International Volunteer Day falls on 5 December every year. For volunteer managers, it’s a ready-made reason to stop and thank the people who give their time, and a chance to show others what volunteering with you looks like. This guide covers what the day is, why it matters, ten practical ways to mark it, a simple plan for the week before and what to do afterwards.

What is International Volunteer Day?

The United Nations General Assembly designated 5 December as International Volunteer Day for Economic and Social Development in resolution 40/212, adopted on 17 December 1985. The UN describes it as an occasion for volunteers, communities and organisations to highlight their contribution to development at local, national and international levels.

The General Assembly also proclaimed 2026 the International Year of Volunteers for Sustainable Development (resolution 78/127), which the UN Volunteers programme launched on International Volunteer Day 2025.

Each year the UN shares a theme and campaign materials on the official International Volunteer Day page. Check it before you plan, so your messages and posts can join the wider conversation.

Why it matters for volunteer managers

Most volunteers don’t give their time to be thanked. But feeling noticed is one of the things that keeps people coming back, and thanking everyone is easier to plan around a fixed date than to squeeze in “when there’s time”.

The timing helps too. Early December is busy for many organisations, with winter services and festive events, and a well-timed thank-you can lift a team before a demanding few weeks. And because people around the world are talking about volunteering on the day, it’s a natural moment to invite new people to join you.

10 ways to mark International Volunteer Day

Pick two or three ideas that suit your team and do them well, rather than trying everything.

1. Send a personal thank-you message

A short message that names the volunteer and something specific they did means more than a generic note. If you have a large team, write one warm message to everyone and add a personal line for the people you work with most closely.

In Volunteero you can send one message to all your volunteers, or to specific groups, as chat and email in one go, so it reaches people however they prefer to read it. For longer notes, our guide to volunteer thank-you letters has a sample you can adapt.

2. Share volunteer stories

Ask two or three volunteers whether they’d be happy to share why they started and what keeps them coming back. A few sentences and a photo are enough. Share the stories on your website, in your newsletter and with your staff team, so colleagues see the difference volunteers make too.

Always get permission before you publish names or photos, and make it easy for people to say no.

3. Show the impact of their hours

Volunteers rarely see the bigger picture of what they’ve achieved together. Put together a simple impact snapshot: total hours given this year, shifts covered, and people supported or meals served, depending on your work. One clear number with a sentence about what it made possible is more memorable than a full report.

If volunteers check in and out of shifts in Volunteero, their hours are recorded as they volunteer, so the total is ready in your volunteer reporting rather than pieced together from spreadsheets.

4. Host a small get-together

It doesn’t need a big budget. A tea and cake afternoon, a short online call with a thank-you from the team, or a walk followed by a hot drink all work. Offer more than one option so people with different schedules, caring responsibilities or access needs can join in. Keep any speeches short: the point is time together.

5. Award badges and recognise milestones

International Volunteer Day is a good moment to celebrate milestones, such as a first year of volunteering, a hundred hours given or fifty shifts completed. Certificates, pin badges and digital badges all work, as long as they’re fair and consistent.

With Volunteero, custom badges can be awarded automatically when volunteers reach milestones such as length of service, total volunteering time or number of shifts, so nobody is missed. Our guide to volunteer rewards and recognition has more ideas.

6. Post on social media

Share a thank-you post on the day, with a photo and a line about what your volunteers made possible. Use the hashtag from the official campaign materials so your post joins the wider conversation, and tag partner organisations and your local volunteer centre.

Only name or picture volunteers who have agreed to it. If you need a few words to get started, our collection of quotes to inspire and motivate your volunteers might help.

7. Invite new volunteers

People who see your thank-you posts are often the people who might join you next. Add a simple next step to everything you share on the day, such as a link to your current roles or a date for an open session in the new year.

Keep the first step small, like an informal chat or a one-off shift, so it’s easy to say yes. Then make sure someone can reply to enquiries quickly in the days that follow.

8. Involve the people you support

A thank-you from someone a volunteer has helped can mean more than anything from staff. With their agreement, ask clients, beneficiaries or members to write a card, record a short voice note or say a few words at your get-together. Make it optional and easy, and protect people’s privacy: first names or anonymous messages are fine.

9. Ask leadership to say thank you

A few sincere words from your chief executive, chair or trustees show volunteers that the whole organisation values them, not just their coordinator. Give leaders a short brief with real examples and the numbers from your impact snapshot, so their message is specific. A short video or a note in the volunteer newsletter works if they can’t be there in person.

10. Ask volunteers what would help

Being listened to is a form of recognition too. Use the day to ask one simple question, such as “What’s one thing that would make volunteering with us better?” Run it as a quick poll or a short survey, then tell volunteers what you’ll change as a result. Our guide to volunteer surveys explains how to ask questions people will answer.

A simple plan for the week before

A little preparation means you can spend the day itself with your volunteers rather than at your desk.

• Seven days before: choose your two or three ideas, check the official page for the year’s theme and book any space you need.

• Five days before: pull together your hours and impact numbers, ask volunteers for permission to share their stories and photos, and brief your leadership team.

• Three days before: write your thank-you message and social posts, and prepare any badges, certificates or cards.

• The day before: schedule your message and posts, and check your volunteer roles page is up to date for new visitors.

• On 5 December: send your thank-you, publish your posts and be around to reply to comments and enquiries.

If 5 December falls on a weekend, as it does in 2026, decide whether to send messages on the day or on the nearest weekday, depending on when your volunteers usually read them.

After the day

Recognition works best when it isn’t a one-off. A few small follow-ups keep the goodwill going.

• Follow up on new interest: reply to everyone who asked about volunteering within a few days, while they’re still keen.

• Share what happened: post a few photos from your get-together and thank everyone who took part.

• Note what worked: write down which ideas got the best response, so next year’s plan takes half the time.

• Add the next dates to your calendar: in the UK, Volunteers’ Week takes place in the first week of June, and in the US, National Volunteer Week is held each April. Volunteer anniversaries and milestones are worth marking all year round.

Getting started with Volunteero

Volunteero is volunteer management software for charities, nonprofits and events. Its Recognition tools award custom badges automatically when volunteers reach milestones, so thanking people doesn’t depend on someone remembering. Book a demo to see how it works.