10 Thank Yous from the Heart

We all know that saying thank you from the heart goes far. Pair that with these 10 easy ways to say thanks and you have a winning formula for a strong donor relationship. And while not every donor responds equally well to all of these, it won’t take you long to figure out the best way to ensure everyone is feeling well cared for and happy with your level of thoughtfulness and appreciation. 
 
Here are some great reminders of how to say thank you and perhaps a few new ways to show your recognition of a donor’s commitment to your cause:
 

1. Write a handwritten note after a meeting, and be sure to reflect back to the donor something you noticed or learned about them. You might even say what you admire. Definitely say what you appreciate. (And of course, do make a note in your organization’s database of any new information you acquired: they didn’t like X restaurant, their daughter just got married, they love cricket, they have a younger sister who lives in Kansas City…and so on so that what you learned becomes institutional knowledge.)
2. Invite them to speak at your next open house or other fundraising event. Yes, this is donor engagement, but the point is that asking them to provide a testimonial about their belief in your mission and impact is a sure-fire way of letting them know how deeply you value their contribution. In other words, this is a virtuous circle—one that will strengthen over time—leading to great gains for your agency.
3. Call when you know they’ll be available. If you know you can reach a donor at a certain time of day, then do call when they’re able to pick up the phone. Avoid leaving voice mail if you can help it—donors actually like it when a call makes them smile—so give them that opportunity!
4. Write a personalized thank you on their acknowledgement letter. This is still a great way to ensure that a donor knows you’re paying attention—it shows that you care about their gift. Keep it short and sweet, and yes, in your own handwriting.
5. Be sure to reach out on their birthday. You don’t have to sing, but make this a personal touch that is heartfelt. A quick call will do, and be sure to remind the donor of why you appreciate them. Do leave a message if no one picks up. If birthdays aren’t their thing, then make sure you find a good day they do care about to share that you’re thinking of them—and stick with it year after year.
6. Give gratitudes on social media. Make sure that you can appreciate your donors (those who don’t wish to remain anonymous, of course!) regularly on your organization’s Facebook page. While other social media are interesting, Facebook has the most users and is most likely to be where you’ll find your donors engaging. A quarterly announcement of new gifts, increased gifts, and donor spotlights can help donors to truly feel a part of the important work your organization is doing. (Note: if you happen to be connected personally on social media, be mindful about what you post that they can see.)
7. Schedule to send a “just because” note to your top donors once a year. Make it handwritten (of course) and include the time to do this in your calendar—otherwise, you know it won’t happen. Do this in addition to other “thank yous” on this list because once is never enough when it comes to showing thanks.
8. Send an article you read that you think a donor might find interesting. You can send the latest trends or news to keep them abreast of what’s current in the sector. Clip a note card to it with your thank-you message. Be sure to tell them what most surprised or intrigued you about the piece when you offer your thanks again for their contribution. And by the way, this also shows the donor that you’re on your game when it comes to the latest in philanthropy and the nonprofit sector (a good move on your part to build your credibility).
9. Offer a simple gift you know they’ll appreciate after they host an event for you, chair your committee for a year, or make a great introduction for your organization. And while your org swag is probably nice, that isn’t this thank-you gift. One gift a donor absolutely raved about for months was an all-natural bug-repellant candle we sent for her outdoor patio. Why was this an amazing choice? Because we’d been talking about how she didn’t host events outside—the bugs bothered everyone but the donor hated chemical-based solutions. This inexpensive gift was quite practical and a thoughtful reminder of our conversation. See what you can come up with that shows you’ve been paying attention!
10. For your long-time donors, create a memento book that captures special shared times over the years and present it to them at your next event. Take photos of memorabilia and old letters from your files to digitize and include, and let yourself get creative with a thoughtful photobook. When you present them with this keep-sake, your thank you will ring home loud and clear.
    
    

In sum, a reminder that thank yous are about the donor. If you’re writing to acknowledge their tremendous support, start your sentences with “you” rather than “I.” Stay personable while maintaining a professional disposition (after all, this is a professional relationship). Your efforts will be rewarded with happier donors as the trust you’ve succeeded in building converts, as it will, to more meaningful gifts. 

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