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.
Print

Being Quick and Genuine with Your Thanks

Non-Profit Fundraising Tips
5385 Hits

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.

  1. 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.
  2. 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.
  3. Praise the donor’s generosity. Do not stint. Let the donor know how important the gift is.
  4. 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.
  5. 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.
  6. 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

Sign up for an online Guided Tour of FundRaiser

Tweet
Tags:
nonprofit fundraising
A Sneak Peek at a New Feature
Automate to Increase Dollars Per Hour of Effort

About the author

Tony Poderis

Tony Poderis

Subscribe to updates from author Unsubscribe to updates from author View author's profile More posts from 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
publicity materials planned giving planning development director Personalizing donor community supported gardens spreadsheets features vacation correspondence donor attrition rate GivingTuesday user spotlights Snow Birds budget In-Kind gifts government grants foundations add ons look and feel user interface tax summary letters relationship tracking donor loyalty updates SYBUNTS New Year happiness appeal mission driven giving history passwords technical support the Ask adding personal notes to letters password protection building donor relationships gift entry Thank You Company culture campaign #GivingTuesday welcome packet Crowdfunding Campaign office Network for Good importing csv Codes FundRaiser Spark donor prospects large donations support holiday letters accounting software understanding giving trends motivation thank you letters animal rescue on site training how to handle auction gifts increasing giving amounts Constant Contact donor source fundraising announcements disaster relief FundRaiser Basic donor retention rate appeal letters entering auction gifts new donors new version case study corporate sponsors premiums community arts nonprofits Groupings small donations letter templates auction volunteers texting donors donor engagement operational costs donor profile donor relations training tip Thanksgiving membersip benefits mode code customer portal change of address updating fundraising letters motivation code advanced tab banquet in honor of donations new nonprofit data analysis recurring gifts donor advised funds End of Year Letters reports NCOA processing monthly giving arts prospects salutation donor attrition repeat donors capital campaign LYBUNTS memorial giving Facebook campaign email Cloud legacy giving brick campaign new features grassroots campaign new leadership online donations FundRaiser Hosted donor contact information general merge notes pictures GoFundMe project donor recognition merge fields data conversion customer service pledges Importing Data online donations upgrade membership benefits transparency product news tribute gifts Task List board members giving levels letter donor targeting custom page security major gift prospects targeted mailings mailing charity golf tournaments endowment campaign grants Alternative Addresses ticket sales spare fields tech tip backing up data donor preferences how-to videos operating systems alumni Volunteer module donor retention ticketsales phoning donors campaign management Reminders personalizing letters raffle data entry word processor nonprofit fundraising annual campaign Resiliency follow up communications overview lapsed donor Congratulations correspondance Donor Portal volunteering community broadcasting PayPal solicitors direct mail social media membership programs segmenting donors gift acceptance policy annual maintenance plan donation history gift notes field role of nonprofits ROI Facebook major donors flash sales moves management anonymous donors Excel Tickles holiday event management donor slip holiday giving National Change of Address upgrading donors training Reporting to IRS

Connect With Us

  800-880-3454 ext 3
  Email Us
  Request More Information
  Monday-Friday
      8:30AM-5:30PM CST

Customer Portal Login Form

   

The customer portal is unavailable. If you need support please reach out to support@fundraisersoftware.com Thank you.

 
  User Name:
  Password:

If you are not sure about your Customer User Name, please call 800-543-4131 and we will be able to help you.

Or you have lost your password, Request Password