5 Ways to Show Donors the Impact of Their Gifts

After a fundraising campaign there are steps to take that can help you better communicate with donors to show your support and get them to donate again.

Communicating how donations have helps and what their money will be supporting, both when asking for donations and after receiving gifts, will help your donors feel appreciated.

After your initial thank you, you can follow up with a donor and show them the impact their gifts have recently had towards your nonprofit organization’s cause. Showing donors where their money went and the impact it made also provides an additional opportunity to inspire them to give again. Here are five ways to show your donors how the fundraising campaign and their donations have helped changed the world for the better.

New to Constant Contact? Sign up for a free trial today.

1. Tell them with a quick note

Sometimes even a simple email is the best way to follow up with donors after a fundraising campaign. You can include specific details of the campaign, like total funds raised, to keep them feeling involved in your cause.

2. Share pictures of recent success

Everybody loves pictures, and they can showcase the great things your organization is accomplishing, while telling a story at the same time. After your fundraising campaign is over, take pictures of the major accomplishments and email them to donors. They may even share the email with friends or on social media and spread the word about your cause.

If your nonprofit hosts at-risk youth in an after school program, and decide to teach the kids about gardening, your donors could provide tools, gloves, or even buy bulbs.

Then, next Spring, you can email supports photos of the daffodils and tulips in full bloom. Since it will have been months since the initial gift, donors will be reminded how good it felt to give, and may head to your website to donate again.

3. Share a thank you video

Including video in your email is one of the best ways to get a message to your supporters and you don’t need to be a professional to create one. All it takes is a smartphone.

Here are some examples of what you can record to show donors the impact of their contributions:

Give a tour of your facility to show the recent improvements
Interview someone directly helped by your organization and their gifts
Share video highlights of your latest fundraising event success

4. Send something donors can hold in their hands

Being able to hold something in your hand leaves a more lasting impression than a digital gift. Giving donors something that reminds them of the difference their gift has made will make them think about your cause and want to help again each time they see it.

Here are some examples of tangible items you can send to your best donors:

Printed photos of the results of their donations
Photo magnets with a special thank you
Handwritten thank you cards to make it personal
Annual pamphlet, calendar, or report showing a year’s worth of good courtesy of their donations

5. Show them in person

Another way to let donors see their impact is to show them in person. Hosting an event allows donors a chance to see first hand how their donations have helped the cause.

Here are some examples of campaign events to get donors in the door:

Throw a party to show off the updates of your facility
Offer tours of the blooming garden from your fundraising event
Host a showing of video highlights from a recent event
Host an event to provide a platform for people directly impacted by donations to share their stories and thank the donors in person

Gratitude can inspire action and more donations

Remember, after thanking donors for their initial gifts, the work is not over. You need to take those funds and execute on what was promised. Following up with donors on the specific impact of their gifts will not only make them feel good, it will build trust for your organization and encourage future donations.