#006 – This week we’re talking about how to show appreciation for your team with a 4-Part Power Thank You letter for volunteers.  When we talk about volunteer appreciation, so often we think of banquets, branded gifts, or fancy plaques. However, appreciation doesn’t have to cost a dime, and we shouldn’t wait until an annual banquet to celebrate our volunteers and their service to our programs. You can show gratitude for your team every day with a simple thank you letter for volunteers.   Many volunteers don't want nonprofits to spend limited resources on plaques, pins, or slick email campaigns. Volunteers don't really want stuff, but they do want to be acknowledged, and it’s important to cultivate a culture of appreciation.  There's an abundance of research that tells us this. Gratitude boosts optimism and resilience. Expressing and experiencing gratitude gives us greater tendencies towards positivity. Gratitude and respect in the workplace can help workers feel embedded in their organization, welcomed and valued. Research shows that gratitude creates more gratitude, and even inspires more giving.   Writing thank-you notes may seem daunting at first, but it’s easy once you get started. In this episode, I give you a simple but effective 4-part template to use when expressing your own powerful thank you to volunteers, as well as easy ways to implement an intentional culture of daily appreciation within your organization.   If you're a nonprofit leader, volunteer coordinator or a volunteer yourself, we hope this podcast will help you acknowledge the efforts of volunteers, both large and small. There is power in positive feedback. Show volunteers you believe in them in words and actions, and create a grateful, happier, and more productive workplace as well.  Helpful Links  Joan Garry - Nonprofit Leadership Lab  Nonprofits Are Messy Podcast A How to Guide on Leading with Gratitude Is Your Team Stressed? Gratitude Leadership Can Help! 4 Ways to Practice Gratitude as a Volunteer Manager