Importance of Writing Donor Thank Yous

It’s no secret how much nonprofits rely on donors. Nonprofits appreciate both the donor and the

donation, but often forget the importance of letting them know. It is easy to get bogged down by deadlines and reaching goals, however, thanking your donors is just as crucial as acquiring funds. Writing a thank you will leave your donors with a strong and lasting impression. If their efforts go unacknowledged, why would they consider future donations?

Appreciation and gratitude

You know what a donation means to your cause, so make sure your supporters know it too. Writing a thank you is an excellent opportunity to show the donor the organization’s appreciation and gratitude. However, simply stating that you appreciate the donation isn’t enough. You need to truly show them the importance. Explain what the funds will be used for and how that impacts the organization. This shows the donor that their contribution, no matter the size, made a difference to the cause. When a supporter feels appreciated and knows what kind of impact their donation made, you are more likely to build a lasting relationship. These relationships can lead to future gifts in addition to volunteer support. Considering how costly and time-consuming acquiring new donors can be, you don’t want to hurt yourself doubly by losing any current donors.

Maintain legitimacy

The importance of thank yous goes even beyond expressing gratitude. It proves your nonprofit is legitimate and organized. Putting forth the effort of a thank you shows supporters the same amount of effort will be exhibited throughout other aspects of running the organization. Not only does it show that you are organized, it keeps you accountable to actually be organized. Thank yous help keep your records clean and up-to-date. This is an easy and effiecient way for your nonprofit to always know who has recently donated.

Content and Details

Taking the time to thank a donor can go a long way.

While half the battle is completing the thank yous, the second half is backing up what you say. Your letters must be sincere and personalized. The very first to-do of your letter is to address the person individually. There is nothing worse than hearing how much of a difference you made when the letter-writers can’t even bother to include your first and last name instead of “Dear Friend.” This shows your donors that he or she, as a person, matters just as much as they money. It is also just as important to send the letters in a timely manner. Within days of receiving the donation, a thank you should be sent. Going too long without acknowledgement shows that you don’t care about the funds received. Donors may also wonder if the donation was received, or even forget

they donated if too long has passed.

What tips do you have for writing donor thank yous? Share your comments below!