Hands-On Fundraising

Donor Communications

  • About
  • Hands-On Fundraising Blog
  • Services
  • Contact

You talking to me? Or why you must focus on donor retention

My mailbox leaves me wondering. We’ve all been reading a lot about donor retention. Maybe so much talk it’s in danger of becoming just another buzzword. But I think it’s critically important. And I’ve seen how powerful a really engaged donor base can be. Organizations benefit from more support, sure. But there’s also something about […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications, Thanks Tagged With: annual appeals, donor retention, thank you letters 10 Comments

You can put more heart into your fundraising today

Fundraising is about using your heart as well as your head. And maybe fundraising isn’t really about money at all. In the long run, successful fundraising focuses on relationships. And good fundraisers use their hearts as much as their heads. Does that mean every one of your donors needs to be someone you know personally? […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications, Thanks Tagged With: donor relationships, Fundraising, thank you letters Leave a Comment

You can spread a little gratitude and feel happier

If you’re a fundraiser, part of your calling is spreading gratitude. Does this sound like a familiar exchange? Thank you!” “No, thank YOU!” Saying thank you is an expected part of our social discourse. It smooths the way for simple – and more complex – conversations. Someone holds the door for you, and you say […]

Filed Under: Blog, Donor communications, Thanks Tagged With: donor communications, gratitude, Thanks Leave a Comment

Why is it so damned hard to say thank you?

Why is it so hard to say thank you? We spend a lot of time thinking about how to raise more money. We labor over the appeal: the language, the images, the right ask. And then, too often, we treat the thank you as an afterthought. It’s not that hard to write a good, emotional […]

Filed Under: Blog, Thanks Tagged With: donor love, emotional fundraising, thank you letter 8 Comments

How to write a thank you letter when you’re feeling stuck

You’ve been working hard on that last campaign. And now, you have new gifts! After the celebration, you begin to wonder. How can you write a thank you that works? Where do you start? Here’s my quick thank you letter how-to First, a confession: I used to write rote, boring, perfunctory thank you letters. And […]

Filed Under: Blog, Thanks Tagged With: donor love, donor relations, thank you 16 Comments

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 8
  • Next Page »

Fundraising advice served fresh to your inbox

Get yours here:

Search

Recent Posts

  • 10 Metrics to Track Your Fundraising Campaign Success
  • You just haven’t earned it yet, baby: 5 ways to start
  • You talking to me? Or why you must focus on donor retention
  • Zoom in for more effective stories
  • How to raise more money? Less sell and more tell

Work with me!

Let's talk about how I can help your organization raise more money.

Contact

  • Donor communications
  • Fundraising Strategy

Copyright © 2025 · Mary Cahalane · Hands-On Fundraising · 847 S. Main Street · #183 · Plantsville, CT 06479