FundRaiser Blog
The FundRaiser Software Blog is an excellent resource for nonprofit organizations looking to learn more about fundraising, donor management, membership management, and much more.
6 Ways to Stay Quick and Genuine with Your Thanks
Thanking donors seems like something so basic that we shouldn’t even have to talk about it. But more mistakes, with more devastating results for donor loyalty, are made in the thanking of donors than anyplace else. So, let’s go over six rules for saying “thank you” that are absolutely essential.
- Thank a donor immediately. Send out a thank-you note for a gift no later than the day after the gift is received. Nothing is more important than a prompt thank-you.
- Be humble. Don’t act as if or communicate the thought that you were expecting the gift as something that was the donor’s responsibility to do.
- Praise the donor’s generosity. Do not stint. Let the donor know how important the gift is.
- Praise your donor’s leadership. Anyone who gives is a leader and should be treated as such, and call attention to the fact that their gift will influence others to give.
- Thank donors for past support. When you receive today’s gift remind the donor how appreciative you are of past support, but do not talk about future support. Do not say thanks out of one side of your mouth and hint at future requests out of the other.
- And finally, never let a hint of disappointment show. Never, ever show a lack of gratitude for a gift, whatever its size.
There are two things that must be remembered about saying thanks. Donors expect it, and they deserve it.
To learn how FundRaiser can help you send out thank you letters quickly
About the author
Tony is the founder of Raise-Funds.com. For 20 years Tony was director of development for The Cleveland Orchestra. As such he was responsible for Cleveland’s largest annual institutional fund-raising campaign. Since 1993, Tony has been a fund-raising consultants. Tony’s experiences have won him a wide audience. He is the author of the widely used and praised book It’s a Great Day to Fund Raise, a step-by-step guide to help volunteers and professionals be as successful as possible as they carry out their fund-raising responsibilities.
Author's recent posts
Related Posts
Wait a minute, while we are rendering the calendar
in honor of donations
the Ask
updates
premiums
operational costs
membersip benefits
raffle
increasing giving amounts
password protection
on site training
mailing
flash sales
tax summary letters
donation history
social media
appeal
customer portal
donor engagement
new leadership
targeted mailings
FundRaiser Hosted
segmenting donors
Task List
adding personal notes to letters
lapsed donor
Snow Birds
Thanksgiving
solicitors
holiday giving
upgrade
Importing Data
brick campaign
Cloud
ticketsales
government grants
overview
animal rescue
follow up
Network for Good
Company culture
Facebook
motivation code
major donors
New Year
change of address updating
entering auction gifts
data entry
backing up data
vacation
donor source
ticket sales
data conversion
spreadsheets
accounting software
arts
SYBUNTS
training
role of nonprofits
office
prospects
anonymous donors
Resiliency
Reminders
donor targeting
relationship tracking
NCOA processing
community arts nonprofits
new version
development director
membership benefits
grants
recurring gifts
donor retention rate
Congratulations
Excel
add ons
banquet
gift entry
nonprofit fundraising
online donations
donor advised funds
Volunteer module
event management
texting donors
new features
user spotlights
correspondance
merge fields
donor retention
donor contact information
foundations
salutation
disaster relief
donor attrition rate
features
spare fields
transparency
new donors
moves management
National Change of Address
fundraising letters
word processor
large donations
mode code
Codes
grassroots campaign
user interface
Facebook campaign
donor slip
merge notes
annual campaign
how-to videos
security
ROI
GivingTuesday
FundRaiser Basic
donor loyalty
tribute gifts
donor prospects
gift notes field
holiday
volunteering
communications
letter templates
reports
charity golf tournaments
budget
donor relations
annual maintenance plan
fundraising
customer service
advanced tab
how to handle auction gifts
community supported gardens
donor preferences
LYBUNTS
corporate sponsors
Alternative Addresses
operating systems
technical support
correspondence
campaign management
memorial giving
online donations
Constant Contact
End of Year Letters
donor attrition
thank you letters
repeat donors
custom page
community broadcasting
new nonprofit
training tip
welcome packet
upgrading donors
legacy giving
Thank You
monthly giving
major gift prospects
motivation
publicity materials
Groupings
board members
importing csv
appeal letters
pledges
personalizing letters
passwords
In-Kind gifts
planning
gift acceptance policy
endowment campaign
direct mail
tech tip
building donor relationships
Reporting to IRS
data analysis
letter
Donor Portal
donor recognition
Tickles
donor profile
alumni
donor
holiday letters
happiness
PayPal
small donations
planned giving
membership programs
#GivingTuesday
product news
auction
case study
capital campaign
pictures
email
announcements
support
FundRaiser Spark
phoning donors
giving history
campaign
general
mission driven
look and feel
GoFundMe project
volunteers
giving levels
Crowdfunding Campaign
Personalizing
understanding giving trends