Don’t Forget the Magic Words | Unforgettable Donor Thank Yous That Make a Difference

Your nonprofit business is a success, and you have your donors to thank for really “bringing it” when you need it most. Donors are essential to nonprofit businesses because their funding allows businesses to continue doing important work and deliver positive outcomes for the communities they serve.

Why Do Donors Donate?

Most donors are drawn to specific organizations because they truly want to help, plus their values and beliefs align closely with those of the organization seeking donations. To learn more about writing a great fundraising appeal letter that gets the perfect donors aligned with your cause, read Donation Requests That Are Full of Heart | How to Send Nonprofit Appeal Letters That Inspire Generosity.

When they give, donors want to know they will make an impact. That’s why it’s so important to craft a heartfelt thank you card for donors after you’ve received their gift. It’s essential to convey your gratitude as well as details about how their donation is making a difference. Let them know that their charitable investment is truly appreciated for its generosity and for the difference it’s helping to make.

Send a Donor Thank You That Gets Noticed

There are many options when it comes to expressing your gratitude. The most important thing is that you say thank you in some way to show how deeply you appreciate their support.

Here are a few of our favorite ways of reaching out and showing gratitude to those who have donated to your nonprofit organization:

Write a heartfelt donor thank you note. Thank You cards from Hallmark Business Connections can be personalized with your own message in a handwritten font with your unique signature so your donors feel special the moment they open the greeting. Personalized cards are a great way to solidify your bond with donors and boost trust and loyalty.

When writing a thank you note to donors, be specific about how their contribution is making a difference and be sure to sign off with your personal signature to ensure they know that you are personally thanking them for their donation.

Personal Fonts by Hallmark are another way to make thank you notes—and all your greeting cards—stand out to donors. Digitally mimicking your own handwriting, your Personal Font adds your unique handwriting details to the cards you send. Not only does it save time, but it also helps build stronger connections by personalizing communication even further.

Send a memorable gift. For donors who have given large contributions, or for those who have given consistently throughout the year, consider sending a gift like a lovely fresh cut floral bouquet or a delicious box of gourmet chocolates by Christopher Elbow to express your gratitude.

Corporate Gifts at Hallmark Business Connections are designed specifically with your business relationships in mind, so whether you want to send a day-maker like flowers or chocolates or a small reminder of your gratitude, we have exactly what you need to make your donors feel appreciated.

Host an event honoring donors. Many organizations decide to honor their donors with a year-end or mid-year event. And if you’re creative, you can make it benefit your cause even more!

One example is a silent auction. It’s fairly easy to pull off, and a silent auction can be fun for your guests and fruitful for your organization, too. Simply decide on your auction items (get local businesses and individuals to chip in with donations for an even better outcome!), select a date and send invitations[JS1] to your donors. Be sure to provide food, decorate and turn it into a festive event, and it’s sure to be something donors will look forward to every year.

Other ideas include hosting a concert by a local artist, catering a meal, hosting a game night or hosting a themed cocktail party. The sky’s the limit when it comes to donor events, so use your creativity. The only rules are to focus on gratitude and to treat your guests like VIPs the entire time.

Reach out with a personal phone call. One of the best ways to let your donors know how thankful you are for their generosity is to simply pick up the phone and give them a call. In our busy, hectic lives, it can be difficult to break through the digital noise, so a simple phone call can be refreshing—especially if it’s to deliver a message of gratitude.

Phone calls are the perfect time to simply catch up with donors and develop your relationships, too. The more donors feel connected to you when it’s time to give again, the more generous they’ll feel. And don’t worry, you don’t have to make all your calls at the same time. Pace yourself by scheduling a few calls per day until you’ve connected with everyone.

Create a video thank you. Show your gratitude and let them know you’re tech-savvy in the process by making a short video that’s filled with gratitude. You can email or text a link personally to individual donors, or you can share it to a group of donors across your social media channels. It can be funny, serious or heartwarming—but be sure to include an earnest thank you and some high-level information about where their dollars are going to be put to work. They’ll feel a sense of pride at contributing to the positive momentum!

At Hallmark Business Connections, we help businesses build relationships and stay connected with their customers, and we’re here to help your nonprofit build deeper connections with donors and potential donors. Our extensive line of business greeting cards is filled with ways to reach out to your contacts any day of the year. And remember, no matter what day it is, you can never go wrong with a business thank you card.

Contact us to learn more about personalizing your donor communication and connecting in a more meaningful way.