Make major donors feel extra special

All donors deserve thanks. They make it possible for nonprofits to do their good work. Thank every donor. Thank them often - in many ways: hand-written notes, phone calls, emails telling what they made possible, and thank you events.

Major donors (what ever "major" means for your organization) need to feel extra special- because they are. Our organizations need them. So think of unique ways to let them know you appreciate their support. Here is one idea to get you started.

Invite a small number of top donors to enjoy a special experience. For instance, host a farm tour and gourmet dinner at a site like Elodie Farms. Elodie Farms in Rougemont, NC features an historic home and a working goat farm in a lovely pastoral setting. The owners, Sandra Vergara and Ted Domville, open the farm to guests once a month. Sandra is a a Post Doc in genetics at near-by Duke University, when she isn't feeding, milking, and birthing goats. Ted is a chef. He used to cook at the well-regarded restaurant, Six Plates, in Durham. Now he prepares gourmet meals for guests at Elodie Farms with ingredients as local as they get - from his own and near-by farms. Think how special a handful of donors would feel to have a tour of the farm, feed goats with their own hands, pet baby goats, and then wash up and sit down to a gourmet meal in the historic home.

Your Executive Director, a Board Member or two, and your Director of Development can focus their attention on making the donors know they are appreciated through a shared experience and a fine meal. There is time to learn about them: what are their interests; what drew them to your organization. This is information you can store and recall to make them feel known and appreciated again later.

The Elodie Farms setting is particularly good, if your mission involves environmental issues, good nutrition, hands-on education, supporting local economies, animal treatment, supporting farmers - -

. The list goes on.

You can end up relaxing in the rockers on the wrap around porch, enjoying a cup of coffee or tea, looking out over the pastures as the fairy lights come on and the stars come out. Who wouldn't feel special.

Match your events to your donors and your mission. Donors are special. Be sure they know you appreciate them. Share your good work, and remember who made your work possible.