A Fundraiser's Guide to Effective Gift Acknowledgment

During the last few years, the case for knowing and improving every fundraising organization’s donor-retention percentages has nearly reached a fever pitch. One of the first methods to improving donor retention may sound obvious, but it is so often taken for granted: proper gift acknowledgment. In many ways, the thank-you letter is a “springboard” to improving donor retention. Is there any better opportunity to solidify a relationship than in the process of thanking a donor for his or her gift?