Giving Thanks All Year Long

In the U.S. and Canada, Thanksgiving has already passed, but thankfulness should be a year-long mindset. A thank you can build relationships and increase positive feelings—whether it be for someone holding open a door, giving a special gift, or making a donation to your organization.

The Lack of a Thank You
The lack of a thank you can break relationships and increase negative feelings. Take a moment and think of someone who didn’t say thank you. What types of feelings do you feel when thinking about that person? Those negative feelings are not something we want our donors to feel. We want them to feel thanked and appreciated.

When to Say Thank You
How often do you make the time to thank your donors? Yes, you should be sending donor acknowledgement letters after gifts, but think about how you have felt when you’ve gotten unexpected thank you’s. Don’t you want your donors to have those same positive feelings when they think about your organization? Year-end is a great time to say an extra thank you to your supporters—you might even get an extra unsolicited donation in return.

How to Say Thank You
I know adding another task to your to-do list can be overwhelming, but thanking donors does not have to be time-consuming or complex. A simple handwritten thank you note or a phone call can do the job well.

Volunteers, the communities that you support, your board members, and your organization’s staff can all write a few thank you notes or make a few calls.

Tip: Add a special handwritten thank you note on your donor acknowledgement letters (or year-end giving statement) that you’re sending to your donors.

Learn More About Saying Thank You