The Quiet Force of Support

Read time: 3 min

👋🏾 Hey! I’m Sid and this is The Philanthropy Futurist, a weekly advice column preparing you for the future of the nonprofit sector. Each Friday, I tackle reader questions about measuring impact, driving growth, and managing your nonprofit.

This Week’s Newsletter at a glance:

• The Quiet Force of Support

• Philanthropy News From This Week

• Sid’s Book Recommendation

The Quiet Force of Support

I have been volunteering since my teenage years.

Personally, I’ve never volunteered for the recognition. But let’s keep it real... when your contributions feel transactional, it doesn't feel good.

Volunteers aren’t just supporting the organization. They’re like the roots of a plant... quiet, steady, often unseen, but essential for meaningful growth.

Too often, gratitude is an afterthought.

Tacked on. Mass-produced. Forgotten the moment the event ends.

It’s time we stop viewing volunteer appreciation as a nice gesture— and start seeing it as a core leadership practice that directly impacts morale, retention, and impact.

The majority of volunteers aren’t looking for trophies. They don’t need a gala or a gold star.

What they do want is something more meaningful: to feel seen, included, and understood.

They want to know that the hours they give— often carved out between work, family, and life— matter to someone. That they’re not just filling a shift, but fueling a mission.

So, how do we show gratitude in a way that actually lands?

Let’s talk about it.

1. Personalized Thanks > Mass Messages

A bulk email with a generic “thank you for volunteering” can actually feel worse than saying nothing at all. It signals that their contribution wasn’t meaningful enough to be recognized individually.

Instead, take a few extra minutes to:

• Send a handwritten note with a specific detail (“Thanks for staying late to help clean up after the fundraiser. Your energy kept the team going!”)

• Record a short voicenote or video from your staff expressing appreciation

• Use their name, and acknowledge the exact thing they did

Gratitude, like impact, is most powerful when it’s specific.

Another thing to keep in mind: as AI technology continues to advance, you'll soon have even more tools to help you personalize the volunteer experience. Keep experimenting, and I’ll be sure to keep you in the loop as I come across viable options.

2. Celebrate in Public, Recognize in Private

Public recognition— like spotlighting a volunteer on your social media or newsletter— is powerful. It not only honors them, but it signals to your whole community that volunteers are central to your mission. But be sure to ask volunteers for their permission first, because if they’re anything like me, they prefer to be lowkey.

So, don’t underestimate private moments.

A quick conversation before they leave. A message on their birthday. A check-in to ask how they’re doing— not just how many hours they can give.

When people feel cared for as humans, they stick around longer as volunteers.

3. Involve Them Beyond the Task

Gratitude also looks like inclusion.

Invite volunteers to weigh in on decisions that affect them. Ask for feedback. Give them opportunities to grow into volunteer leadership roles.

When you treat volunteers like stakeholders— not just extra support— you build deeper loyalty and a stronger culture.

Bonus: many of your best ideas will come from volunteers. They’re on the ground, talking to people, and seeing things your staff may miss.

4. Say It With Them, Not Just About Them

Don’t just talk about how great your volunteers are— talk with them. Share stories. Co-create content. Invite them to write blog posts, lead trainings, or speak at events.

Gratitude is not a one-way street. When you create space for volunteers to share their voice, you’re showing that their perspective matters just as much as their time.

I encourage you to be creative.

Closing Thought

Your volunteers are choosing to give you their most valuable asset: Time

You don’t have to be perfect.

You don’t have to have a big budget.

But you do have to be present.

Say thank you early and often. Celebrate them with the same intention and care you give your monetary donors. Build systems and moments that remind your volunteers they’re not just helping— but you see them.

Tiny gestures, done consistently, are more powerful than a once-a-year celebration that feels routine.

Make gratitude a core part of your culture— because in a sector built on heart, no one should feel invisible.

Hope this was helpful. Until next week y’all! ✌🏾

Have questions you want answered? Submit questions using this form and I’ll work hard to get you the answers by way of this newsletter.

Philanthropy News From This Week

• Nonprofits Are Underinvesting In Their Volunteers, Report Finds

• Most U.S. Adults Give to Charity, but Young People Are Less Likely, Survey Finds

• A Detroit Nonprofit's Former Finance Chief Gets 19 Years for $40 Million Theft

• Marguerite Casey Foundation Dips Into Endowment to Donate $130 Million This Year

Sid’s Book Recommendation

Each week, I recommend a book or film that has impacted my life in a positive way. My recommendation this week is:

Scaling People by Claire Hughes Johnson

This book provides practical and empathetic guidance for building and scaling organizations by focusing on your most important resource: People. Drawing on her leadership experience at Google and Stripe, Claire offers actionable advice and best practices for leaders and managers in high-growth working environments. Learn more.

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