Volunteering is a selfless act that many people do without any sort of appreciation or recognition in return. Their sole aim is to help make the world a better place for every community and person to live and thrive in. As an organization, to show appreciation for your volunteers' tireless efforts and selflessness, you can give them a letter of recommendation. 

Every volunteer has a life outside of just volunteering. Some may have their own businesses, while most of them are from the corporate world. And a letter of recommendation can be a great way to boost their credibility in their jobs or the corporate world. They can boost their resume’s worth and get an edge over others. This way, your volunteers can easily crack interviews and may also get some exceptionally good opportunities in corporations.

So, there’s nothing better than a volunteer recommendation letter to show them some love and give them a token of appreciation for their toil in your organization. This way, you can also encourage and motivate your volunteers to work harder. Not only that, but it can also keep them retained in your organization for a long time.  

So, just to make it a little bit easier for you to craft an exceptional letter of recommendation for your volunteers, we’re going to give you tips on what to include and how to format one.

5 Tips to Write a Well-Structured Recommendation Letter

• Clearly Identify Yourself

It’s important for you to clearly define yourself at the very start. By doing so, you aren’t only making the letter of recommendation sound more credible but also letting the reader know about your authority or the relationship with the volunteer. So, clearly state your name along with your position in the organization and your relationship with the volunteer, as well as how you were responsible for handling them in the organization. This sets the tone for the whole recommendation letter and also assures the reader that it’s coming from a reliable source. 

• Provide Specific Details 

Another important thing about making an impactful letter of recommendation is providing specific details about the volunteer. Instead of saying general things like they were great and how much you appreciate and recommend them to others, try mentioning specific anecdotes about them like mentioning the volunteer program names they contributed to. For instance, you can mention how dedicated, reliable, and goal-oriented they are. For example, you can say something like, during the annual community outreach events, they demonstrated exceptional communication and project management skills. They organized and managed the whole event and also helped raise some good amounts of funds for future projects.

• Highlight Relevant Skills and Qualities 

Emphasizing the relevant skills and qualities required for their particular industry or that make them stand out can help make a recommendation letter even better and more impactful. This way, you can enhance your volunteers’ credibility in the reader's eye and also strengthen their decision to hire them. So, mention the specific skills they demonstrated during their time in your organization with specific examples to not sound pretentious. Whether it’s their excellent communication skills, team-handling skills, or problem-solving skills articulate them well through specific anecdotes.

• Address Potential Weaknesses Thoughtfully

Even though it’s important to highlight their strengths and capabilities, thoughtfully mentioning their weaknesses can also improve their letter of recommendation and make it sound more authentic and reliable. While mentioning these things, try to sound a little diplomatic and constructive, and show them how the volunteer took the initiative to improve those weaknesses. Try to highlight their will to grow rather than making their weaknesses sound like shortcomings. 

• Express Enthusiastic Recommendation

Now, when reaching the end of the letter, try to be enthusiastic and showcase your strong conviction for the volunteer. Try to mention your strong recommendation by effectively communicating your confidence in their skills and capabilities. Say things that can reinforce the reader's trust in your volunteers' skills. Keep the tone of the conclusion positive and enthusiastic, and also mention a small summary to reiterate why you would like to recommend your volunteer. Moreover, provide your contact details to the reader. This gives your readers a chance to call you up if they need any further clarification.

Final Thoughts

Volunteers pour their heart and soul into your organization's cause. They work tirelessly and unconditionally to make the world a better place. So, as an organization, by giving them a gracious recommendation letter, you aren’t only giving them a token of appreciation but also helping them in their professional lives.