C. Thank Your Donors

No matter how you raise your funds, establish a plan to thank your donors that is relative to the scale of donations. Some suggestions include:

• handwritten notes from staff and or board members
• framed art work or commemorative piece from your organization
• certificates
• engraved plaques
• form letter thank you notes
• a gold ribbon
• thank you phone calls made by staff or board members

Stewardship of donors requires more than a one-time thank you. Develop a plan that keeps you in contact with donors all year long – through newsletters, personal notes, and invitations to events. If possible, hire staff that has the primary task of stewardship and can nurture and grow the relationships you have, or can have, with donors.