Thank a Donor 7 Times

This week's tip has to do with donor retention. The number one reason donors say they don't give again after making a first gift is that they don't feel appreciated and don't know what that gift supported.

Rule of thumb is that you want to thank a donor seven times.

That doesn't mean thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you, thank you.

Instead it means to have seven opportunities to say thank you to the donor between the time of the gift and when you ask them again. That might mean sending the tax receipt and the thank you that you send immediately upon receiving the gift. It might mean a phone call. It might mean a letter that you send six months later telling them what a difference their gift made in the life of your clients.

Want a few creative ways to thank you donor? Check out this post.