*Image courtesy of Pixabay
How do we let donors know we appreciate them year-round so they will keep our nonprofit “top of mind” when making charitable donation decisions? By making simple “touches” throughout the year in creative ways. Other than the usual activities like sending personalized emails with program updates on the use of their gifts, or making phone calls, here’s three more ideas to consider that are super simple and easy:
- What holiday is coming up? Valentines Day? Mother’s Day? Father’s Day? A donor’s birthday? Why not have your staff or the beneficiaries of your programs make hand decorated cards using blank cards. Nothing pulls heartstrings more than a handmade card, especially one made by a child. Just a few blank cards, simple stickers, different colored markers and pens along with other arts and crafts supplies are all you need.
- Spice up your “thank-you” letters by including a handwritten thank you note with your regular IRS donor acknowledgement letter, written in an ink color other than black. This simple task shows the donor that you care about them and took the time to write the note when generating the several hundred letters you send out to acknowledge gifts, and they will “feel” your gratitude. If the donor hasn’t made a gift lately, send a bright, cheery thank you letter with a short program update that is handwritten, not typed, and send it with a hand-addressed envelope and a real stamp. Now, that is a piece of mail I would open right away, wouldn’t you?
- Think about things you keep on your desk – other than pens and paper. Once I received a little smooth rock hand painted by a child in a program that said “thank you” on top and when I flipped it over, it had a sticker with the logo of the nonprofit. The nonprofit enclosed a note about how my gift made a difference to the child who painted the rock. I use that little rock as a paperweight every day on my desk. It reminds me that my donation touched a child’s life. Sit down with your staff and brainstorm something inexpensive, heart-felt, yet useful that you can create and send to your major donors. You’ll be surprised with the neat ideas you might come up with – laminated bookmarks, maybe?
I’d love to hear your ideas!
Ayda
