- Open your speech by addressing your audience and identifying yourself.
- Thank the people who contributed to your event, like guest speakers, organizers, and participants.
- End your speech by thanking everyone again.
- Keep your speech short and concise.
Opening Your Speech
Address the audience with an opening line. One option is to start your speech with a quote about giving thanks that you find meaningful. Alternatively, you can just greet your audience. Really draw your audience into your vote of thanks by making them a part of it. “Maya Angelou said, ‘Be present in all things, and grateful for all things.’” “Good evening, distinguished guests.” “Rumi said, ‘Wear gratitude like a cloak, and it will feed every corner of your life.’” “First, I’d like to thank everyone for being here.”
Introduce yourself and your role. If you haven't already given your name, now is a good time! Tell your audience you've been asked to give a vote of thanks, and in 1 or 2 sentences, explain your relation to the organization. You might also include your role in the event. “My name is Jane Doe, and I’m the chairman of the School Anti-Bullying Committee. It is my honor and privilege now to give a vote of thanks to all those who helped make this assembly happen.” “I’m Camille Harris, and I’m the organizer of today’s event. On behalf of the Oakville Food Bank, I have the honor of giving our vote of thanks today.
Acknowledge the organization that brought everyone together. Every person in the room is likely to have some affiliation with the overarching organization. Before you move into the body of your speech, it's nice to start with gratitude toward your host. Say 1 to 2 sentences about the event’s sponsor. “We would not be here without the hard work of the Anti-Bullying Committee. Thank you to our volunteers for working so hard to make today happen.” “I’ll start by thanking the Oakville City Council for bringing us all together today. Thanks to their generosity, this event has been made possible.”
Thanking People
Identify the people you want to thank. This list usually consists of speakers, guests, participants, organizers, volunteers, and sponsors. Before you deliver your speech, write down the people and groups you'll mention so you don't forget anyone. Everyone who helped wants to feel like they played an important part, so make them feel special. “I'd like to thank the teachers for taking time away from their curriculum to allow students to hear this message. This assembly would be impossible without your support.” “I’d like to thank Mr. Gomez for speaking at tonight's event, and I want to thank all of you for your contributions.” “Thank you to our guest speaker Dr. Wu for sharing her research on recycling and repurposing used materials. I’d also like to thank our event organizers for planning tonight’s dinner, and our volunteers for setting up and cleaning up after the event. Without them, tonight wouldn’t be possible.”
Be sincere and concise. You don’t have to gush to show your appreciation. Ironically, a long speech can turn off your audience—including the people you’re trying to thank. Keep your vote of thanks short and sweet to make a big impact. Instead of, “Mr. Phillips, I cannot thank you enough for letting us use your room to practice. Your generosity and kindness toward our committee has been overwhelming, and we would be nothing without you,” try: “Mr. Phillips, our committee is so grateful to you for letting us use your classroom to practice when we had nowhere else.”
Call back to a specific moment from the event and respond to it. Show the guest speaker that you were actively listening by referencing something they said that stuck with you. In a few sentences, mention an idea a participant brought up and point out its relevance to the event's overall themes. If you can, talk to the speaker ahead of time to find out what points they’re going to make. “Dr. Wu’s tips for befriending bullies really stuck out to me because it reminded me that our club’s goal is to spread kindness.” “Mr. Gomez’s comments about generosity really spoke to me. When we give, we truly create a community.”
Concluding Your Vote of Thanks
Underscore your organization's value. At the end of your speech, talk about what makes your organization special and give your audience something to think about. Emphasize ways your group helps your community, or how your audience can get more involved. End your speech by giving the audience a positive view of your group. “I would like to thank everyone who helped our committee make this anti-bullying assembly a reality. We are trying to make our halls a safe, friendly space for all students who walk down them, and it's events like these that help us achieve that.” “I’d like to extend my genuine thanks to all of you for helping our organization provide food to people in need. Without you, there'd be a lot more hungry bellies in our community.”
Thank everyone again. When you’re giving a speech, your conclusion should summarize your main points. In this case, you’re thanking people for helping your event happen. As you wrap up, address the entire audience with a big “thank you” because they all came together to make the day a success. “Again, I’m grateful for each and every one of you.” “One last time, I’d like to express my appreciation to everyone who worked on this event.” “I’d like to end by thanking all of you one last time.”
Speak for about 2 to 4 minutes. Be concise in your vote of thanks, especially at the conclusion. It's the end of the event and your audience doesn't want to be kept waiting. Be considerate of their time and limit what you say to what needs to be said. “Thank you, everyone, for taking the time to be here today and for listening to me speak. I am so grateful for this opportunity. Have a great weekend!” “Thank you, everyone, for being here tonight.”
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