[{"data":1,"prerenderedAt":-1},["ShallowReactive",2],{"doc-seo-278669-105":3,"doc-detail-278669-en":81,"detail-sidebar-cat-1-en-105":97},{"code":4,"msg":5,"data":6},0,"ok",{"site_id":7,"language":8,"slug":9,"title":10,"keywords":11,"description":12,"schema_data":13,"social_meta":74,"head_meta":76,"extra_data":78,"updated_unix":80},105,"en","better-donation-thank-you-letter-checklist-updated-tips-and-compliance-points","Better Donation Thank You Letter Checklist - Updated Tips and Compliance Points","","A practical checklist for writing stronger donation thank-you letters, focused on personalization, clarity, timeliness, and donor retention. Covers whether to include the gift amount, how to craft an engaging opening, what to communicate about next contact, and how to handle repeat gifts and membership scenarios. Includes guidance on P.S. content, contact information, referencing enclosures or specific giving events, website calls to action, required tax language, proofreading, and sign-off practices, while listing what not to include.",{"@graph":14,"@context":73},[15,34,56],{"@type":16,"itemListElement":17},"BreadcrumbList",[18,23,27,31],{"item":19,"name":20,"@type":21,"position":22},"https://docshare.wps.com","Home","ListItem",1,{"item":24,"name":25,"@type":21,"position":26},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/","Template",2,{"item":28,"name":29,"@type":21,"position":30},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/letters/","Letters",3,{"item":32,"name":10,"@type":21,"position":33},"https://docshare.wps.com/template/better-donation-thank-you-letter-checklist-updated-tips-and-compliance-points/278669/",4,{"url":32,"name":10,"@type":35,"image":36,"author":41,"headline":10,"publisher":44,"fileFormat":47,"inLanguage":8,"description":12,"dateModified":48,"datePublished":49,"encodingFormat":47,"isAccessibleForFree":50,"interactionStatistic":51},"DigitalDocument",{"url":37,"@type":38,"width":39,"height":40},"https://docshare.wps.com/thumbnails/better-donation-thank-you-letter-checklist-updated-tips-and-compliance-points/278669.png","ImageObject",442,249,{"name":42,"@type":43},"Paura","Person",{"url":19,"name":45,"@type":46},"DocShare","Organization","application/pdf","2026-10-29","2026-09-15",true,{"@type":52,"interactionType":53,"userInteractionCount":55},"InteractionCounter",{"@type":54},"ViewAction",11,{"@type":57,"mainEntity":58},"FAQPage",[59,65,69],{"name":60,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":62},"Should a donation thank-you letter include the gift amount?","Question",{"text":63,"@type":64},"The checklist recommends noting the gift amount, citing improved donor retention and cost savings. It also notes that some critics prefer separating the thank-you from later receipts, and treats that approach as sometimes acceptable depending on costs.","Answer",{"name":66,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":67},"How should the letter handle repeat gifts or ongoing support?",{"text":68,"@type":64},"For repeat gifts, thank the donor for past generosity and indicate what it made possible, and also thank them for continued contributions and support. This reinforces impact and continuity.",{"name":70,"@type":61,"acceptedAnswer":71},"What should a donation thank-you letter NOT include?",{"text":72,"@type":64},"Do not add an additional “ask,” do not offer upgrades to monthly giving or other programs, and avoid unnecessary elements that introduce extra solicitation or changes in giving programs.","https://schema.org",{"og:url":32,"og:type":75,"og:title":10,"og:site_name":45,"og:description":12},"article",{"robots":77,"canonical":32},"index,follow",{"doc_id":79,"site_id":7},278669,1790057179,{"code":4,"msg":82,"data":83},"success",{"doc_id":79,"user_id":84,"nickname":42,"user_avatar":85,"doc_module":22,"category_id":86,"category_name":29,"doc_title":10,"doc_description":12,"doc_content":87,"file_id":88,"file_url":89,"file_type":90,"file_size":91,"view_count":55,"is_deleted":4,"is_public":22,"is_downloadable":22,"audit_status":22,"page_count":26,"language":92,"language_code":8,"site_id":7,"html_lang":8,"table_of_contents":93,"faqs":94,"seo_title":95,"seo_description":12,"update_tm":96,"read_time":22},13056712833777,"https://ap-avatar.wpscdn.com/davatar_29158cc5080c5b710cf443261637dec0",18,"The Better Donation Thank You Letter Checklist:  \nFrom Lisa Sargent  \nOriginal version on SOFII > [http://sofi](http://sofi)[i.org/article/how-to-write-a-better-thank-you-letter](i.org/article/how-to-write-a-better-thank-you-letter)and-why-it-matters; see points \\#2 and \\#17 for updates.  \n1. Is it personalized? (As in “Dear Lisa” vs.“Dear Friend”)  \n2. Is the gift amount noted? *Update 2015: I’ve been criticized for this by some who say that you need to send a thank-you without the amount, and separately, later, a receipt. When expenses like printing, human capital, and postage aren’t so much of an issue, this may be fine. But over a decade+ of including the amount in the thank-you, we’ve found that noting the amount is well received, delivers good retention – and saves money.  \n3. Do you start with something other than“Thank you for your gift of...”? Use an exciting lead.  \n4. Do you tell the donor when and how they will next hear from you?  \n5. If this is a repeat gift, do you also thank donor for their:  \na. Past generosity (and indicate all its made possible), and  \nb. Continued contributions/support  \n6. If this is a gift membership (meaning made by someone else on giftee’s behalf):  \na. Do not thank the giftee, but talk about what “this kind gift makes possible”  \nb. Send a thank you letter to the giftor so they know their gift is on its way as intended  \n7. Say something new or timely in the P.S.– videos online, a holiday message, an upcoming opportunity to visit or meet with you, etc.  \n8. Include a contact number they can use if they have questions (you can add an e‑mail, but not the generic “info@yourorg.org.”Direct them to a warm body, please. )  \n9. Do you need to thank them for something specific? For example:  \na. Membership renewal  \nb. Holiday appeal  \nc. Memorial gift  \nd. Capital campaign (focus on all the good this new  \nbuilding/machine/wing will do)  \n10. Do you need to reference something specific? For example:  \na. A gift you’ll be sending  \nb. A certificate or photo you’ve enclosed  \n11. Do you have a website? Mention it in the letter, with a simple call-foraction to drive them there. (“Keep up with all the ways you’re helping XYZ [at www.XYZ.org](at www.XYZ.org).”)  \n12. And remember to:  \na. Keep the letter short (3-4 paras plus a P.S. )  \nb. Add required tax-deductible language  \nc. Share with them“all your gift makes possible...”  \n13. Use more“you” than“we”and“our.”  \n14. Say thank you more than once.  \n15. Proof your letter:  \na. Use spell check  \nb. Print the letter and read it out loud, word for word  \n16. If you can, hand-sign them all. If you have too many donors, determine an amount at which you or a board member will hand-sign. And an amount for a phone call.  \n17. Make sure your donation thank you does NOT include:  \na. An additional “ask”  \nb. An upgrade to monthly giving or other program  \nc. ~~A gift reply envelope (even if there is no ask)~~  \n* Update 2015: although our thank you letters don’t include an ask, many of my clients include a reply envelope. It hasn’t seemed to affect retention either way. That said, we haven’t done a head-tohead test so I can’t say for certain – however I can tell you that oneof my clients regularly pulls a 65% average donor retention rate, avery good sign that you can safely include a reply envelope.  \n© Lisa Sargent, 2009 and forward. For reprint permission contact Lisa [at](at www.lisasargent.com)[ ](at www.lisasargent.com)[www.lisasargent.com](at www.lisasargent.com).  \nAbout Lisa Sargent:  \no Subscribe to Sargent’s FREE e-news, [www.lisasargent.com](www.lisasargent.com).  \no Connect w/ Lisa on LinkedIn: [https://www.linkedin.com/in/l](https://www.linkedin.com/in/l)isasargent.  \no Follow Lisa’s intermittent tweets on Twitter: @lisasargent2  \nLisa Sargent has been called “one of the finest fundraising copywriters on the planet.”An award-winning international donor communications specialist who is dedicated to helping her nonprofit clients raise more mo","cbCaikfP3vbiTrIP","https://ap.wps.com/l/cbCaikfP3vbiTrIP","pdf",111250,"English","# Better Donation Thank You Letter Checklist\n## Core Writing Requirements\n## Special Cases and Follow-Up Details\n## Content Add-Ins and Compliance\n## Proofing and What to Avoid","[{\"question\":\"Should a donation thank-you letter include the gift amount?\",\"answer\":\"The checklist recommends noting the gift amount, citing improved donor retention and cost savings. It also notes that some critics prefer separating the thank-you from later receipts, and treats that approach as sometimes acceptable depending on costs.\"},{\"question\":\"How should the letter handle repeat gifts or ongoing support?\",\"answer\":\"For repeat gifts, thank the donor for past generosity and indicate what it made possible, and also thank them for continued contributions and support. 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