What are the most important elements of a successful donor thank-you letter?

If possible, always add the impacts they have made or continue to make. . . * How does X dollar actually makes a difference?* Bring that answers to life, on your acknowledgement note.

Donors like to see that their funds are creating a meaningful impact. Most organizations try to fill thank you letters with statistics instead of personal stories. Hearing directly from the beneficiaries of the donation appeals to the heart, not the brain. A great example of this is St Jude Hospital. Donors are supporting research, but the appeal we all see on TV is made by the children who benefit from it, not from the doctors conducting it.

Move beyond simply reiterating your mission and sharing your Nonprofit Employer Identification Number. Include an inspiring story that resonates with donors, motivating them to stay involved in your organization’s work. Elevate your letter by adding a handwritten note. This personal touch emphasizes your gratitude and shows that a human was involved in the process.

Always remember: People give to people! Please make it personal! I always think about the difference in impact when someone sends me a thank you card that simply says thank you versus a thank you that talks about how I've personally been able to help and why the person and/or organization values me. Make it personal.

Be strategic. Before sending each thank you, take a moment to review the giving history. What can you say to each donor to truly thank them? Have too many? Well good for you - do it anyway!

You can express gratitude by making the thank you letter about the donor, not your org. Use more "you" than "we" such as you made a difference with this gift because XX can now happen. Don't start the letter with "thank you for your gift" as that's how 90% of letters start. Be different, stand out. Think if you just made a gift somewhere, what would you want to hear? Don't use window envelopes as that screams not personal. If you can, use a different size paper such as Executive size. Be different, stand out, make it about them, and make them want to give again based on how you made them feel.

Wirkung zu zeigen ist sehr wichtig. Wir entwickeln uns im NGO Bereich immer mehr zum Impact driven Ansatz. Das bedeutet, dass die Spender die unmittelbare Wirkung ihrer Zuwendung sehen wollen. Die Zeit in der Schecks ausgestellt worden sind und die Organisation die Zuwendung so einsetzen konnte wie sie es für richtig hielt, ist vorbei. Das Earmarking wird immer wichtiger. Gelder sind zweckgebunden und so ist es wichtig genau auf die Wirkung im Dankesschreiben einzugehen. Wie vielen Menschen kann mit dem Geld geholfen werden? Was wird gebaut oder beschafft?

In your expression of gratitude and impact, be specific and avoid using "our" language. Don't: "Your gift helps us open our doors to families experiencing homelessness." Do: "Your gift means more families will get a warm meal and a safe place to sleep tonight instead of spending the night on the cold streets."

Expressing gratitude is the best way to ensure that your partnership develops in the long term. Your letter should express the achievements of the project while indicating how those wins will translate into bolder actions in future endeavors. This way you are subtly inviting further partnership and suggesting the avenues in which this can be explored.

Subject line - gratitude / thank you . Show gratitude and humility in your letter. Because of your support X children have ben sponsored. Talk about its impact. Focus more on the donor support and less on org. Dont keep the letter to lengthy

Mention in the letter how wonderful it was to see the donor at any recent organizational event they may have attended, or use the letter to extend a personal invitation to the next event. This can help build the personal connection, and is an easy way to remind the donor of all your organization does while still keeping the letter about them, their contribution, and their experience.

People relate to people, not to organizations. Your donors want a personal connection to other people. So use your thank you to ooze heart and soul... to cultivate a conversation that feels close and personable. Be conversational by writing in a casual, informal tone. Wear your heart on your sleeve and exude plenty of donor love.

I typically place follow-up calls about a week after dispatching our thank-you notes, extending invitations for a facility tour, or addressing any queries they might have. This interaction also serves as a prime occasion to inform them about recent programs or projects we're actively pursuing. Yes, this takes time and lots of intentionality but it is easier to cultivate current donors than to acquire new donors.

The last paragraph in a gift acknowledgement letter should provide information on upcoming events, volunteer opportunities, or webinars to transform acknowledgment into ongoing engagement. This is especially important for first time donors who may not be subscribed to your newsletter and are not following your organization on social media.

Agree 100% -- it's a step in a hopefully long-term engagement. Check in with your donors from time to time for their feedback (a vibes-check) and not just around check writing time.

Impact, impact, impact! Good thank you notes express gratitude at least 3 or 4 times (depending on the length), and help the donor understand the impact of their contribution. Show them their impact, don't just tell them they made one! This requires artful and ethical storytelling, and an understanding of the donor's priorities.

No one likes to feel like they're being used for their money - like a checkbook or ATM. Never ever thank and ask in the same document. A thank you needs to be genuine and take time to have results of the funding to report before asking again. "Thank-asks" go right in the trash and lose donors

Yes, yes, and yes. Don’t dilute the donor’s gift by immediately asking for another one in the thank you. Make them feel like separate transactions - thank first, ask again later.

Niemals im Dankesbrief nach mehr Geld fragen. Das wirkt gierig und vermittelt dem Spender das Gefühl er/ sie hätte nicht genug gegeben und sein/ Ihr Betrag würde nicht gewürdigt. Es gibt Zeit zu danken und Zeit zu bitten. Aber nie gleichzeitig.

Never. Ever. EVER. make an ask in a thank you. Once you make that ask, you are no longer thanking. You are asking. How do you feel after someone calls you a "member of the family," thanks you for your generosity, then asks you for something else? You donor feels the same way. Don't do it. Let a thank you be a thank you. I promise, it will go a long way.

A donor thank-you letter is not only crucial for expressing gratitude but also for building donor relationships and cultivating continued support. First and foremost, thank-you letters must be sent promptly after receiving the gift. This shows that you are grateful for and respectful of their generosity. Be sure to personalize it – addressing the donor by name and thanking them for their specific gift amount. You never want a donor to feel like they are receiving a form letter. Additionally, it pays to add language that keeps the donor at the center of the communication. Donors make gifts so that they can make a difference, so always highlight the impact of their gift and let them know that they are a meaningful part of your success.

A successful thank-you letter should not be generic, but tailored to the donor's personality and interests. Building a meaningful connection, even through phone calls or emails, is crucial in understanding donor's preferences. By actively listening and recording details about their hobbies or personal life in a CRM system, you can create a more genuine appreciation. In instances where immediate delivery of a formal letter may be challenging, alternatives such as a phone call, voicemail, or a brief "thank you" email within a 48-hour window can maintain timely gratitude. Continuously expressing appreciation, even if it seems frequent, reinforces the value placed on the donor's support, fostering a stronger and more enduring relationship.

Don't underestimate the power of a genuine, well-timed thank you! Here's a quick breakdown of the neuroscience of giving: When a donor makes a gift, it releases fell-good chemicals in their brain such as dopamine and oxytocin. In other words, they give because it feels good. And when you send a thank you, you reward that donor once again with a flood of happy feelings, reinforcing this cycle of give > fell good > give again, and so on. Your investment of time and resources into thanking your supporters helps cultivate your community of repeat donors.

Letters should be genuine, and specific. Relaying the importance of a gift and how it was used-- specifically-- not only reassures the donor they made the right decision to give but also reinforces the relationship. Think of it in terms of your own gifting of birthday or graduation present. You want to know the gift was received, what they are going to do with it, that they value you and the thought you put into the gift. Individualization matters.

It matters how much a person gave, the context in which they gave, and whether you have a relationship. You can customize even automated messages to be more tailored, and set parameters for when you send a note by mail (dollar amount, recurring vs. one-time gift, personal context). Create opportunities on your donation forms for people to give you information that you can then use to thank and further engage them, e.g. by inviting them to tell you what inspired their gift.

At the same time, make a note in your own files indicating whether the donor should receive an IRS charitable contribution letter/document at EOY. Donors appreciate not having to ask for this.