Always Share Your Gratitude
“To make a difference in someone’s life, you don’t have to be brilliant, rich, beautiful, or perfect. You just have to care.”
We’re coming up on Thanksgiving and–as it always happens this time of year–gratitude is a hot topic.
“What are you grateful for?”
“Do you keep a gratitude list?”
“Have you made your gratitude journal for next year?”
It can be overwhelming! And the last thing you need at this time of year is something else to add to your to-do list.
That said, this time of year is perfect for thinking about how you are going to share your gratitude throughout the next year. Gratitude shouldn’t be something you only share with your staff, volunteers, friends, family, donors, etc. during the fourth week of November. Making people feel appreciated should be an ongoing part of your communications–it’s key to creating a solid bond between you.
Here are two quick and easy ways to show your gratitude during this busy time:
Do a quick email blast to your contact list with a simple “thank you” message. No ask, no news, no updates, just “thank you”.
Send one handwritten thank-you note a week to someone (or some business, collaborator, etc.) that you are grateful for. By the end of the year, you will have sent more than 50 notes!
And as you move into a new year, why not incorporate one or more of these ideas into your plan?
Send a gratitude message to your contact list in February (Valentines?) or March (Happy Spring?)
Engage your staff in gratitude: assign thank-you calls/emails to first-time donors. “Hi, I work at Cool Nonprofit, and I just wanted to reach out to thank you for supporting us.”
Engage your board or other volunteers: assign thank-you calls/emails/handwritten notes, or have a “thank-you note party”
Feature a “thank-you story” as a regular part of your newsletter
Everyone wants to feel appreciated. And it’s easy to share your gratitude throughout the year, instead of overloading people at Thanksgiving. Pop into the comments below and let us know if you’re going to try one of the ideas above, and feel free to add your own!
I’m so grateful for the opportunity to share my thoughts with you.
