Thank You Calls

[rareboy]

One of the practices that I instituted when I was Chair of a non-profit was that every donor, no matter how large or small would receive a thank-you call from someone in the organization and a decade on, we still do it.

There is nothing I enjoy more at this time of the year than calling people and just saying thank you for support and not asking for anything extra or anything in return.

It is a lovely way to spend an evening.

So many people are simply taken aback.

What I loved was having a phone message from one of the current Trustees thanking us for our donation....and I appreciated how the other donors might feel.

If you volunteer for any non-profit, suggest this to them as a way to really reach out and connect with the people who write the cheques.

I have chatted to people about their areas of interest, grandchildren, holiday plans and even swapped recipes.

 

[Alistair]

I’d rather receive a hand-written postcard. I’m not big on talking on the phone or even answering it even the thought of my phone ringing gives me anxiety

 

[unloadonme]

I'm afraid I'd assume that they were soliciting another donation.

 

[Peloso]

What I hate are robotized, insincere thank-yous. I've been on the phone with Verizon a lot lately this past month and every time I finish my business with a rep, they rattle off their fake, prepared thank you. "Thank you for being the best part of Verizon!" Yeah. Thank you for being the worst part of my bleeding hemorrhoids. It's 100 times worse than no thank you at all.

I got a thank you card from Chewy.com once and in it was a small postcard-sized watercolor of a cat that looked like mine. Not a print--an original watercolor. How they knew I had a gray tabby I'll never know.

Now that's a thank you.

 

[Alistair]

I got a thank you card from Chewy.com once and in it was a small postcard-sized watercolor of a cat that looked like mine. Not a print--an original watercolor. How they knew I had a gray tabby I'll never know.

Now that's a thank you.

Wow that’s really cool

 

[eddielee]

I'm afraid I'd assume that they were soliciting another donation.

That's what worries me. Thank you for your generous gift, now we need you to be more generous and double your donation.

 

[Rickrock]

We have received two thank you's in the last few weeks. They were both recorded. I thought that they were going to ask for a donation, but they did not.

 

[rareboy]

It is why I like doing the personal calls where I don't ask anyone for anything, just chat with them about their interest in the organization and just saying thank-you.

We stopped doing phone solicitation from donors a few years ago.

 

[LeicsDom]

I was on a rather crowded train yesterday.
I sat down next to a down cheeked lad who was buried in his smart phone
Across the way was a middle aged woman, seemingly fit and healthy
This lad looked up and asked if she wanted his seat
She declined saying she was getting off at the next stop. But thank you
I was so amazed by this selfless act from a what is usually justifiably maligned youngster that I turned to him and said 'That was a very gentlemanly thing to do. Well done'
He didn't seem to know how to take a compliment

 

[rareboy]

You should have told him that he deserved a BJ in recognition of his politeness. Some kids out there are still being raised properly.

 

[Peloso]

He didn't seem to know how to take a compliment

That's because it was a real compliment, not a digital one.

You should have posted it on his Facebook.

 

[Cormac135]

you deserve a thank you for keeping the forum going the last two weeks.

 

[Alistair]

I’m going to leave rareboy my phone number and I’m going to expect a phone call.

I know a few of you may still have my address I haven’t moved since, I expect a hand written card. And from Jason I want some more Christmas cookies

 

[Nude_Dude]

I was on a rather crowded train yesterday.
I sat down next to a down cheeked lad who was buried in his smart phone
Across the way was a middle aged woman, seemingly fit and healthy
This lad looked up and asked if she wanted his seat

I had a similar experience - YEARS back
I was on my way to work, on a very crowded Melbourne (Victoria, Australia) tram
With the mother of all hangovers - I hope I LOOKED much older than my years
A young girl, in school uniform, stood up and offered me her seat
I thanked her - but declined her offer
Truth IS - at that MOMENT - I'd never FELT (and apparently LOOKED) so damned OLD

Years later - that feeling was reinforced, after a life changing freak accident
I'd severed a major tendon in my left leg
After a couple of rounds of surgery, I was STILL only walking with the help of a stick
And with all sense of fashion and style, I was dressed like an old farmer - in my new, rural, small town

I took a fall/trip (no damage) in the shopping centre car park
I was HORRIFIED to hear a young lady call out "QUICKLY, HELP ... an OLD MAN has fallen OVER"
THIS moment was the FIRST great incentive start to walk - UNASSISTED

 

[rareboy]

It is that season again.

And I have about 50 more to make.

But it has been lovely to chat again with regular supporters, to wish people the best of the season and to just thank them for their gift.

So many still seem to be baffled that I am not asking for anything. And it works. They end up giving as much or more.

 

[unloadonme]

So many still seem to be baffled that I am not asking for anything. And it works. They end up giving as much or more.

"It works"? You are after more money!

This sounds like the people who ring you up and begin by saying that they're not selling anything when that's exactly what they're trying to do.

 

[rareboy]

That's the thing though. When people are thanked and told their gift was appreciated, without making any pitch for them to send more because it is the giviing season, it creates a more positive relationship between supporters and the the non-profit they are supporting.

And of course we are not only hoping for more gifts in the future, but that they personally help spread the message of the work being done by the organization.

 

[fabulouslyghetto]

Nothing warms me up quite like the thankyou I get from the liquor store cashier. It feels sincere. No. THANK YOU.

 

[rareboy]

 

[Latimer]

Both commendable in and of itself and undoubtedly effective in encouraging the donors to continue making contributions. Consequently, as practical as it is virtuous.

My partner set up an endowment to provide university scholarships for Armenian-Americans. While the foundation that administered the funds sent him a nice letter expressing gratitude, it took prompting on his part nine-months after the first recipient had been funded for the "scholar" to write him a note thanking him for his support. The note was, unfortunately, rather perfunctory. None of this inspires my partner to increase size of the endowment.