How to Write a Thank You Note
November 20, 2016 at 3:35 pm Barbara Talisman, CFRE Leave a comment
No matter where you live in the world – this is the time of year to thank our donors, volunteers and staff. Great post by Clay Buck.
I’ve just finished signing 617 Thanksgiving cards.
My own name has taken on semantic satiation. BUT, I really became aware of the phrases we use to express gratitude:
“Thank You”
“We are grateful”
“Thanks!”
Those are all first-person statements. “Thank You” is a truncation of “I/We Thank You.” So even gratitude becomes about me and not you. It’s about how I feel.
When, really, especially in a donor-centered annual fund (which isn’t annual at all), our gratitude needs to be about them . . . about the donor . . .
That’s tougher than it sounds when it’s a note on a card, but here’s a few to try:
“You’re Wonderful.”
“You are the best.”
“You made it happen.”
“We are grateful for you.” (Still a first-person statement, but it’s about them).
“You are so thoughtful/generous/kind”
Don’t tell me how you feel, tell me about me. It’s…
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