November: Stewardship & Gratitude
“As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them.” —John F. Kennedy
November is all about giving thanks to those around us and showing gratitude for the positive blessings in our lives. Empowered Nonprofits is thankful to all of our clients for partnering with us to advance their missions and expand their fundraising efforts. Click on the case study images below to see how we work as solution seekers ⬇️.
Thanking donors is a crucial part of fundraising and a key component to creating a positive donor-organization relationship. In this newsletter, we will share some actionable ways your organization can incorporate stewardship best practices.
Here are the top five best practices that work:
1. 📞 Thank-a-thon. Oftentimes when organizations host a phone-a-thon, it is to solicit donors. When people receive a call expressing gratitude, it often catches them by surprise and they remember this simple act of thanks.
2. ⏰ Timing Matters. When donors make a gift it is imperative they are thanked in a timely manner. An automated email confirming their online donation does not count as a thank you! Instead, build a system and process that ensures all donations receive a formal thank you letter (via email or mail) within two weeks from the gift date.
3. 💰 Giving Levels. Establishing tiers of giving is not only meant to incentivize donors to augment their gift, but it also serves as a way to properly and publicly recognize donors for their generosity and thank them through each levels' perks and exclusive offerings.
4. 📅 Events. Hosting an event for donors is a fun way to bring supporters together. Focus the event on how their giving is impacting the organization's mission. These events can also be done virtually with a little bit of creativity i.e. send your donors a box of all the items they will need for a virtual mixology class!
5. ✍️ Handwritten Notes. Send donors a letter written by someone whose life they have changed and even include a picture. Donors want to see where their donation is making an impact and it is another connection point between the donor and the organization.
Do you want more tips? Reach out to us!
