Sam­ple thank-you let­ters for you to swipe

Next to your fundrais­ing appeals, your thank-you let­ter is the most impor­tant com­mu­ni­ca­tion that a donor receives. So shouldn’t it sparkle with sincerity?

Written by
Lisa Sargent
Added
June 26, 2011

Profit from Lisa’s thank-you letter clinic

See Lisa’s original Thank-you letter clinic here. Now, specially for SOFII, the talented Lisa has prepared an annotated, instructive series of ‘before’ and ‘after’ thank-you letters from around the world. Click here to review the first seven of these, from five countries – Ireland, UK, USA, Canada and Australia. With thanks to all SOFII users who sent in their thank-you letters for Lisa’s clinic.

Here are eight examples to help inspire you as you write your next one.

Example 1, from the Ontario Science Centre, Toronto, Canada.

View original image

Example 2, from Menzies Research Institute, Tasmania, Australia.

View original image

Example 3, from the ALS Society of Canada, a medical research and welfare charity.

View original image

Example 4, from the Cancer Council of New South Wales, Australia.

View original image

Example 5, from Dunwoody College of Technology, Minneapolis, USA.

View original image

Example 6, from a UK-based conservation trust.

View original image

Example 7, from a children’s care and welfare charity in Ireland.

View original image

About the author: Lisa Sargent

Lisa Sargent

Lisa Sargent (she/her) is head of Sargent Communications. She helps non-profits raise more money and keep more donors through better donor communications. A creative strategist and copywriter, Lisa works exclusively with non-profits on direct mail, email fundraising and donor care communications – acquisition appeals, annual reports, proposals, welcome packages, newsletters, thank-you letters and more.

Lisa is a contributing author to acclaimed decision science book Change for Better and author of Thankology, on keeping your donors connected and giving through the power of gratitude (reviewed by SOFII’s Ken Burnett here). Lisa also publishes The Loyalty Letter, a free newsletter for non-profit and charitable organisations read by subscribers around the world. Lisa has contributed regularly contributed to SOFII over the years, including the wonderful thank you letter clinic, which you can read here.

Recent Articles

The Westminster Abbey Appeal

Damian Chapman celebrates the Westminster Abbey Appeal of 1953. A massive £1 million was needed to repair the damage caused by German attacks during WWII, but the Abbey’s appeal started off slowly. Keep reading to find out how the fundraisers involved reached their target.     

Read more

The Aberfan Disaster Memorial Fund – Wales, 1966

Alex Day shares what fundraisers can learn from the Aberfan disaster in 1966. Based on his superb presentation at I Wish I’d Thought of That (IWITOT) 2024, this article explores the tragic landslide in Aberfan, Wales and the bravery of those who stepped up to help.

Read more

Legacies through the lens of faith

In an increasingly multicultural world, how we engage and inspire donors from different backgrounds and faiths is important. This article explores the unique traditions and beliefs that underlie faiths and looks at how religion frames philanthropy.

Read more

As younger donors step up to donate, are charities ready for them?

Younger donors are ready to give to charities, but delivering fundraising messages in the right way could make a big difference to if they choose your cause. Blue State’s Anjali Bewtra shares what fundraisers should consider when communicating with younger donors, as well as examples of charities that are already doing it well. 

Read more

Will you listen to your heart and help the next generation of fundraisers?

Today SOFII wants to celebrate a group of fantastic fundraisers – the SOFII One Hundred. Every month, they help fundraisers around the world who want to be inspired and improve their work. Keep reading to learn how you can join them.

Read more

Also in Categories



    

Share