As conversations around giving and gratitude ramp up during the holiday season, expressing appreciation for employees should be a top priority for nonprofit leaders. Recognizing and rewarding the efforts of staff and volunteers not only boosts morale, but also showcases that everything they contribute is noticed and valued.
From handwritten notes and time off to curated appreciation events, showing that you value your whole team can take a multitude of forms. Below, 12 Forbes Nonprofit Council members offer suggestions on how nonprofit leaders can show their appreciation for their regular paid staff and volunteers during the holiday season.
1. Share A Word Of Thanks
Appreciation and gratitude start with our free words. We can share a word of thanks at will. Consider making a gift to a nonprofit (yours or one of their choosing) in honor of their dedication and support. Finally, write them a note expressing your appreciation for their performance and dedication to the cause. A simple “thank you” goes a long way. – Aaron Alejandro, Texas FFA Foundation
2. Offer An Extended Holiday Break
The best way we have found to show appreciation to our staff at the holidays is the gift of time. A few years ago, we decided to close the week between Christmas and New Year’s to give our staff time off to spend with their families. It also allows them to recharge after the busy fall season and end-of-the-year activities. – Liz Salguero, Circle of Care
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3. Be Respectful Of Your Staff
The best gift that leaders can give their teams and volunteers during the holidays is respect. That includes respect for time away, diverse traditions and for the boundaries that protect both. Thoughtful planning ahead helps staff and volunteers truly unplug and spend time with loved ones, allowing them to return refreshed for the work ahead. – Karen Cochran, Philanthropy Innovators
4. Embed Heart And Humor In Celebrations
Celebrate with heart and humor. We host a holiday party with a white elephant gift exchange, give extra PTO and pay out bonuses early. Our favorite tradition is the “Wellies,” which is our playful awards event inspired by The Office’s “Dundies” awards. It makes every team member feel seen and appreciated. – Sarah Evans, Well Aware
5. Offer A Year-End Bonus
A year-end bonus is always a winner if the budget allows it. Holiday parties, a video message or handwritten notes from leadership or the board of directors are also great ways to simply say, “Thank you for your dedicated service.” – Kimberly Lewis, Goodwill Industries of East Texas, Inc.
6. Invest in A Self-Care Stipend
I recommend investing in their self-care. Providing a small stipend so that your staff can do something for themselves is great, but declaring a self-care stipend demonstrates that the organization cares about them as individuals, including their mental health and the need for work-life balance. Ultimately, embracing this idea is far more valuable than the dollars attached to it. – Patrick Riccards, Driving Force Institute
7. Send Out A Thank-You Newsletter
At GC4W, we like to express our gratitude by sending out a thank-you newsletter during the holidays. We invite our team to share photos in their holiday gear. An email is sent out to our community to acknowledge our team’s efforts and thank them for making everything possible. Additionally, we host a holiday party, creating another opportunity to express our appreciation for the generous support of our team. – Dr. Lilian Ajayi-Ore, Global Connections for Women Foundation
8. Showcase The Impact Of Your Staff’s Efforts
Make the invisible visible. Show people the impact of their effort, not just the outcomes. Bonuses matter, but so does meaning. Appreciation should name the sacrifice, reflect the values and connect the work to real lives changed. During the holidays, don’t just recognize what was done, but also what it took to do it. That’s what people will remember. – Cherian Koshy, Kindsight
9. Make It An Entire Event
Skip the branded water bottle since everyone’s loyal to their Yeti or Stanley anyway. We use SugarWish so that staff can pick their own treats and then add a “week of gratitude” with silly awards and handwritten notes. By season’s end, employees feel seen, heard and genuinely appreciated. – Lauren Reilly, Gratitude Network
10. Get Personal
The holidays are a chance to slow down and thank the people who carry the mission forward. A personal note sharing someone’s impact or simply gathering to celebrate goes a long way. People feel seen when gratitude is genuine, and that feeling lasts beyond the season. – Gregory Johnson, Foundation for the Mid South
11. Promote Kindness
Kindness is something the world needs more of overall. A handwritten thank-you note goes a long way, as many people appreciate connection over money. On top of thank-you notes, one of the items I like to give is a ham or turkey for their holiday meal! – Rhonda Vetere, Laureus Sport For Good
12. Make Gratitude A Regular Habit
Appreciation shouldn’t be limited to the holidays. Make it a regular habit with small gestures like kudos on Slack, peer recognition or celebrating wins in meetings. When gratitude is part of the culture all year, the holidays simply reinforce what people already feel every day. – Michael Bellavia, HelpGood