Many donors contribute to your organization because they believe in your mission. Other may simply, believe in you. Whichever reason the donation was made, it is important to say THANK YOU. It’s a simple gesture that can make a big difference in how donors continue to support your organization and help you accomplish your goals.
When writing a thank you letter, it’s important to follow these simple rules.
Tip #1: Be specific – Acknowledge the amount of the gift, the date it was received and the campaign the donation was applied to.
Tip #2: Make it personal – Always address your thank you letter to the person that gave the donation. Dear Friend, is NOT appropriate in this case. It’s too impersonal. Let the donor know you appreciate and acknowledge THEM!
Tip #3: Show gratitude to the donor NOT the donation. You never want the donor to feel you are only appreciative of what they gave. A person made the donation NOT a bank account.
Tip #4: Say thank you. YES, use those words! We miss the simple things in life. Some people don’t often hear the words “Thank You” enough.
Tip #5: Acknowledge how the donation will be applied. If it’s a contribution to a specific campaign or program, let it be known. EVEN if the donation was made to the general fund, when possible, highlight the impact the donation will make with moving the mission of your organization forward.
Tip #6: Share impact stories. Let your donor know who benefits from their donations and your program. ALWAYS leave them wanting to know more about what you offer.
Tip #7: When possible, send a handwritten thank you. It gives an authentic appeal. Letting your donor realize you took the time to show gratitude for them and their donation.
Tip #8: Invite them to visit your facility, join your mailing list, visit your website for updates, volunteer, etc. You want to make sure they know you want to engage with them. You want to THEM to be a part of the process not just their money.
Sample letter
Dear Anna,
Two amazing things happened this week. Two of our young mothers gave birth to healthy babies and we received your gift of $2,000. We are extremely thankful for individuals like yourself. Donations allow us to focus attention on the needs of these young ladies and provide resources they may not receive on their own. Donations like yours will not only provide access to medical services but allow one of our participants to attend our birthing class with no out-of-pocket expense of their own.
Although we protect our mother’s privacy, we do provide opportunities for our patrons to view our facility so they can see the impact the program is making in the lives of our participants. If you would like to visit the facility, please contact us so we can arrange a visit. I know once you see how the program works you will understand why we do what we do. If your schedule does not allow for an in-person visit, but you would like updates about our programs, we encourage you to join our mailing list where we send out a monthly newsletter highlighting testimonials from our participants.
Again, thank you for your donation and I look forward to speaking with you soon.
Sincerely,
Angela Mack
Executive Director
I hope this helps when drafting a sincere thank you letter to your donors. If you would like for tips follow me on Facebook. It’s my intention to assist you with building a mission driven organization.
In Service to You,
