Volunteer Spotlight: Crafting a Powerful Letter of Recommendation
SOURCE: Freepik
Volunteers are the heart and soul of every organization! From checking off tasks from your office work to managing the whole fundraising event on the ground, their work and dedication are what keep your organization functioning smoothly.
Volunteers are more than helping hands; they are an indispensable part of your organization that helps you scale your cause and make a bigger impact than you. Volunteers can help you reach out to more beneficiaries, increase the quality of your services, and make people remember your organization’s name forever with their selfless compassion.
They do it all for you without seeking anything in return. But as an organization that depends so much on their toil, you must appreciate your volunteers’ skills and hard work. These people who invest in your cause purely out of empathy and compassion will skyrocket your impact; it is a must to acknowledge their efforts.
Every volunteer has a career that helps them earn a living; giving them a thoughtfully written letter of recommendation (LOR) can immensely help them in their career pursuits. Your LOR can help them showcase their credibility and skills to land their dream job, get into a coveted university, or even get a scholarship they are seeking.
LORs can help your hardworking volunteers in countless ways, but only if they are well-crafted. So, to help you shine the spotlight on your volunteers the right way and ensure your LOR carries the weight it deserves, we have six stellar tips for you.
Six Steps to Craft a Compelling Volunteer Letter of Recommendation
Understand the Purpose of the Letter
Knowing the purpose of crafting the LOR can help you add more clarity and build the much-needed credibility of your letter. Before you begin, know whether the letter of recommendation is for applying for a job, a scholarship, or a university. Depending on the real purpose of the LOR, you can talk about your volunteer’s relevant skills and make a strong impact on their profile. For instance, if you are crafting a LOR for a scholarship, you can talk about their character, commitment, and the impact they made in the community through their hardworking and compassionate nature. This will ensure your letter of recommendation is tailored and relevant to the purpose. That is why giving LORs is considered one of the best volunteer appreciation ideas.
Start with a Strong Opening
As they say, the first impression is the last impression. It is the opening sentence of your LOR that decides how seriously the reader would take it. So, begin your letter of recommendation with a clear and enthusiastic statement describing your relationship with your volunteer. Along with that, mention how long you’ve known them for and in what capacity.
For example: I’m thrilled to recommend XYZ who has been a valuable member of our organization for the past two years, contributing over 500 hours of dedicated service.
A statement like this will set a positive tone and make a strong impact on the reader.
Incorporate Personal Anecdotes
Adding a personal touch can humanize your letter of recommendation and make it memorable for the readers. Besides, sharing anecdotes further boosts the credibility of your LOR, as they make it look more authentic and reliable. To add something like that, you can share a personal story that illustrates the character or dedication of your volunteer. For instance, you can talk about the time they stayed late to finish a project, mentored a new volunteer, or stepped up to help in a moment of crisis. Mentioning these things will position them as a reliable team member and assure them they will stand by the team when needed. Highlighting these qualities can help them stand out in the sea of applicants.
Highlight Specific Contributions and Achievements
Writing generic praises will cheapen your letter; that is why it is important to provide concrete examples of your volunteer’s work. You can describe the specific projects they worked on, the value they delivered to the people, and the impact they made on your organization. For instance, you can talk about the fundraising events they led and the funds they raised for your cause. While talking about this, you can mention their leadership skills, the creative ideas they brought to the table, and how they overcame the challenges. This specificity will add more depth to your letter.
SOURCE: Freepik
Emphasize Their Soft Skills
While many people have the technical skills to perform things with utmost perfection, they lack soft skills—the skills that decide how far they will go in life and career. That is why it is important to highlight your volunteer’s soft skills that helped them foster meaningful connections between beneficiaries and your organization. You can describe their ability to connect with people from all walks of life, along with their interpersonal qualities and ability to work in diverse teams.
End with a Strong Endorsement
Concluding your LOR well is just as important as your opening statement. A strong conclusion will further make an impact on your reader and reinforce your recommendation. This concluding statement should summarize your recommendation and express your confidence in the volunteer’s skills and potential to perform well. Therefore, write this statement enthusiastically and make it more specific about why they are a strong candidate. This can leave a lasting impression on the readers. At the end, you can offer your contact information to help them verify the letter’s authenticity.
Final Thoughts
A LOR is a perfect way to appreciate your volunteer’s efforts and acknowledge their contributions to your cause. Crafting a well-written and tailored LOR can become more than a mere appreciation but a powerful tool that can help them advance in their career. So, craft it well to make it impactful and help your volunteer stand out. Remember, a LOR is more than just some words on a page; it is a testament to the impact your volunteers made and can help them achieve their dreams. So, take your time to craft one for them peacefully!
