The Fundraising Masterminds Podcast

Episode 71: Thanksgiving: Appreciating Your Donors
Release Date: November 27, 2024
Hosts: Jim Dempsey and Jason Galicinski

Introduction and Thanksgiving Greetings

In this special Thanksgiving edition of The Fundraising Masterminds Podcast, hosts Jim Dempsey and Jason Galicinski open with warm greetings, acknowledging the swift passage of time and the significance of the holiday. They emphasize the podcast's dedication to providing nonprofit leaders with actionable strategies to overcome fundraising challenges and ensure their organizations are fully funded.

Jim Dempsey:

"Happy Thanksgiving. Can you believe that it's already Thanksgiving, Jim?"
[00:43]

The Importance of Appreciating Donors

The core theme of the episode revolves around the critical importance of recognizing and appreciating donors. Jim and Jason stress that donors are the backbone of nonprofit organizations, making significant sacrifices to support causes that matter.

Jason Galicinski:

"It really is very humbling when you think about all the individuals, the sacrifices that people make..."
[02:28]

Personal Stories and Testimonies

The hosts share heartfelt stories illustrating the profound impact of donor appreciation:

• Jim's Mission Trip to Zambia: Jim recounts his experience organizing a mission trip to Zambia. Initially feeling overwhelmed and uncertain about securing participants solely through his efforts, he prayed for divine intervention. Miraculously, over 250 donors rallied to support the trip, many of whom were new supporters inspired by others' endorsements.

  Jim Dempsey:

  "I told the Lord, 'You need to bring them to me because I don't know who they should be...'"
  [03:09]

  This influx of support not only facilitated the mission trip but also enabled significant advancements in their ministry infrastructure, including building a new school and purchasing essential supplies.

• Jason's New Role as Chief Development Officer: Jason reflects on his transition into a new leadership position, initially feeling overwhelmed but gradually finding his footing. This personal journey underscores the importance of persistence and faith in nonprofit leadership roles.

  Jason Galicinski:

  "By January I felt like I was finally starting to get into the saddle. And here I am heading into my year two..."
  [05:29]

• Generous Donations Leading to Monumental Growth: Jason shares an inspiring example of a couple who, after years of small donations, decided to sell their business and contribute a monumental $17 million. This generosity significantly bolstered multiple ministries, showcasing how sustained support can lead to transformative outcomes.

  Jason Galicinski:

  "Seeing this diamond in the rough... those that loved on those people really saw a tremendous return on that investment."
  [07:07]

Effective Thank-You Gifts Strategies

The discussion transitions to practical strategies for expressing gratitude to donors through thoughtful gifts.

1. Who to Thank

Jim and Jason explore the balance between blanket thank-yous and targeted acknowledgments. While it's essential to express general gratitude, they emphasize the need to recognize major contributors specifically.

Jason Galicinski:

"A recent survey learned said that 70% of nonprofit organizations never thank people for their gifts."
[12:13]

Jim adds that the approach varies based on the size of the donor base. Smaller organizations can manage personalized thank-yous more easily, whereas larger nonprofits may need to segment their donors to provide meaningful recognition.

2. Choosing the Right Gift

Selecting appropriate gifts is crucial. Gifts should be meaningful, memorable, and reflect the donor's impact without making them feel that their contribution was misused.

Jason Galicinski:

"We don't want our partners to feel like they took a portion of my gift that was meant for starving kids in Zambia..."
[16:08]

The hosts caution against generic or trivial gifts, like paper mache ornaments, which can feel insincere. Instead, they advocate for personalized items that donors will cherish and use.

3. Examples of Successful Thank-You Gifts

Jim and Jason share various successful thank-you gift ideas:

• Refrigerator Magnets: Initially used in counseling ministries, magnets with meaningful quotes and logos have proven effective. They serve as constant reminders of the donor's impact.

  Jim Dempsey:

  "People love getting that and people are into their 36 years of getting ornaments from us..."
  [24:15]

• Custom Ornaments: Annual presidential ornaments created through the White House Historical Society were highly appreciated by donors, leading to long-term engagement and appreciation.

• Unique Local Gifts: Items specific to regions, such as specialty jams, jellies, or coffee from Zambia, add a personal touch and reflect the organization's global reach.

• Personalized Handwritten Notes: For higher-tier donors, handwritten notes from leadership personalize the appreciation, making donors feel uniquely valued.

Jim Dempsey:

"We have a globe. It's a wonderful globe. It's a hand holding a globe... it's very well received."
[28:00]

Best Practices and Recommendations

To maximize the effectiveness of donor appreciation:

• Segment Donors: Identify the "critical few" who contribute significantly and tailor thank-you gifts to their level of support.

• Value Over Cost: Gifts should be valuable from a sentimental perspective rather than being inherently expensive. The thoughtfulness behind the gift is paramount.

• Collectibles and Series Items: Items that donors can collect over time, such as annual ornaments or calendars, encourage ongoing engagement and serve as lasting reminders of their support.

• Impact-Focused Gifts: Ensure that gifts highlight the donor's impact, such as personalized stories or visuals of their contributions making a difference.

Jason Galicinski:

"We want to make sure we recognize, we want to make sure that we do have that blanket thank you... but when we begin thanking..."
[12:51]

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

As the episode wraps up, Jim and Jason emphasize the importance of maintaining an attitude of gratitude year-round, not just during Thanksgiving. They reflect on the countless ways donors contribute to advancing their missions and encourage listeners to adopt heartfelt appreciation practices.

Additionally, the hosts take the opportunity to thank their podcast listeners and announce a special Black Friday promotion offering 25% off their Major Donor Mastery course. This course is designed to equip nonprofit leaders with advanced strategies for securing and managing major donors.

Jim Dempsey:

"If one more Christian school can get started... that's just moving in that city for decades."
[35:17]

Jason Galicinski:

"It's been an amazing two years so far. It's incredible... raising over $8 million in the last two years by the Perfect Vision mentorship program."
[36:54]

The episode concludes with heartfelt thanks and well wishes for the Thanksgiving holiday, reinforcing the podcast's mission to support nonprofit leaders in building sustainable and impactful organizations.

Notable Quotes:

• Jim Dempsey:

  "I'm sure people loved that they didn't realize it was a diamond in the rough."
  [07:07]

• Jason Galicinski:

  "A recent survey learned said that 70% of nonprofit organizations never thank people for their gifts."
  [12:13]

• Jim Dempsey:

  "We want our partners to see our gifts as valuable and memorable. They should be an inexpensive gift, but something they want to keep for the long run."
  [21:55]

This episode serves as a comprehensive guide for nonprofit leaders to enhance their donor appreciation efforts, ensuring that their supporters feel valued and recognized for their crucial contributions.