Volunteers are the lifeblood of SCORE. SCORE HQ provides regular recognition and appreciation to our volunteers through the Chapter of the Year Awards, Platinum Leadership Award, Years of Service Awards, Emeritus Awards, and Spotlight Articles. We want to make sure the volunteers are recognized for the work they do that changes lives and impacts communities, as well as appreciated for the sacrifices they make and the efforts they give to the organization overall. 

We also encourage recognition efforts at the local chapter level. Chapter leaders know their volunteers best - they know the amazing work that is being done at the local level and what their volunteers would find most valuable from a recognition or appreciation perspective. Every chapter should find ways to provide recognition and express appreciation to its volunteers regularly. 

Local Recognition Suggestions 

Annual Awards

Many chapters host annual awards ceremonies to recognize the accomplishments of their volunteers.  This can be in the form of a luncheon, a dinner, or a chapter meeting.  Whichever format you choose, it's important to set time aside periodically to recognize your volunteers for the outstanding work being done. 

Each chapter will have different awards and criteria that make sense for them. Below a few ideas you might consider implementing.  

• Chapter "MVP" Award - Award given to a volunteer who has contributed the most to client success and engagement (Idea from Metro NJ Chapter)
• "Key Contributor" Award - Award given to a volunteer who has contributed the most to the success of the chapter (Idea from Metro NJ Chapter)
• "Rookie of the Year" Award - Award given to a new volunteer who fully engages with the chapter and becomes a high-performing contributor right away (Idea from Savannah GA and Orange County Chapters)
• Distinguished Service Award(s) - Award given to volunteer(s) who provide consistent superior service to clients (Idea from Houston Chapter and TN District)
• Position Awards - Award(s) given to top performers in various Volunteer/Chapter Positions such as mentor, membership chair, or fundraising chair. (Idea from Greater Seattle and Houston Chapters)
• Years of Service Awards - SCORE HQ recognizes volunteers for their years of service, starting with their 5th anniversary, and every following 5-year milestone (10, 15, 20, etc.). At the local level, chapters often recognize different service periods or highlight volunteer anniversaries each year.

Check out the SCORE Store to purchase certificates, plaques, or other swag to recognize volunteers. 

Spontaneous Recognition

Chapters don't have to wait until an annual or quarterly event to hand out awards for outstanding service.  Volunteers accomplish great things across the nation every day, and chapters should take opportunity to honor those accomplishments in the moment.  

Below are some ideas for spontaneous recognition that can be given whenever warranted:

• Difference Maker Coins - On-the-spot awards given to volunteers making a difference in the chapter and their community (Idea from TN District)
• Outstanding Volunteer Coins - Given to volunteers who have contributed to extraordinary initiatives in the chapter (Idea from Kansas City Chapter)
• "NPS 10 Club" - Recognizes all volunteers who have received a perfect NPS survey from one or more clients in a given period.  Recognition can be provided at monthly chapter meetings. (Idea from Savannah Chapter)
• Volunteer Heroes - Recognize individual or groups of volunteers for extraordinary efforts on projects/initiatives that have taken place in a given period. For example, converting a workshop program to a virtual event in just 24 hours (Idea from Greater Seattle Chapter)

Volunteer Spotlights

Highlighting the outstanding work of your volunteers, whether within SCORE or to your local community, is a great method of providing recognition and boosting morale.  Highlights can be provided in written form or communicated during group meetings or calls. Sharing volunteer spotlights with the local community can help strengthen a chapter's profile and standing with potential clients and partners, as they can see what SCORE volunteers can provide them.

Below are just some of the ways in which you can highlight your volunteers and their accomplishments, internally or externally:

• New Volunteer Introductions - After onboarding is complete, highlight new volunteers in a monthly chapter newsletter with a summary of background and interests.  If the chapter does not send a newsletter, this can be done during the monthly meeting instead (Idea from Houston Chapter)
• Volunteer Profile - Post Volunteer Profiles highlighting their skills and expertise on chapter social media pages such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc. (Idea from Savannah Chapter)
• Local Chapter Volunteer Spotlight - During each monthly chapter meeting, highlight the skills, expertise, and accomplishments of a different volunteer (Idea from Orange County Chapter)
• Client Feedback - In a newsletter or a chapter meeting, publish the feedback from clients recognizing the efforts from particular mentors (Idea from Kansas City Chapter)

Recognition Task Force Acknowledgement

We are extremely grateful for the contributions of the volunteer members of our Recognition Task Force:

• Steve Click, Chapter Chair, Indianapolis
• Karen Foelsch, Co-Chair, Kansas City
• Krista Fuller, Chapter Chair, Seattle
• RG Lineberry, District Director, TN
• David Lurie, Committee Chair, Houston
• Ken Narod, Chapter Chair, Metro NJ
• Mark Rothenberg, District Director, NY
• Michael Siegel, Chapter Chair, Savannah
• Lorraine Wardy, Chapter Chair, Orange County