Connection Café: Just a simple thank you

	Just a simple thank you
	Posted by at Jan 04, 2011 10:55 AM CST Categories: Fundraising, Nonprofit Trends

The holiday season has come and gone. Hopefully it was accompanied by a flurry of end-of-year donations to your organization. I’ll confess that there was a bit of scrambling in the final weeks of the year as I gave to a few different causes. And you know what will inspire me to give (or discourage me from giving) to these organizations again? The thank you, or lack thereof. That’s right, something as simple as an email, a note in the mail, or a phone call will influence my giving patterns next year. I’m kind of like Santa, I guess. I keep a list of who’s been naughty, and who’s been nice. The difference is that I won’t give coal next year. No, instead, I’ll just choose to give to another organization that appreciates and Thank you acknowledges my gift.

So what exactly do I expect from an organization? I expect prompt appreciation for the gift. I also want to know how your organization used the money that I gave. Tell me about the impact that it made and how it helped you to promote change. Rest assured, I am interested. You know already that I care about your cause because I made a donation in the first place. Now it’s time for you to return the favor with a small sign of appreciation and information on the good things that you did with my gift.

I know that I’m not the only donor out there who thinks like this. With this in mind, your organization should have processes in place that promote the art of appreciation. Your efforts will not go unnoticed, and will be easy to track by monitoring the number of donors that come back the following year. Don't miss your opportunity for good stewardship in 2011, check out this free on-demand webinar and get some pointers on saying thanks in the new year!