6 tips for powerful thank-you messages

Thank-you letters matter. A lot. Good thank yous can go a long way to keeping a donor with you through the years. Here are some great tips from GiveCentral, at 10 Most Valuable Donation Thank You Letter Examples:

1. The “Immediate” Opening Hook. If your thank-you letter starts with “On behalf of” … you are missing something important. Start with a statement of delight. Tell a story. Anything but bureaucratic throat-clearing.
2. Donor-Centric Language (The “You” Factor). It’s easy for a thank-you letter to veer into organizational bragging. Make it clear you are thanking the donor for what they are making possible by giving. Not about what you are doing with their money.
3. Concrete Impact (The “Where” and “How”). Tie their giving to outcomes in the world. That was why they gave. Be specific, and make sure you thank them for the same thing you asked them to do.
4. Impactful Storytelling. Tell a story! Don’t pile on stats. If possible, tell the rest of the story that you started when you asked them to give.
5. Personalization Beyond the Name. What else do you know about the donor and their gift? Is it their first? Have they been with you since [date of first gift]?
6. A Clear Point of Contact. Give them the name and contact information for a specific person they can get in touch with. Let them know this is a human relationship!