Your ads will be inserted here by
Easy AdSense Lite.
Please go to the plugin admin page to paste your ad code.
It's not just a thank you
A couple of weeks ago, I made a small donation of $25 to a flood relief project in Pakistan. The project installs water filters and mosquito nets so families forced out of their homes by the floods have clean drinking water and protection from mosquito-born diseases.
Immediately after donating, I received a thank you letter email from Global Giving, the venue through which I donated, and then one more from the local Pakistani project leader.
It felt good! They made me feel like my donation was definitely worth it because they made that personal connection right away. And it was just a simple thank you!
Today, they went above and beyond again.
I just received a Project Report from the local project leader.
Again, it’s just a simple gesture and probably took about half an hour to write, but it has several important qualities going for it.
1. It puts a face to the cause
The report includes pictures of the people I’m helping and the water filters I helped install. I can see the effect of my donation.
Your ads will be inserted here by
Easy AdSense Lite.
Please go to the plugin admin page to paste your ad code.
2. It’s personal
This letter creates a connection between me and the people I’m helping. This is probably the most important element of communicating with your donors, and that goes for every bit of communication — not just thank you letters. Your newsletters, donation appeals, blog posts, and social media updates should all be written with this goal in mind: make it personal.
3. It told me about progress and made another appeal
There it is, right at the bottom of the letter. Two buttons that serve the same purpose: to get me back to the website to donate again. And you know what? I will!
Will you?
(these are the real buttons!)
Lesson: Always, always, always thank your donors. Make the connection. Get personal. Go above and beyond.
And here is my question to you: What have your charities done to thank you when you donate? Have you seen anything remarkable? Touching? Surprising? And if you’re a charity organization, how do you thank your donors?
Please comment and share your thoughts!
Jessica, thank you so much for your glowing review of our project reports and thank yous! Your experience with GlobalGiving and the project leader is why we have developed this feedback loop. We want the donors to feel like their money is more than just a donation, but that it’s an investment in a cause – and its solution. I’m so happy you enjoyed your experience on GlobalGiving. Please let me know if I can help you with anything in the future.
Alison McQuade
Online Marketing Manager
GlobalGiving
Thank you for working so hard to create a great program!
Thanks for the support and raising awareness for the massive lost done to Pakistan because of heavy flooding of moon-soon rains. Pakistan can’t come out of it on its own so International community help is required most and glad to see they’re realizing the impact of disaster and doing their best to help Pakistan
Thank you as well. We all can play a part in helping each other.
We Pakistanis cannot thank the world enough for their generous aid. I just hope that one day we too will be able to help the world the same way the world has helped us.
Thank you for your comment. I hope international aid can help Pakistan get back on its feet as soon as possible. Stronger neighbors equals a stronger world.
Yes we have all, if united and work for others than no way we can support others
but still lot of people just like sleeping but needs quick action to support people as they lost each and every thing in floods
change comes through positive action and sustainable solutions
Thank you, I agree. Sustainability is the key to any real improvements. It’s like the old saying: “Give a man a fish, you feed him for a day. Teach a man to fish, you feed him for a lifetime!”
ЎHola!
ЎUf, me gustу! Tan clara y positiva.
Socco
Gracias por tu respuesta! Me alegra que tantas personas de todas partes del mundo se unifiquen para causas importantes.
Hi Dear Jessica Sadoway
this is with reference to last email, i am happy to share that we supported in floods 2010 more than 4,200 families with safe drinking Nadi filter unit that means 35,000 households will have now safe and clean drinking water at their door step you can see more on our website thanks
I’m glad to hear it! I continue to enjoy your updates and supporting your cause. Keep up the good work!