12 Days of Gratitude Day 6 - Thank your online ambassadors

 

Genuinely engage and thank your online supporters  

Social media is a powerful tool to share your story to a wide range of people.   We use it to share our story, keep our donors and supporters up to date on the amazing things our causes do every day, share the impact we are making, connect with others who need to know about our cause and so much more.

The utility is clear, and we understand that real engagement with our online supporters and relationships are key.  Similar to how our  volunteers are such great ambassadors for our organizations,  you probably also have many volunteer ambassadors online who consistently champion and support your cause.  If you are engaging with them on a consistent basis, you probably know who they are.

When they share, like or comment on your content, they spread your message.  While it is apparent that you should be engaging with them, why not go the extra mile and let them know that you are noticing? 

Take a look at your timeline, comments, shares, and online community.  Do you notice someone championing your cause online?  Why not take this relationship a step further and show your gratitude in a different way than simply just re-tweeting, liking or responding to their comments.

Send them a personal message. Let them know that you have been noticing how they support you so much. Invite them to come visit your organization or school to take a tour, share more of your story and learn more about them. If distance is an issue, arrange for a personal phone call or video-conference instead.

 

Imagine if someone from your favorite cause, sent you a unique and personal message just to thank you, extend a personal invitation, and learn more about you and what you think?   Wouldn’t that feel more genuine and less virtual than a “re-tweet?”

12 Days of Gratitude: Day 5 - Thank the panel that rejected your grant

Thank an organization that rejected your proposal

Every organization has at one point in time experienced the disappointment of a rejection letter for a grant application that took tireless hours to write.  Now, while you may be trying to find new ways to replace these funds, there’s one last step that you may want to consider.

Write a genuine thank you letter to the officers or review panel of the foundation that rejected your application. Why?

Quite a bit of work goes into the review process, and as grants become more and more competitive, the amount of applications foundations receive increases steadily as well.  And you never know the amount of heartfelt debate that may have taken place among the review panel before the final decision was made.

Even more, if you ask them why they rejected your application, you’d be surprised at the insight you receive that you can take into consideration when you apply again there, or at any other organization in the future.   

Could you imagine getting a thank you note from someone just saying, “Thanks for considering us and for learning our story?”   It probably doesn’t happen that often.

12 Days of Gratitude: Day 4 - Give back to your volunteers

Do something out of the ordinary for your volunteers! 

We live in a time when people are busier than ever.  Just ask anyone how they are doing, and chances are they will tell you, “I'm so busy.”  And while day-to-day pace of our lives continues to pick up momentum, you will always find those inspiring groups of committed volunteers who carve out time in their busy schedules to offer a helping hand. 

Volunteers are a vital part of the work that you do, and they are often the key to the survival for your organization. How do you let them know this?

They may also be the greatest ambassadors for your work. Their friends, co-workers, bosses, bankers, and families are who they are going to speak so passionately to about the awesome work that your organization does.  Why? Something inspired them to want to make a difference.  Something is driving them to spend hours in a food pantry, tutoring kids after school, or stuffing envelopes for your year-end annual appeal.  Have you taken the time to ask them what compelled them to get involved?

Today, find a new and different way to thank your volunteers.  Do something out of the ordinary to really show them what a difference they are making through their work.  Here are some ideas to get you started:

•   Host a luncheon for volunteers to meet with your Executive Director, Principal or Superintendent. Ask them what they think is going great, ask for their insight, and talk to them about what inspired them to get involved.  Ask them where they would like to see your organization go in the future, really listen, and tell them just how vital a part of the organization they are.

• Or why not join them and work right beside them?  Show them you really understand and appreciate what they do.  Get to know them and show them you value their hard work.

• Give your volunteers a piece of framed artwork, a poem or story that the children your organization serves wrote.  A personal story or handwritten thank you note from someone your organization serves or from all of your staff would also be something for them to cherish for years to come. 

Take some time to really engage, thank and appreciate your volunteers.  Treat them as you would a full-time employee or major donor.  People’s time is often a gift more precious than money.  When you listen and really show you appreciate your volunteers' work, you make their experience even more meaningful and rewarding.  

 

12 Days of Gratitude: Day 3 - Thank a teacher

“A good teacher is like a candle - it consumes itself to light the way for others.”  ~Mustafa Kemal Atatürk

Our hearts go out to the families and community of Newton, Connecticut and our thoughts and prayers are with them during this difficult time.  As the weight of this tragedy continues to sink in, and our children return to school, we must recognize how important it is to take the time to thank the teachers who care for, guide and protect our children every single day. 

This week, be sure to take some time to write a letter, give a call, or stop by your child's classroom and share your thanks and appreciation for a teacher. They have one of the most important jobs in the world.  

The Twelve Days of Gratitude: Day 2

Are you on a first name basis with your printer?

Have you ever thought to thank your printer? Do you know your printer or do they know you?

Next time you take a printing job to your regular neighborhood printer, ask if the manager is available, introduce yourself, and tell them what a great job they are doing.   Just think, have they ever gotten documents printed for you at the last minute, under deadline?  

It's important to recognize the people that are often overlooked but make an impact on your school or organization.  Take some time to tell them about some of the wonderful things happening at your school or organization and invite them to come take a tour.

And you’d be surprised what could come of this, by just letting someone know they are appreciated.  We’ve had clients who have just simply introduced themselves, said thank you, and the printer felt so appreciated that he donated the next printing job to the school for free.   

Do you have a go-to printer that you know by name? Have you taken the time to introduce yourself to him/her?

Next time you drop off a project, take some time to introduce yourself, and let us know how it goes.

The 12 Days of Gratitude: Day 1

Thank your smallest donors – Yes, your SMALLEST DONORS!

Many nonprofits do a great job of picking up the phone and calling people to thank them for their $1,000 or $500 donation.  Some small nonprofits may even call donors who mail in a check for $250.  Thanking “major donors” in a special way is kind of obvious don’t you think?

But what would be really different is to pick up the phone and call your 25 smallest donors, those people who sent in a $10 or $25 or $50 check.  Just think about it.  Imagine the last time you sent in a check for $25.  Hopefully, you received a thank you letter at some point, although probably not within 48 hours.  When you got the thank you letter, you probably smiled and felt appreciated.

Imagine, though getting a phone call from the president of the board thanking you for your generous $25 donation and sharing a success story about how it contributed to the life of a child!

Why should you consider thanking your smallest donors like they are major donors? 

Well, because for those donors, $25 might be a major donation, and they want to feel as appreciated and valued as a $5,000 donor.  

You also just never know what might happen because of the good will you built with that small donor. 

Let us know if you if you tried this and how YOU felt, how the small DONOR felt and what happened next.

Wishing for a Peaceful New Year!

Deb