, but keep it positive – we’re going for the wall of thanks, not the Wall of Weird! 

7. Just Say Thank You – Often

This might sound obvious, but it’s often overlooked. Between the event planning and card writing, we often ignore the easiest, quickest pathway to recognition – our voice. Volunteers don’t always need formal recognition or gifts, checking in regularly and stopping to say thanks at the end of an event can mean a lot. It’s also instant, so volunteers won’t go home wondering if anyone noticed the sweat and tears that went into the day. 

No matter how you do it, the key is making appreciation consistent. When volunteers feel valued, they keep showing up – and that benefits the entire school community. 

FAQ: You Ask, We Answer

Q: What are some simple ways to thank volunteers?

A: The most meaningful volunteer appreciation gestures are often the simplest. Handwritten thank you notes, public recognition in newsletters, appreciation events and group cards from students or parents can all make volunteers feel valued.  

Q: Is it appropriate to give small volunteers gifts like a $5 AnyCard?

A: Yes, small tokens of appreciation are a common way to thank volunteers. Gifts don’t need to be expensive – the goal is to show gratitude. A $5 or $10 GroupTogether AnyCard is the perfect way to treat volunteers to something special without breaking the bank.  

Q: What is a group card and how does it work?

A: A group card allows multiple people to contribute messages to a single card. With GroupTogether, parents, teachers and students can add their own thank you notes and even photos online, creating a shared card filled with appreciation from the whole community. We handle the nudges and delivery, so you can sit back and relax. 

Q: Can you print a GroupTogether group card?

A: Yes. Once everyone has added their messages, GroupTogether group cards can be printed if you’d like something physical to present in person. Many PTAs choose to print the card and give it to volunteers during appreciation events or end-of-year celebrations.

Q: What is the ultimate gift card for volunteer appreciation?

A: Flexible eGift Cards tend to work best, because volunteers can choose something they’ll actually enjoy. Multi-retailer options like GroupTogether’s AnyCard eGift Card allow recipients to select from 150+ popular brands, restaurants and experiences. This makes it easier for organizers while ensuring the volunteer gets a gift they genuinely want.

Q: Can eGift Cards be scheduled or sent digitally?

A: Yes. eGift Cards can be scheduled and delivered digitally, which makes them ideal for volunteer appreciation where recipients may be scattered. With GroupTogether, you can set a delivery date and send the eGift Card directly to the recipient’s email at the right time.

Q: How much should you spend on a volunteer appreciation gift?

A: There’s no set amount. Many appreciation gifts are small, often between $5 and $25 per volunteer. What matters most is the gesture of gratitude rather than the value of the gift.

Meet the experts

Melissa Evans

Content Writer

Ali + Julie

Co-Founders, GroupTogether.

Life’s busy. That’s why we’re here to make it easy for you to collect money from a group. Less wasted time, less packaging waste, and spending a little less but giving a lot better!