Make it Personal

When was the last time you received a handwritten letter or thank-you note? ✉️

For most of us, it’s been a while. These days, even kids and grandkids text their birthday gift thank-yous instead of mailing a card.

One powerful way to show your donors how much you value them is to take the time to make your acknowledgments personal.

This blog series features five ideas that can energize and motivate donors. Whether you wear multiple hats in a small nonprofit or lead the development department of a national philanthropy, these ideas will help you deepen donor relationships.

The Power of Personalized Acknowledgments

We’re starting with the most critical concept in all of fundraising: communication and acknowledgment. The goal is to personalize as much of your stewardship program as possible. Here are some ways to make that happen, regardless of your organization's size:

• ✍️ Write handwritten thank-you notes. Set aside time each week to write thank-you notes to at least five of your loyal donors.

• 📜 Enhance standard thank-you letters. If your nonprofit sends out standard acknowledgment letters with only a name, address, and gift amount merge, hold 10-15 of those out each week. Add a handwritten personal note on the letter or receipt.

• 📞 Make personal thank-you calls. Dedicate 15 minutes at the end of each week to call a loyal donor just to say thank you.

• 💌 Engage your team in gratitude efforts. Leverage your development, finance, or board committees to help thank your givers. Once a quarter—or even once a year—host a thank-you card party where your organization and volunteer leaders write or sign thank-you cards. (Note: Donor giving levels can remain private; volunteers only need to know who they are thanking, not the gift amounts.)

• 🎁 Personalize thank-yous for special campaigns.

  • When donors give above their typical amount for a campaign or special project, make sure the acknowledgment reflects their additional generosity.

  • If 35 donors funded a specific need, create a special thank-you from the beneficiaries of their gifts. This could be a handwritten note from a client or a personalized message on a printed thank-you card.

Small Changes, Big Impact

You don’t have to implement all these ideas at once, but choosing one and being intentional over the coming year will show your donors a new level of care. Any nonprofit or ministry that applies these concepts will see a difference in donor growth and retention.

When donors feel appreciated, they recognize they are true partners in your mission—and they’ll be excited to see what you accomplish together next.

Tim Smith