Donation Thank You Letter Examples

Are Donation Thank You Letters Really Necessary?

Yes! In fact, the savviest fundraisers have learned that it’s imperative to send thank you letters to their donors.

After all, it is the polite thing to do.

And, many donors will become offended—to the point of denying future donation requests—should they fail to receive one.

So, forgetting this simple step could contribute over time to the shrinkage of repeat donor funding.

Okay, so much for the "why". How do I write a good donation thank you letter?

I’m so glad you asked!

When writing donation thank you letters, or “acknowledgment letters” as they are sometimes called, keep these five basic elements in mind:

• In four to five simple and direct paragraphs you must convey the message of “thank you!”
  
  
• These letters are generally only sent to frequent donors or long-time partners of an organization.
  
  
• It’s a good practice to send a token thank you gift, such as a lapel pin or personalized address labels.
  
  
• It’s imperative to make the donor feel that he or she is a partner in fulfilling your mission, not just a piggy bank for your organization.
  
  
• Keep the message brief and to the point, WITHOUT asking for more funds. Remember that this letter is being sent to say "thank you" ONLY.

Here are a couple of donation thank you letters to get your creative juices flowing:

Dear ____________________:

We are writing to express our deepest thanks for your recent donation to (Name of Organization). Generous gifts from donors like you provide the financial and and moral support needed to continue our mission.

With your faithful financial contributions over the years, you’ve demonstrated your deep commitment to our work of (work your organization does--feeding the hungry, providing shelter for the homeless, etc.)

Your support has repeatedly played a key role in our success in (a recent accomplishment of your organization--reducing illiteracy in third world nations, reducing crime in inner cities, etc.)

There is no way to fully express our gratitude for your loyalty. We at (Name of Organization) are continually inspired by the the dedication and generosity of donors like yourself who answer the call to give again and again.

It is our hope that this small gift of (name of gift--personalized mailing labels, lapel pin, etc.) will help to communicate our very big thanks for your generosity. We look forward to a continuing partnership with you.

Sincerely,

Your gift is already being used in Uganda to pay for the life-saving antibiotics that help prevent infections that throw HIV positive children into full-blown AIDS. Just $30 provides a full month’s worth of medical treatment for an HIV positive child.

There's no doubt that the need is huge. There are an estimated 100,000 children who are HIV positive in Uganda alone.

However, the support of donors like you is helping us to make it possible for children living with HIV to lead happier and fruitful lives.

Thank you again for your compassionate support. We hope that you will continue to partner with us in our commitment to prevent the spread of AIDS and HIV in Africa. With warm regards,

Click the following link for more tips on writing thank you letters.

If you're interested in other notes you can use in your workplace, please see our business thank you notes or our business note phrases pages.



Return from Donation Thank You Letter to Thank You Note Examples Home