- Before and After. Consider presenting a volunteer with a handsomely appointed photograph (or series of photographs) chronicling the results of a philanthropic project that the volunteer worked on. For example, if a volunteer was instrumental in a capital-building campaign, have some "before and after" shots of the project and photos of people working on it. After this is completed, have others who were involved write comments expressing their gratitude towards the volunteer's work, placing these comments throughout the album.
- Framed Quotes. A very simple but often very meaningful volunteer-recognition gift is to frame a quote relating to volunteerism, which can then be hung on a wall or put on a desk. Many volunteers enjoy gifts like this, since they can reflect on the service they have been providing every time they look at it.
- Care Packages. Consider putting together a care package, tailored towards the interests of the particular volunteer. Have a volunteer who's into gardening? Put together a care package that includes a small clay pot and forget-me-not seeds to plant in his/her home. If a volunteer is interested in cooking, print up some recipes you find on the Internet (printed on a high-quality paper stock) and include some of these recipes' ingredients. If you're inclined, write small notes on each gift and explain the meaning behind each one.
- Student Appreciation. It's likely that the majority of your volunteers adore the students in your school—after all, volunteers are often the parents of these students. As part of your volunteer-recognition workplan, consider asking one of your art classes to create individual pieces for each of the volunteers. This can range from thank-you cards (make sure it's a little more than just marker and paper, though) to crafts—buttons, pins, or posters. Or, if one of your school's classes is a little more advanced and has the equipment, consider some hand-made coffee mugs.
No matter what kind of gift you end up choosing, the important thing to remember is that it should be meaningful and symbolic of how much you appreciate all of a volunteer's hard work. If you're not sure which gift would be the most appropriate, run these (or any other ideas that you may have) past a few of your peers and see what they think.
