{"id":1905,"date":"2023-04-14T00:04:35","date_gmt":"2023-04-14T00:04:35","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wildapricot.wpengine.com\/?p=1905"},"modified":"2025-05-12T05:29:38","modified_gmt":"2025-05-12T05:29:38","slug":"thank-you-letter-for-donations","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.wildapricot.com\/blog\/thank-you-letter-for-donations","title":{"rendered":"How to Write The BEST Thank-You Letter for Donations (+ 3 Templates & Samples!)"},"content":{"rendered":"

When a donor gives to your organization\u2014especially if it\u2019s their first one\u2014you enter the stewardship phase. This is where you communicate with the donor, express your gratitude, and work on nurturing your relationship so the donor continues to give and be an active member of your community for years to come.<\/span><\/p>\n

And it all starts with a <\/span>thank you<\/span><\/a> letter.<\/span><\/p>\n

Curious about how to write a sincere and meaningful thank you letter? Read on to learn our top 15 tips for writing the perfect thank you letter, browse inspiring samples, and get your hands on ready-to-use templates you can customize and start sending to your donors.<\/span><\/p>\n

Let\u2019s take a look!<\/span><\/p>\n

\"Thank<\/a><\/p>\n

Why Thank You Letters for Donations are Important<\/b><\/h2>\n

A great thank you letter is much more than just a receipt or confirmation that a transaction has taken place. Here are a few reasons why thank you letters are so important:<\/span><\/p>\n

    \n
  1. They allow you to express gratitude\u00a0<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    There are thousands of other nonprofits and amazing causes out there, yet the donor chose to support yours. Use the thank you letter to express just how grateful you are for their contribution and reassure them that they made the right decision.<\/span><\/p>\n

      \n
    1. They make the donor feel valued<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

      Your organization wouldn\u2019t be able to do the work that you do without the support of donors. Make sure they know just how much you need and appreciate them by sending a sincere thank you letter.<\/span><\/p>\n

        \n
      1. They help nurture your relationship with the donor<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

        Every interaction and communication you send to the donor helps build your relationship with them. The first thank you letter you send is often the start of that relationship and will inspire the donor to keep giving and keep engaging with your organization.<\/span><\/p>\n

          \n
        1. They\u2019re a part of good donor stewardship<\/b><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

          Good <\/span>donor stewardship<\/span><\/a> means making sure the donor has a positive, meaningful experience with your organization. It has a direct impact on your donor retention rate and future <\/span>fundraising<\/span><\/a> since donors who have an outstanding donor experience are much more likely to give again and often increase the rate and amount of their giving.<\/span><\/p>\n

          Types of Thank You Letters for Donations<\/b><\/h2>\n

          There are many different types of donations, and there are different thank-you letters associated with each one. Here are some of the most common kinds of letters and when to send them:<\/span><\/p>\n

          \"types<\/p>\n

          1. Email:<\/b> Send a quick thank you note for <\/span>online donations<\/span><\/a> that don\u2019t require a tax receipt or donations to peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns (though be sure to send a physical letter to the people who raised funds from their friends and families). An email thank you lets you show your acknowledgment and appreciation for donors right away.<\/span><\/p>\n

          2. One-time gift:<\/b> Send a physical thank you letter for any one-time gifts over a certain amount and include a tax receipt.<\/span><\/p>\n

          3. Recurring gift:<\/b> For donors who give <\/span>monthly<\/span><\/a>, there\u2019s no need to send a new thank you letter every month, but do send a nice message once a year to recap their giving and its impact.<\/span><\/p>\n

          4. Matching gifts:<\/b> When a supporter goes out of their way to help your nonprofit earn extra revenue through a matching gift, send them a <\/span>thank you letter<\/span><\/a>. If possible, send the thank you letter right after they submit their matching gift request to their employer instead of waiting to receive the payout from the employer, which can be a protracted process.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

          5. Pledge gift:<\/b> Send a thank you letter to individuals or organizations who make a pledge \u2014 a promise to donate a certain amount over a certain number of years. Don\u2019t forget to send a separate thank you note after each of the installments comes in.<\/span><\/p>\n

          6. Fundraising: <\/b>For donors who participate in fundraising events or campaigns, send a thank you letter to show appreciation for their support and effort in rallying the community. You can include a recap of the fundraising campaign and a personalized note about their impact to show that they are part of something bigger.<\/span><\/p>\n

          7. Gift of securities:<\/b> Send a thank you letter to anyone who makes a gift in the form of stocks, bonds, or mutual funds.<\/span><\/p>\n

          8. In-kind gift:<\/b> Send a thank you letter to individuals or organizations who make <\/span>in-kind donations<\/span><\/a> (for example, items to sell at your auction).<\/span><\/p>\n

          9. Planned gift:<\/b> Send a thank you letter to donors who leave your organization in their will. In this case, all of your stewardship efforts should happen before you actually receive the funds.<\/span><\/p>\n

          10. Sponsorship:<\/b> Send a special thank you to companies who sponsor your events and programs.<\/span><\/p>\n

          11. Event attendance:<\/b> Send a thank you letter to every event attendee, especially if part of the ticket cost is considered a donation.<\/span><\/p>\n

          12. Major gift:<\/b> For major donors who give a substantial amount and already have an established relationship with your organization, most templated letters will come across as insincere. Instead, consider asking your leadership to write a handwritten thank you note.<\/span><\/p>\n

          15 Best Practices For Your Nonprofit Thank You Letter<\/b><\/h2>\n

          1. Use the donor\u2019s name<\/span><\/h3>\n

          Nothing says, \u201cThis is a form letter\u201d more clearly than failing to include a donor\u2019s name. Starting your thank you letter for a donation off with \u201cDear Friend\u201d makes people feel like your nonprofit doesn\u2019t care \u2014 not the tone you want to set in a thank you to donors!<\/span><\/p>\n

          Mail merges make it easy to add names and personal details to your thank you letters. It\u2019s a small thing, but it makes a big difference in how your donors will feel.<\/span><\/p>\n

          2. Send it promptly<\/span><\/h3>\n

          The faster you can get your thank you to donors, the better. A prompt thank you allows you to extend the good feelings the donor has about making a gift and heads off any buyer\u2019s remorse that may otherwise set in.<\/span><\/p>\n

          Send your thank you message within 24-72 hours of receiving a gift. This ensures that:<\/span><\/p>\n