20 Easy and Effective Ways to Thank Your Donors Throughout the Year

Saying thank you sometimes feels like a warm, fuzzy thing to do around the holidays. Sometimes those holidays are just the reminders that we need (along with the Netflix Christmas specials) to say the big, "Thank You!"

But what if I told you that you could increase your nonprofit organization’s revenue with existing resources just by saying thank you throughout the year?

And the best part?

You are grateful.

You are grateful for your donors.

You are grateful for your sponsors.

You are  grateful for your partners.

You are grateful for your grant funding sources.

But the problem is you might not tell them you are grateful.

Research shows that showing gratitude to donors, especially on a consistent basis, keeps up the level of the donor’s happiness levels with your nonprofit. 

It’s also common sense. How do you feel when you are thanked properly and kept up-to-date with information that you are passionate about? Good, right? Like you want to keep staying involved.

So let’s look at 20 Ways Your Nonprofit Can Show Gratitude all Year Long

Easy & Effective Thank You Tips for Donors

Donor Thank You Tip #1: Automate an Onboarding Thank You Email when Your Nonprofit Gets a New Donor

As soon as your nonprofit organization gets a new donor (whether that is a one-time donor or a recurring donor), send them a Thank You email. You can easily automate this so it’s all set up for you. 

Donor Thank You Tip #2: Send Your Newsletter to Your Donors 

Be sure to send out a newsletter to your donors to keep them updated on all the good your nonprofit organization is doing throughout the year. Only asking them to give on Giving Tuesday or once per year doesn’t form the best relationship.

But a newsletter is something you can send to all your donors so they are reminded of the work that their donation helps. 

Extra Hot Tip: Give them an ability to uplevel in the P.S. line to a higher donation amount or to become a recurring donor.

Donor Thank You Tip #3: Send a Happy Birthday Card (Virtual or Print) to Your Donors

You can definitely use software to automate this for you if you have a large number of donors. This is a great way to show your gratitude on one of their happiest days of the year!

Easy & Effective Thank You Tips for Sponsors

Sponsor Thank You Tip #1: Create an Onboarding Thank You Gift Once the Sponsorship Contract is Signed

Just like thanking your donors as soon as they give to your nonprofit organization, it is great to say thank you to your new sponsor.

A sponsor is normally a company or business that wants to give to your nonprofit for a certain event, campaign, or project. They will become a sponsor by selecting a certain level of giving (think, 5K race or Gala) and then sign a contract. 

As soon as  your nonprofit gets this sponsorship contract signed, you want to reach out and give them a small gift (or at the very least a handwritten letter).

Sponsor Thank You Tip #2: Deliver an Annual Gift (or even Video) to the Sponsors Annual Board Meeting

Another way you can stand out and show your gratitude is to deliver a small gift or video to the sponsor’s annual board meeting or their anniversary. This is a great way to appreciate them on a day that is important to them.

Sponsor Thank You Tip #3: Send Your Newsletter to Your Sponsors

Just like your donors, your sponsors want to see the good that your nonprofit is doing in the community (and not just when you are asking them for money). They want to be reminded of why they support you and applaud your efforts.

Sending a newsletter to sponsors is a great way to showcase your work and to keep you on their radar. Keeping them up-to-date is an act of gratefulness!

Sponsor Thank You Tip #4: Use Your Sponsors Logo on Marketing Materials and Website to Show Gratitude

Putting your sponsor’s logos on all your marketing materials is a great way to show gratitude. You can put it on your Zoom backdrop, on your vehicles, and so many other creative ways.

Sponsor Thank You Tip #5: Create Thank You Videos to be used on Social Media and Share Throughout the Year

Your nonprofit can share short “Thank You” videos for your sponsors throughout the year and post on social media. Make sure you tag your sponsors.

This is a great way to remind them you are thinking about them.

Easy & Effective Thank You Tips for Partners

Partner Thank You Tip #1 & #2: Create an Onboarding Thank You Email or Gift When They Become a Partner

Partners can include other stakeholders that may not be a direct financial source. Think of other nonprofits that you ask for letters of support when writing a grant proposal. However, having these sorts of partnerships is vital to your nonprofit’s overall success and can generate revenue by partnering on events, co-writing grants, and so much more.

Sometimes the partnerships aren’t created with anything formulized (like a Memorandum of Understanding), but sometimes they are. When they are more organic, and don’t have an official start date, then just remembering to send them a gift at their nonprofit’s anniversary, or an important event, is great!

When they are more formal and have a start date, then send them an onboarding email!

Partner Thank You Tip #3:  Send Your Partners Annual Holiday Thank You Cards or Gifts

Just like your sponsors, it’s great to send a random thank you throughout the year or (also) during the holidays. Remember, this isn’t the only time  you say thank you, though.

Partner Thank You Tip #4:  Send a Video Testimony to Your Partners

It’s wonderful to send your partners a video testimony saying the way that your nonprofit has worked with them. They can then use this on their website or social media.

Be sure to ask if they will do one for you, too!

Partner Thank You Tip #5:  Share Social Media Posts from Your Partners

A great way to demonstrate your partnerships is also by sharing their fundraising events and other things they do, on your social media platforms. This way their nonprofit is exposed to a new audience. Be sure to tag them, and ask them to reciprocate!

Easy & Effective Thank You Tips for Grant Funding Sources

Grant Funding Source Thank You Tip #1:  Thank You Letters or Cards

So this is more for grant funding sources that you have already secured. Why send 'Thank Yous" when you don’t have to compete for the funding? Because this helps develop the relationship and the better your relationship the more likely they are to help you longer and invite you to other open applications.

Be sure to say thank...