Thanking donors is widely practiced by non-profit organizations. It makes the donor feel appreciated and makes them more likely to donate in the future. Donors are used to getting an automated email thank-you. So this is where you can set your organization apart! Use one, or a few, of these creative methods to thank your donors.

Why it’s Crucial to Thank Your Donors

Without donors, non-profit organizations would not be able to function. There is often so much that needs to be done that it can be easy to forget how important your donors are to your organization.

Make sure you show your donors that you appreciate their donations! There is no shortage of good causes for people to donate to. On average, a person will support 4.5 charities in their lifetime.  If your donors do not feel appreciated, they might choose another organization to donate to next time.

Thanking your donors helps develop a relationship with them. They will feel appreciated and develop a sense of loyalty to your organization. They are already interested in helping your organization so you need to focus on nurturing this interest to ensure that their support is more than a one-time thing.

6 Ways To Thank Your Donors & Make Them Feel Appreciated

Social Media Shoutout 

Social media is one of the easiest ways to get hold of people today. It is the perfect tool to use to thank your donors. It will make them feel appreciated and is also great exposure for your non-profit organization.

Friends and family of your donors will see that they donated to your non-profit organization and that this donation was appreciated. This will make them more likely to donate, receive their own social media shoutout, and spread even more awareness of your organization.

However, try not to spread yourself too thin. Focus on the most popular social media platforms, such as Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter. It is better to have a strong social media presence on a few platforms, than a weak social media presence on many platforms. 

Phone Call 

In the digital age, phone calls are becoming increasingly few and far between. However, nothing can replace the personal touch of a phone call. Calling your donors to say thank you shows that your organization has taken the time to thank them specifically. While you can tag multiple people in a social media post, or send the same email to many people, you can only call one person at a time.

Additionally, while you are on the phone with your donors, you can ask for their opinion on certain matters. You can ask them how they found their experience with you, or how they think you could improve your organization. This will help you improve your organization.

It will also make your donors feel as though their opinions are valued. They will also be playing a more active role in your organization, which is likely to increase their loyalty to your cause. 

Handwritten Note 

A handwritten note is another way to add a personal touch to express your gratitude to your donors. If phone calls are rare, handwritten notes are almost unheard of! Writing your donor a handwritten note will likely surprise them, and set your organization apart.

Handwritten notes are an easy way to do something different. It will make them feel special and appreciated – that they are not merely another nameless donor to your organization.

Video 

A video is an incredibly powerful way to thank your donors. With the right music, images, and dialogue, a video can be incredibly moving.

Often, a nonprofit organization can seem like an abstract entity to donors. They know the name of the organization and the type of work it does. However, they are not directly exposed to the day-to-day activities of the organization.

A video is a great way to show your donors how your organization operates. They can see the faces of the people they are helping, and how your organization is facilitating this. It makes your organization seem more real, which is a great way to increase donors' loyalty.

Send Anniversary Cards 

Sending an anniversary card is a fun, quirky way to thank your donors.  Each year, on the date of their first donation, remind them of their donation. Send them a cute card either by email or through the post.

Anniversary cards are not sent soon after the first donation. Therefore, they should ideally be used alongside another method of thanking your donors. You will want to thank your donors relatively soon after their first donation for them to feel appreciated.

However, do not let your use of another thank you method make you forget about anniversary cards! They are a great way to remind your donor of their donation. You can include some of the things your organization has achieved since its donation. This is a great way to show donors how their donation has been put to good use. 

Honor Them on Your Website 

Dedicate a part of your website to honoring your donors. Explain how important their donations are and how greatly you appreciate them. Include some of the things your organization has been able to achieve because of donations.

Here, you can put the names of your donors to add a personal touch. This might be unfeasible if you have thousands of donors. In this case, including the names of people who have donated above a certain amount. This will incentivize people to donate more money!

You can also use this part of the website to explain how to donate. This will encourage people to donate for the first time.

Final Thoughts on How To Thank Your Donors 

Thanking your donors is essential to a non-profit organization. It shows them that you appreciate what they are doing and helps you to build and maintain a relationship with your donors. In turn, this will make them more likely to continue to donate in the future. So, do something a little different and a little more personal to set your nonprofit apart from the rest and keep those donors coming back!