Success Series: Donor Appreciation & 4-Week Action Plan

Welcome! Irene Miller Development & Events Coordinator Tracy Carey Grants & Scholarship Coordinator

“Thank You”

Saying Thank You Why thanking matters? When to thank? Whom to thank? How to thank?

Why “thank you” matters http://www.fundraising123.org/files/NP911_011210_Slides.pdf

Why “thank you” matters http://www.fundraising123.org/files/NP911_011210_Slides.pdf

Why “thank you” matters It’s easier to keep existing donors happy than to keep finding new ones. Retain existing donors Giving begrudgingly Welcome new donors

Why “thank you” matters Donors talk Make sure they’re happy when they start talking about your organization. Good word of mouth is free advertising.

Centre Gives CentreGives.org is live for 36 hours: 6:00 am on Tuesday, May 3rd 6:00 pm on Wednesday, May 4th

When to thank? Why immediacy matters Centre Gives is 36 hours Your org worked hard to educate, motivate, and help donors locate where to give during Centre Gives If you wanted donations during a strategic power hour, then it was even more crucial that donors cooperate with your organization So, it is just as important to say “thank you” quickly

When to thank? When to say “Thank You” During/immediately following Power Hours As donations roll in through-out the 36 hours Immediately following Centre Gives In June or beyond

When to thank? In June or beyond

When to thank? http://nonprofithub.org/nonprofit-marketing-plan/best-donor-thank-you-letters/

Who to thank? What are Successful Organizations Doing? Using their “Donor Download” List My what? Get it, Save it, Use it

Who to thank? You will receive this e-mail in late April. (Add Centre-Foundation.org to your Safe Senders list.)

Who to thank? This link will download an Excel sheet of your donors, amounts, and contact information. It will only populate once you begin receiving donations. It is live during Centre Gives, so download it often to receive the updated donation information.

Who to thank? What are Successful Organizations Doing? Using their “Donor Download” List My what? Get it, Save it, Use it Did someone pledge? Are you targeting a power hour? Are you posting progress updates, goals?

And only “thank you.” Thank You Tips Thank Yous should be expressions of gratitude No embedded solicitation They may result in secondary gifts though And only “thank you.”

Thank You Tips http://nonprofithub.org/nonprofit-marketing-plan/best-donor-thank-you-letters/

Thank You Tips http://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/cost-effective-ways-your-nonprofit-can-say-thank-you

Thank You: Cookies

More Resources http://www.nonprofitmarketingguide.com/resources/fundraising/nine-clever-ways-to-thank-your-donors/ http://nonprofithub.org/nonprofit-marketing-plan/best-donor-thank-you-letters/ http://www.classy.org/blog/15-creative-ways-to-thank-donors/ http://blog.hubspot.com/marketing/cost-effective-ways-your-nonprofit-can-say-thank-you http://www.fundraising123.org/files/NP911_011210_Slides.pdf

Centre Gives: Thank You Examples

Thank You: Tweets

Thanking Through-Out

Thank You: Goals

Thank You: Videos & Goals

Thank You: Videos & Quotes

Thank You: Basic & Branded

Thank You: On Message

Thank You: Mission & The People Behind the Mission

Thank You: Re-Purposing Save time and re-use your effective storytelling pictures when you say “thank you”

Thank You: Re-Purposing Screen cap and add “Thank You”

Centre Gives CentreGives.org is live for 36 hours: 6:00 am on Tuesday, May 3rd 6:00 pm on Wednesday, May 4th

Donor Appreciation Day Thursday, May 5th

May 5: Thank You Make May 5th Donor Appreciation Day! Say “thank you” on social media/your website Make a round of calls Send a quick e-mail merge Start on your thank you letters (no tax receipts necessary; this was received automatically in their e-receipt during Centre Gives)

Make a Plan How will your organization thank its donors? Write out your thank-you-plan-of-action May 3 May 4 May 5 Who is responsible? Staff, Board, Volunteers How will you use your organization’s effective storytelling techniques to craft a meaningful thank you message?

Get Started! Fill in your plan of action: On which hours will what staff member download your donor list? Who will be on your donor appreciation team? What will your thank you template letter/post/call look like or sound like? Write a script, sample!

Get Organized: Master Spreadsheet Add a column for completed thank you message. Assign volunteers to the “Gratitude Group.” https://centregives.org/resources/

Secrets

Donor Appreciation During the Live Event Many organizations also start thanking their donors immediately! Executive Directors and Development Directors are sending immediate thank you emails. Board Members are making hourly rounds of thank you calls. Support staff and/or volunteers can also pitch in, as long as “thank you” is included!

Stand Out Make your donors say, “Wow!” Thank them during or immediately following Centre Gives Be personal – use their name Have a donor-centric message “you did this” Concisely tell them what they are helping your organization accomplish Hand-sign and/or include a post script Make a thank you themed video

Housekeeping: Taxes

Tax Receipt? We’ve got you covered! -Donation confirmations include a receipt for tax purposes; these arrive in donors’ inboxes immediately after a donation is made. -Organizations do NOT send tax receipts.

Tax Receipt? We’ve got you covered! Please remind your donors to save their e-receipt for tax purposes, or help them search their inboxes.

Tax Receipt? We’ve got you covered! After Centre Gives is over, donors can re-visit the website to request their receipts be re-sent to their e-mail address.

Tax Receipt? We’ve got you covered! Centre Foundation staff can also request that the system re-send donors’ e-mail confirmation/tax-deductible receipts.

Don’t forget to delegate Who can help me? I need to delegate. Other Staff Members? Ad hoc board committee? Centre Gives committee? Volunteers? Interns? Donors always offering to help? Personal friends/contacts?

Thank YOU Thank you for joining us for this seminar! We hope it was worth your time and look forward to seeing your organization’s unique style of gratitude during #CentreGives!

4-Week Action Plan Getting in gear for #CentreGives!

4 Weeks From Centre Gives

3 Weeks From Centre Gives

2 Weeks From Centre Gives

1 Week From Centre Gives

36 Hours of Centre Gives

May 5th – Donor Appreciation Day

Loose Ends, Post-Centre Gives

Create YOUR Action Plan *Download Master Spreadsheet here  https://centregives.org/resources/

Recap March 1 – Storytelling & Sharing “This is a story about___and it’s important b/c__” Press Release Template Media Contact List *Power Points can be downloaded here  https://centregives.org/resources/

Recap March 8 – Social Media Slate of time-saving Graphics Editorial calendar, scheduled posts Potential Paid campaign *Power Points can be downloaded here  https://centregives.org/resources/

Recap March 15 – Fundraising Strategies Organized Data with Plan to Contact Donors Strategic Prize Plan (“Power Hours”) Unique donors, New donors = competitive advantage Potential Physical Event *Power Points can be downloaded here  https://centregives.org/resources/

Recap March 22 – Engaging Your Stakeholders Board Members and Other Current Partners Publicity Opportunities Surrogates with Larger, Online Audiences *Power Points can be downloaded here  https://centregives.org/resources/

Recap March 29 – Donor Appreciation Know whom to thank (donor download link) Create a plan for when to thank them The sooner, the better. Decide how you’ll thank donors Personal, creative Who will be in your gratitude group? Volunteers, board members, etc. *Power Points can be downloaded here  https://centregives.org/resources/

Resources Power Points Worksheets Logos Master Spreadsheet https://centregives.org/resources/ Power Points Worksheets Logos Master Spreadsheet T-shirt Link

Don’t forget to delegate! Who can help me? Other Staff Members? Ad hoc board committee? Centre Gives committee? Volunteers? Interns? Donors always offering to help? Personal friends/contacts?

Time to get to work on that Questions? Time to get to work on that #CentreGives plan! Let’s connect: irene@centre-foundation.org tracy@centre-foundation.org