How to Say Thank You in Chinese

In China it is customary to thank someone for a gift seven times-Wow! That’s a lot of thanking.

November is a great month to hear about successful thank you tools at work in the nonprofit world. But what if you are just a start up with a few employees, NO budget for a video or a splashy thank you card, and not yet set up to capture potential donors with social media?

There are some very effective ways to thank donors that are low cost and high impact. Some may even be considered ‘old school’, but are refreshing to donors because they are not practiced much anymore.

So, let’s go back to the Chinese practice of thanking someone for a gift seven times. Every time I mention this is at a presentation or to a client the immediate reaction is ‘NO WAY, I don’t have time for that and it would annoy my donors’. BUT, let’s consider what thanking someone seven times really looks like.

Your organization has received a donation in the mail.

          1)  Make a phone call. Call your donor and leave a message on their voicemail thanking them for the donation and how it will be used. For example:

‘Hi John. Thank you so much for your generous donation to XYZ. We are excited to put your gift toward the expansion of our furry puppy rescue program. Thank you for making XYZ a priority for your personal giving.’

            This takes about 15 seconds and will make your donor feel very special.

2)     Send a letter. The IRS requires this and a great opportunity to give a bit more information about how many furry puppies John’s gift will help.

3)   Send an Email. Make a note on your calendar to send John an email midway through the year (think of this as the mid grant report that you would send to foundation funders) with a quick update about the affect of his gift on your furry puppy rescue program. This doesn’t have to be long, just informative to John. Be sure to mention any future plans for the program that may be of interest.

4)   Newsletter. John, and all of your donors will be mentioned in your annual newsletter and/or annual report. If possible, attach a Post-it note with ‘John-Thanks for providing care for furry puppies’. If you email your newsletter, make sure to thank John in the subject line.

5)    Send a card. Send a birthday, holiday, Mother’s or Father’s Day, or a card if there is a day/month of the year dedicated to your cause.

6)   Newspaper article. At some point during the year your organization will probably have some press worthy activity or point of view. Make a point of copying this article and attaching a Post-it note thanking your donor again for his gift. You are keeping your donor informed of the developments within the organization, which will be appreciated. To cut down on mailing costs email the article to your donor with a subject line like ‘ Hi John- See how your gift has helped Furry Puppy Rescue succeed!’ Needless to say, this is NOT recommended for negative press articles (kind of goes without saying).

7)   Send an invitation. Eventually there will be a party or event for your organization. Write a handwritten note on the invitation for John thanking him for his support with the addition of either looking forward to seeing him again or looking forward to meeting him in person. These invitations can also be emailed, but impact and response rates are typically greater with a mailed invitation.

Here we have seven painless ways to thank and acknowledge donors. It is surprisingly easy, part of a healthy stewardship program and keeps your organization top of mind for your donor. If your donors feel respected and well informed they are likely to give again. Setting up a stewardship calendar will help your organization to manage your stewardship program.

Wishing all the best in your fundraising endeavors!

Program and Development staff: Together at Last!

Are you a member of a development office that is fully integrated into your organization, and part of programming and long range planning meetings? If so, congratulations and read no further, this article is not meant for you. This article is for the vast majority of development staff who has a back office and is expected to conjure up the funds to run your organization’s programs. 

Why is integrating programming and development staff so important? Brian Reich in his newest book, Shift and Reset: Strategies for Addressing Serious Issues in a Connected Society, gets to the heart of the matter, ‘Funders want wins, not tries.’ The funding world is competitive. Organizations need to solicit fresh perspectives and to create a holistic and organic approach to serving their mission most effectively. Breaking down internal silos and promoting partnerships between departments allows for a freer exchange of ideas and a better understanding of the larger issues that impact an organization’s sustainability.

So rather than focusing on WHY this trend is so prevalent, let’s focus on HOW to better integrate the development and programming functions. Typically, development staff intersects with program staff at events and at meetings with major donors. More frequent contact and communication between development and program staff members will help to create a more efficient and targeted organization. The goal is to create a true partnership between the program and development functions. Here are some ideas to create a better-integrated organization (and make your job easier!)

-Share: Invite program staff to a development meeting to discusses current and prospective grants and current trends in funding. Likewise, request that development staff be present in program planning meetings. Synergies are likely to arise between funding opportunities and program direction.

-Involve: When writing grant proposals, ask program staff for their comments about the need and efficacy of the program. They will feel more involved and therefore more invested in the outcome of the proposal.

-Communicate: The development department can help program staff develop better programs. Ask program staff members for their opinion about what could be better executed within a program. In many instances funders are able to suggest partners to enhance program execution or consultants to assist with organizational structure.

-Set a Time Limit: Everyone is busy and overworked, so set a limit of 30-45 minutes for all meetings. Include an agenda with time limits on each section. Any in depth follow up can be done by email.

-Serve Food: A sure fire way to get high attendance at meetings.

The programming and development functions are interdependent and need each other to survive. More effective communication and an open forum for the sharing of ideas will create a healthier and more vibrant organization, and will make your job substantially more enjoyable.