Lots of nonprofits struggle with finding new and interesting ways to thank donors for everything they do to make their organizations’ missions possible. Appreciation is a core part of supporter retention, and if you’re feeling stuck in a creative rut, some of your donors might be feeling it, too!
Whether you’re looking to connect with donors who have recently engaged with your nonprofit or need a new way to recognize donors who have supported your work for a long time, these ideas can transform your appreciation efforts.
1. Send a Welcome Package
Welcome packages are a worthwhile way to educate donors about your organization’s mission while simultaneously illustrating your appreciation for their support. For maximum effect, send donors welcome packages within the first few weeks after their first gift.
re:Charity’s guide to donor gifts recommends a few items that will show off your nonprofit, give supporters keepsakes they’ll want to hold on to, and are mindful of your budget:
Bookmarks
Coffee mugs
Stickers
Gift cards
Annual impact report
It is important to note that these gifts should be small in size and price so that donors appreciate them without questioning how your nonprofit is using their donations.
2. Send a Unique Gift From Your Organization
Creatively inclined nonprofits, like arts organizations, can connect with supporters by leveraging their resources to create small, unique gifts, like custom fridge magnets, artfully designed postcards, or cute mini-statuettes.
Even if your nonprofit doesn’t fit into this category, you can still stand out with artistic thank you eCards. eCards are digital postcards your nonprofit can create using templates or fully customize with unique visuals. For example, eCardWidget’s guide to charity eCards shows off these holiday greeting eCards from the nonprofit One Tail at a Time:
These digital cards combine pictures of animals in the rescue organization's care with animal-themed puns like "Hoppy Holidays!" While these eCards were originally sold as part of a holiday fundraiser, the nonprofit could've also sent them to loyal donors to thank them for their generous donations throughout the year.
3. Send a Thank You Video
Spice up your donor thank you emails by adding a video component. These videos can be as creative as you’d like. Simply include a member of your organization’s leadership thanking the support for their donation, or include a heartfelt message from additional staff members, volunteers, and beneficiaries.
If your nonprofit has high-quality cameras, microphones, lighting, and editing software, that’s great! However, if you don’t, you can still record meaningful videos on a smartphone in a quiet environment.
4. Show Your Appreciation on Your Website
Since many people will go directly to your website to use your services and learn more about your organization, featuring donors on your nonprofit’s website is a great way to show your appreciation.
Consider creating a specific section or page on your website that showcases donors. List the names of those who have contributed to specific projects, and reach out to specific donors on a recurring basis to create donor spotlights on your blog or appreciation page. Donor spotlights should be brief snippets (just a sentence or two) explaining the donor’s connection to your nonprofit and how they have supported your nonprofit.
5. Send an Anniversary Card
Show appreciation throughout the whole year, not just when someone contributes. Use your donor database to keep track of important dates, such as the anniversary of their first gift. Then, send them a card to celebrate and thank them for all their support!
For an added touch, have the leader of your organization handwrite the card and sign it. If your donors have been around for more than one year, consider coming up with different ideas for their 5, 10, and 20+ year anniversaries, like experimenting with eCards or sending tangible gifts.
6. Host Donor Appreciation Events
Virtual, in-person, and hybrid donor appreciation events are an exciting way to thank your donors for their ongoing support. Make these regular events with a variety of activities to get donors excited every time you host one.
Know that this is not an opportunity to ask for further donations, but rather a time to show your appreciation and gratitude for their patronage. Still, some supporters may feel compelled to give additional donations after an appreciation event.
7. Send Handwritten Thank You Letters
After receiving a gift, thank your donors with a personalized, handwritten letter to add a meaningful touch to your appreciation efforts.
Aspects to keep in mind regarding your handwritten letters are:
Timely delivery
Quality materials
A thoughtful message that outlines their gifts’ impact
While eCards and other electronic thank you messages go a long way toward showing appreciation in a timely manner, also try sending the occasional handwritten thank you note on special occasions, such as the anniversary of a donation, around the holidays, and after donors attend one of your events.
8. Call Your Donors
Even in the digital age, a phone call is still an extremely effective way to recognize your donors and build a relationship at any point in the donation journey. When planning to call donors, construct a script anyone making calls can leverage that does the following:
References the specific donor’s contributions
Provides donors with an opportunity to ask questions
Reinforces your nonprofit’s brand, whether it’s formal or approachable
Helpful tip: Call all donors who give above a certain threshold, like $25, within two months of their donation. This will help create personal connections that can grow into more meaningful support over time.
9. Shout Out Your Donors on Social Media
Acknowledging your donors on your organization’s social media platforms is a free way to thank them while promoting your mission to users who may not already be familiar with your organization.
Research what social media your donors use to ensure you are posting on a platform where they are likely to see it. Additionally, make sure you ask for permission before giving them a social media shout-out. This can get donors excited about your appreciation post going live while also giving shy and private donors an opportunity to decline public recognition.
10. Organize an Office Tour
Invite your donors to an in-person or virtual office tour. By meeting members of your organization and seeing the physical space where your nonprofit operates, donors will gain a better understanding of your mission and feel like a real part of your team.
Office tours also provide the opportunity to build additional rapport between your organization’s employees and donors. Consider scheduling a free lunch after the tour to give donors free time to talk with members of your team at their leisure.
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Whether it’s your first time thanking a donor or your 100th, it's paramount to let them know how much you value their generosity. Donors who feel appreciated are more likely to give again, and in higher amounts, long into the future.
Looking to take your thank yous to the next level? Register today for our training workshop, Make the Ask: How to Make Better Donor Calls Every Week to Achieve Your Goals.