10 Ways To Thank a Volunteer, With Little (or No) Budget

Volunteers who serve your HOA board – or provide any other free service for the homeowners association – deserve thanks and gratitude for the invaluable role they play in the HOA. Trouble is, there’s often not an unlimited budget available to throw huge parties or special events.

Fortunately, there are ways to thank volunteers that don’t require much money at all! Start by making sure you provide an atmosphere of genuine respect, courtesy, support, and gratitude, then consider these additional low-cost ideas to say thank you to a volunteer:

1. Give a shout-out! If your HOA has a page on platforms such as Facebook, thank (and tag!) your volunteers there.
2. Consider naming a “Volunteer of the Month (or Quarter).”
3. Present volunteers with a homemade certificate of appreciation.
4. Compose simple, handwritten notes saying “thank you” for their contributions.
5. Dedicate a portion of each HOA newsletter to thanking a different volunteer.
6. Write a recommendation for volunteers on a service like LinkedIn (or offer to serve as a professional reference).
7. Give volunteers framed photos of themselves during a community or service event.
8. Interview the volunteer and write a bio for the HOA’s website or social media accounts.
9. Let volunteers know when you hear compliments from others on their work.
10. Make a list of their accomplishments during their time of volunteer service, and share them at an HOA meeting.