Testimonials & Quotes
How to collect testimonials, what makes a good one, and how to use them on the site
Testimonials are the most persuasive content on the site — and the most likely to stall the project. Start collecting them early.
What makes a good testimonial
"After my husband passed, the daily visits from my delivery volunteer became the highlight of my week. It's not just a meal — it's someone who checks on me."
Why it works: Specific, emotional, tells a story. The reader can picture it.
"Meals on Wheels People is a wonderful organization that does great work in our community."
Why it doesn't: Generic praise that could be about any nonprofit. Nothing to hold onto.
The best testimonials share three things:
- A specific moment or detail. Not "they're great" but "the driver noticed I hadn't picked up my meal and called to check on me."
- Emotion the reader can feel. Relief, gratitude, connection, surprise. The reader should feel something, not just read something.
- Relevance to the page. A donor testimonial on the Donate page, a caregiver quote on the Caregivers page. Match the voice to the audience.
Where you'll need them
| Page | Who to quote | What to capture |
|---|---|---|
| Home | Anyone — meal recipient, volunteer, donor, family member | General impact, what MOWP means to them |
| Donate | Donor or meal recipient | Why giving matters, what it made possible |
| Monthly Giving | Current monthly donor | Why they chose recurring, what it feels like |
| What We Do | Meal recipient or family member | What the service means day to day |
| Meals Delivered | Meal recipient | The daily experience, the human connection |
| Community Dining | Regular diner | The social aspect, feeling of community |
| Get Meals | Meal recipient or family member | The experience of getting started |
| Caregivers | Caregiver or family member | Peace of mind, relief, trust |
| Volunteer | Current volunteer | Why they volunteer, what they get from it |
| Group Volunteering | Company or group that's volunteered | Team experience, impact they saw |
How to collect them
Ask a real question
Don't ask "Can you give us a testimonial?" People freeze. Instead ask a specific question: "What's the best part of your Tuesday deliveries?" or "What would you tell someone thinking about volunteering?"
Record, then edit
If possible, have the conversation on the phone or in person and take notes. Real spoken language is almost always better than what someone writes in an email. You can clean it up for grammar and length — just keep their voice.
Keep it short
1-3 sentences is ideal. If someone gives you a long response, pull out the strongest line. A punchy quote gets read; a paragraph gets skipped.
Get permission
Always ask before publishing. A simple email confirmation is enough: "We'd love to use your quote on our website. Is that okay, and can we include your first name?" Some people will prefer to stay anonymous — that's fine, just note it ("— A volunteer since 2019").
Attribution
Every testimonial needs attribution. The more specific, the more credible:
- Best: Full name and context — "Maria L., meal recipient since 2022"
- Good: First name and role — "David, weekly delivery volunteer"
- Acceptable: Anonymous with context — "A family member from Multnomah County"
- Avoid: No attribution at all. Unattributed quotes feel made up.
If you can pair a quote with a photo of the person, do it. Research consistently shows that claims paired with a face photo are perceived as more truthful, and consumer surveys confirm that reviews with photos feel more credible. See the Photography & Media page for portrait guidelines.