We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. By continuing to use this site, you agree to our use of cookies in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Privacy Overview
Login
Your Role
Challenges You Face
results
Learn
Resources
Company
How many ways can you say "thank you" to a donor?
According to an article in the Journal of Economic Psychology, saying thank you can actually have a negative effect on your relationship with a supporter.
The researcher notes that gifts, in particular, “reduce feelings of altruism” causing your expression of gratitude to backfire in your face. Instead, he suggests you make sure to reframe the gift so your supporter feels that their acceptance of it ensures that they are remaining consistent with their values and altruistic motivations.
For instance, a gift of a mug with your logo might be rejected at first. But if you frame it with emphasis on how it can help the donor express their support or how it could aid your organization’s awareness-building efforts, then they’d feel much better about accepting it.
Can you help add to this list?
Letters
The standard acknowledgement letter (of course)
A letter from you.
Another letter from the Executive Director.
Yet another from a Board Member.
And, how about a letter from a person who benefited from the gift?
Telephone calls
A call and a voicemail message from you.
A call and voicemail message from the Executive Director.
Yet another call and voicemail message from a Board Member.
And, how about a call and voicemail message from a person who benefitted from the gift?
Meet-ups
For instance, ask them to come by for a visit or tour.
Invite them to an event.
Ask them to take a trip with you to see the impact of their gift.
And, of course, ask if you could visit with them at a place that is comfortable for them (i.e.- their home, their office, a restaurant, a coffee shop, etc.)
Proof
Send a photos or emails from the field
Invitations (although they might not accept them, everyone likes to be invited)
Ask them if they’d like to join an elite group (or giving level)
Invite them to participate in an exclusive dinner, lunch or event that proves impact or provides other benefits (such as a sense of community)
Lists
Propose mentioning them at an event
See if they’d like to be on a list in the annual report
Perhaps they’d like you to include them on a donor wall or some other prominent mention
Certificates or awards
Send a nice recognition certificate along with your letter signed by your leader(s)
Coffee table photo books
Social media channels:
Facebook (message)
LinkedIn (direct InMail)
Twitter (direct message)
Related Posts
>> Words That Work: The Phrases That Encourage Planned Giving
>> The Best Thank You I Never Got
LIKE THIS BLOG POST? LEAVE YOUR COMMENTS BELOW!
Get the book!
Feeling like your job is getting harder because donor expectations have changed and competition for the charitable dollar is growing?
Finding that the old orthodoxies and conventions espoused by so-called experts in online echo-chambers and at conferences don’t work anymore?
Want to help more people make impact by facilitating their acts of philanthropy but feel like too many obstacles keep getting in your way?
Then this book is for you.
Engagement Fundraising was developed from the perspective of a donor who discovered firsthand that the impersonal, spray-and-pray approaches of his beloved charity were not only offensive but also wasteful and ineffective. So he took action. And now, you can too.
Get smarter with the SmartIdeas blog
Subscribe to our blog today and get actionable fundraising ideas delivered straight to your inbox!
Nice list! How about a video thank you? If what they gave bought an object that was important, have the video thank you next to it. For example, if a gift enabled your organization to purchase a van to take food to the homeless, thank them while sitting in the van or even show the van in action.
Thanks Scott. Good idea.
A token gift that relates to your mission — artwork made my kids served by the charity, birdhouse for an Audubon society, brailled notecards for a blindness agency.
Ask if you can do a feature story/interview in an upcoming newsletter (even if they say no, everyone likes to be asked!)
An opportunity to meet with the kids/animals/patients/clients who are served by the agency — some donors prefer this over schmoozing with the bigwigs (though some donors like that, too.)
A copy of a book that is relevant to your agency/mission with a personal note from the Board Chair or CEO.
Great ideas Diane! Thanks!
Our theater includes additional content in the program for each play we produce. We recently linked a donor profile to an article about their favorite education program, and let the donors write a statement of why giving to the program is meaningful. It’s recognition that directly links with the impact of a gift, and enables donors to model their philanthropy to others. For those who are not camera shy, we include a photo, but pulled-out quotes can also work well.
As to negative response to thanks: I have one donor who has flat out told me not to send any more thank you notes, and who attends every event we offer as a matter of routine. She would rather I spend the time and postage on someone else. Instead, I try to share (via email) quick snippets of messages from audience members and students who are positively impacted by our productions and programs–and she LOVES getting those. I put “look what YOU did!” or words to that effect in the subject line of the email–and I keep them SHORT so she doesn’t stress about the time spent. Needless to say, having to do this for her has spurred me to share with others who need thanking but are uncomfortable with more formal means of recognition.
This is terrific Carol. Thanks so much for sharing. And, yes! “YOU” is a great word. She did, in fact, do it! Good stuff!
Our Foundation supports wounded & injured Veterans. Our music program’s signature band makes it a point to have the veterans on stage & whenever possible, perform with the band. The impact on the audience is always heart warming.
Very nice Tony. Thanks for sharing that.