Remember the Special Days

Photo credit: http://www.flickr.com/photos/libookperson/

How's that list creation/foundation stone placement coming for your favorite nonprofit? If you missed it, you can read that post here.

Once you have that list in place, or if you already do, a very effective initial step is to remember the special days.  

In addition to using this list for fundraising asks, make the time to remind those closest to your organization how special they are. Reach out to your volunteers, board members,  donors and service recipients via written note or card, in person or via phone call to acknowledge known dates such as:

• Birthdays
• Wedding anniversaries 
• Anniversaries of when someone became a board member or volunteer
• Anniversaries of major gifts given 
• Anniversaries of when a first donation was received 
• Anniversaries of significant days like when a major service was received (such as a fire was fought), a loved one was lost, or another significant emotional event took place 

Tailor your message as appropriate for the  special days you are celebrating - with a positive tone for birthdays and anniversaries, and a "thinking of you" tone for the more somber occasions.


Don't forget to record this outreach in whatever system, software or online tracking you develop for your list. 

Remembering this special days will build critical goodwill, ensure you are not always asking and remember those closest to your organization in a meaningful way. 

Speaking of special days, today I send out a special Happy Birthday to my husband, Josh Holland.