How to Thank Your Donors for Their Support

Nothing matches the feeling of relief and sense of accomplishment by you and your Event Committee upon the completion of your Nonprofit's Fundraiser! Your tireless efforts and planning have all paid off to benefit your charity. Well done!

In the days immediately following your event, there are tasks that your Committee must accomplish. One of the more important tasks is to Thank Your Donors and Sponsors while your event is still fresh in the minds of your Committee and the community. How do you Thank your Donors and Sponsors?

Send a Thank You Letter

This may sound obvious or even old fashioned but sending a hand-written Thank You Letter to a valued Donor or Sponsor can have an immense impact and truly convey your Committee's appreciation. At a time when letters are rarely used as forms of correspondence, a hand-written letter demonstrates to your Donor that you valued their support enough to take the time to draft and mail such a letter. Donors and Sponsors also may be inclined to display or even frame your letter for all to see.

Create Thank You Video

With the ubiquity if mobile devices with cameras, it could not be easier to create a Thank You video to send to Donors or Sponsors to show your entity's appreciation. If your Non Profit benefits groups such as children, rescue shelters, etc., you can gather them together for a short Thank You video. You will be surprised at how well-received such a video can be. Again, this video should be created within days of your event to ensure that the event is fresh in everyone's mind. If you create the video in advance of your event, you can even play it in front of your attendees at your event too!

Thank Your Donors and Sponsors via Social Media

Social Media has a broad reach and is pervasive. Make a point to acknowledge and thank your Donors and Sponsors. Include photos of individual Donors, especially shots of Donors holding auction items that they bid upon and won. This not only recognizes your valued Donors but shows non-attendees how much fun your event was an might encourage them to attend your next fundraiser.

Donor and Sponsor Impact

Most Donors and Sponsors like to see how their support impacts your Non Profit's initiatives and profits. In other words, "Where is my money going?" Create a brochure or spreadsheet that demonstrates where the funds are being deployed. You should also include individual "success stories" to illuminate your Committee's impact to the community.

Here Are Some Things to Do...

• Mail your Thank You Letters in the days immediately following your event
• Focus on the Donor/Sponsor - not on the donation
• Keep your Donors/Sponsors up-to-date on your Non Profit's progress
• Be Transparent - Demonstrate where the money is being deployed

...and a Few Not to Do

• Immediately ask for a new donation
• Make it about your Non Profit. Thank You is enough for now
• Let Donors/Sponsors know what's coming next

Do you or your Event Team need help thanking your Donors and Sponsors after your successful event? Do you need to add the auction items that will put your fundraising over the top? We at Auction Packages can help. Our team of Event Specialists can guide you through the myriad of options to make your next event a success. We Live to Give.