Free Nonprofit Resource: The Beginning of Your Next Ask (aka: Saying Thank You)

Have you had the experience of making a gift to a nonprofit and wondered if they ever received it? Or, worse, did the nonprofit send you another request for your support without acknowledging your previous donation? I know several noses just crinkled up at the thought.

As Nonprofit Professionals, we know that the request for a donor’s support is only one part of the fundraising cycle. Leaving the donor without an acknowledgement of their donation is critical for giving your organization the best chance at building a sustained relationship with your donor.

Generally, we advise our nonprofit clients to use at least two acknowledgements per gift, depending on the length of the relationship with the donor and the gift amount. For a smaller in value gift ($5 to $99), a formal acknowledgment letter signed by the CEO will likely suffice. Donors with a long history of support, regardless of their gift’s value, should receive a quick email or handwritten note from the CEO in addition to their formal acknowledgement letter. Gifts with greater value ($100 to $5,000) should receive a prompt phone call from the CEO, plus a handwritten note included with their formal acknowledgement letter. Gifts greater than $5,000 should receive a phone call from the CEO the same day, if at all possible, plus an email from the volunteer who helped facilitate the gift or development staff, and their formal acknowledgement letter.

Philanthropic Support Services encourages you to download our chart and this free acknowledgement letter template to use in your fundraising efforts. We offer free, 15 minute consultations for nonprofit professionals and a range of other services.

There is a lot of competition for our donors’ support. Don’t let a simple missed thank you opportunity be the reason your donor doesn’t renew their support.