I wish churches understood the power of saying thank you as non-profits do. My wife’s charitable giving showed me how powerful a “thank you” is. Here is the story of how…
“Do you want to see how non-profits treat their donors?” That was my wife’s question one January as she showed me the personalized thank you she had received from a secular non-profit. My first question was, “How much money did you send them!” It turns out it was not that much, but it showed me how non-profits valued their donors and how we in the church need to value them.
A few years later, a pastor asked me to write direct appeal letters to donors. I came to the meeting with various letters, including a thank you letter for those that had given to the church. His reply to my thank you letter left me stunned. “I think sending a thank you letter is inappropriate as I have a theological problem thanking people for what they ought to do,” was his reply. When I went home and told my wife about his comment, she asked, “When is saying thank you ever inappropriate?” Exactly!
A few years ago, the Wall Street Journal published an article entitled “It Pays to Give Thanks at the Office.” The article shared data that showed the best way to motivate workers was not a paycheck, but a simple thank you. Saying thank you to your workers motivates them to work harder. What about donors?
Tom Ahern, in his book, “What Donors Want…and Why,” shares this,
“Research has shown that first-time donors who receive a personal thank-you within 48 hours are four times more likely to give again. Yes, thanking in 48 hours equals a 400 percent improvement in renewal rates.”
This means that a thank you for giving is the most effective way to see an increase in giving. When you show thanks, you welcome more giving. I agree and understand that people “ought” to give. But one way to build generosity is by showing the value of a gift by saying thanks.
As I work with pastors to increase giving, I regularly encourage them to thank donors. Doing so takes so little time, but the rewards are huge.
With Easter only a few weeks away, the Easter offering could be one of your largest. That’s great, but what if you could use that Easter offering as a springboard to seeing all your offerings increase? The power of saying thank you could do just that. Here are four reasons why you need a plan to thank your donors.
First, it shows you value their gift and that they are not simply another number. Showing true gratitude is rare. Do you say thank you enough when it comes to your donors?
Second, it sets you apart. Saying thank you is one of the biggest overlooked needs for churches. Charities outdo churches in saying thank you. Let’s change that.
Third, you must add new donors yearly since you continually lose donors. We track clients’ giving, and most average anywhere from a 15% to 20% loss in givers yearly. To stay fully funded, you must have a larger front door than your back one.
Fourth, it paves the way for the next gift! Your thank you builds a bridge to the next “ask.”
At OnlineGiving.org, we make it easy for you to say thank you. Donors receive a receipt within seconds of their gift being made through our many giving methods. We allow you to utilize our tools to modify the automatic sending of receipts. This allows you to tell stories of how God uses those gifts for Kingdom growth. You thus can generate personalized and up-to-date “thank you” responses whenever someone gives to your church.
Here are two more posts about using our system to make your thank you more powerful.
https://www.onlinegiving.org/support/dont-just-send-receipts-tell-a-story
https://www.onlinegiving.org/support/receiving-the-second-gift
You can craft a special automated receipt for your Easter offering using our customizable receipts to thank donors and show them what their gift will accomplish. People are used to automated responses; getting one with a thank you and a story is unique. That uniqueness could be the next step towards seeing donors regularly contribute to your church’s vision.
The bottom line is, be thankful and to express thanks for those that give to your church. They help fuel the missions and ministries of your church. It takes little effort to say thanks, but the return is enormous. Find regular and creative ways to express your appreciation to your donors. They will appreciate it and appreciate you!
It takes time and effort, but it will be worth it. Start using the power of saying thank you today! Contact us today at (615) 206-4000 or email us at support@onlinegiving.org, and we will give you a free demonstration of how our system can help you utilize the power of saying thank you.
The Stewardship Coach
With Easter only a few weeks away, the Easter offering could be one of your largest. That’s great, but what if you could use that Easter offering as a springboard to seeing all your offerings increase? The power of saying thank you could do just that. https://t.co/X2vZAqgZAL pic.twitter.com/htqFu6TP2i
— Online Giving (@onlinegivingorg) February 27, 2023
