The inspiration for thanking your #donors and creating lifetime supporters! Thanking your donors is critically important if you want them to continue to be your donors. There are countless things you can do to recognize donors, but here are my favorite ways.

1. Ways to
Thank your
Nonprofit
Donors
10

2. When we think of thanking donors, we usually think of
holidays. During Thanksgiving and Christmas, donors are
flooded by ‘thank you’ cards and gala dinner invitations

3. 1Call your donors

4. This is a simple, yet effective, donor recognition
idea. Hearing a real voice over the phone helps
build connections and establish trust

5. 2Create a “thank you” video

6. Videos are impactful in a way that emails and letters
aren’t. They help donors connect to the
volunteers/staff/beneficiaries in a more powerful way

7. 3Write a “thank you” letter

8. Letters are preferable or more achievable given the size
of your nonprofit’s donor base

9. 4
Highlight donors on
social media

10. Letters are preferable or more achievable given the size
of your nonprofit’s donor base

11. 5Send photos and stories

12. Photos and stories are powerful carriers for your
nonprofit’s mission. Regularly inform your donors about
the current state of your project, the progress you have
made so far and your future plans

13. 6Send gifts or tokens

14. Donors appreciate having physical tokens of their
support to display

15. 7Be thoughtful

16. If possible, make notes of personal details you hear in
conversation with donors

17. 8
Design memorable
experiences

18. For something more unique, think of
interesting and memorable experiences your
donors might want to engage in

19. 9Organize an event

20. Events are a good way to meet some of your
donors face-to-face and foster personal
relationships

21. 10
Welcome the new and
cultivate the old

22. Both existing and new donors are crucial to your
nonprofit’s growth. In order to welcome the new
donors, create donor welcome packages

23. Do’s And
Don’ts When
Thanking
Your Donors

24. DO
Stay transparent
with where the
donations go
Show you’re
excited and
you care
Keep donors
informed and
updated
Send a thank-
you fast
Focus on the donor, not the
donation

25. Use generic
language
Speak in jargon
Leave it at
“thank you”.
Offer the next
step
Put the focus
on yourself. It’s
about them
Immediately ask for a new
donation
DONT

26. MORE INFO
www.Donorbox.org
/Nonprofit-Blog/10-
Ways-to-Thank-
your-Nonprofit-
Donors/