When it comes to thanking volunteers, don’t wait until the end.

When a volunteer feels appreciated, it increases their morale. Whether someone has high or low morale can be the difference between someone who is productive and someone who is not. In his book “The Idiot’s Guide to Recruiting and Managing Volunteers,” John L. Lipp wrote that it is important to make your volunteers feel welcomed from the beginning. Waiting until they leave to say “thanks” won’t do you much good.

Click here for 10 easy ways to integrate volunteer recognition activities into your organization.