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How to Show Donors Your Appreciation: 5 Creative Tips
by Charity Dynamics
How does your nonprofit show your thanks to the people who make your goals a reality? Ditch that generic thank-you email template and engage donors in a more personal, meaningful, and memorable way. Thanking your donors creatively helps boost their satisfaction with your nonprofit and secure future support. Here are a few out-of-the-box donor recognition techniques to enhance your appreciation cadence.
Sending a handwritten thank-you card is a heartfelt way of showing gratitude, but it has drawbacks as well. It’s time-consuming to write cards for all of your donors and it takes several days to reach the donor via direct mail. Additionally, writing on paper cards isn’t eco-friendly. Fortunately, there’s a greener, faster, and cheaper way to show your donors love: virtual cards.
eCards are a customizable form of online communication that you can send to your donors to thank them for their generosity. For instance, check out this example from eCardWidget:
To make your own, find an eCard creation platform that supports customization and integrates with your CRM. Then, work with your team to create an eCard that evokes your nonprofit’s unique brand and stresses each donation’s impact. Your donors will love receiving these beautiful digital mementos of their generosity!
It’s said that a picture is worth 1000 words, so how many is a video worth? Consider sending your donors custom videos highlighting their contributions and their impacts. These can be short and simple—you can even record on your smartphone and send it over text, social media direct message, or email.
That being said, you should plan your videos strategically. Keep the following video production tactics from NXUnite in mind while recording:
- Use a high-quality camera that captures video and sound correctly
- Ensure everything in your video is appropriate for donors to see
- Reference personal information for each donor, such as their name, gift size, and which campaign they gave to
- Add your organization’s branding, such as your logo and catchphrase, to the video
- Keep the video under two minutes
- If they give permission, include beneficiaries in your thank-you video
- Include relevant music, videos, and photos to make the video more engaging
Even a brief recorded thank-you video from your staff can have a big impact and potentially turn new donors into long-term supporters. After all, taking the time to create a personalized video message shows how much your nonprofit values the donor’s contribution. Just ensure you take the steps to make it interesting and impactful, and your donors will look forward to getting one the next time they give!
Your donors love to hear where their money is going and who is benefiting from their donation. Create a mini-annual report to attach to your donor appreciation letter to illustrate the specific data behind each campaign. In this report, consider including:
- Graphs and data tables demonstrating the campaign’s impact
- Testimonials from beneficiaries
- Photos of your programs in action
- A list of major donors
- A personalized message referencing what the donor’s exact gift provided
By taking the time to create a personalized mini-report, you’re not only sharing important information about your organization’s impact but also showing your donors respect by keeping them informed on their investments. With a little personalization and attention to detail, you can turn a simple thank-you note into a report showing tangible results.
There are some donors whose passion for your cause has greatly impacted your nonprofit. Many nonprofits publicly recognize these donors on their social media sites, but you can take it up a notch by inducting them into your donor hall of fame.
To get started, decide what your hall of fame will look like. It can be as simple as hanging inductees’ photos up in your office or adding their names to a plaque. Then, decide what the ceremony will be—it could be anything from a black tie event to a simple potluck dinner. Finally, send out your invitations to your most passionate contributors and set a date for the induction ceremony.
Whatever your hall of fame and induction ceremony looks like, memorializing the inductees’ contributions makes them a permanent fixture in your nonprofit’s history. That means they’ll feel more personally connected to your nonprofit and will never forget how much you appreciate their gifts. Plus, it gives an objective for your other donors to strive for!
Your donors work tirelessly to give back to your beneficiaries, so why not let them cut loose for a day? Hosting a Donor Appreciation Day event allows you to show your gratitude while building comradery and getting to know them better. Plus, your nonprofit can tailor your Donor Appreciation Day event based on your supporters’ preferences and budget constraints. For instance, here are some different activities to consider adding to your event schedule:
- Q&A sessions with your leadership team or other relevant keynote speakers
- Meet-and-greet opportunities with beneficiaries
- Tour of your facilities
- Potluck dinner
- Happy hour
- Outdoor games, such as cornhole and spike ball
- Tie-dyeing exclusive Donor Appreciation Day t-shirts
- Remote portion for out-of-towners
The event schedule will differ based on the nonprofit, so try to include an idea unique to your cause. For instance, if you represent an animal shelter, you could add “puppy playtime” to your event schedule.
Donor Appreciation Days give your supporters a chance to see the fun side of your nonprofit and bond with each other and your team. It’s a fantastic way to build community, thank donors, and, most importantly, have some fun!
By incorporating these tips, your nonprofit can elevate your donors’ involvement with your mission and cultivate a deeper passion for the cause. That being said, the most meaningful thank-you messages are memorable, so don’t be afraid to get creative! Standing out is key, so if your nonprofit has a unique way to thank donors that haven’t been mentioned above, don’t hesitate to leverage it. Trying the most original ideas to show donors your love is what will take your donor satisfaction and fundraising success to the next level. Good luck!
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