Want to Build Donor Trust? Start With the Thank You.

If you’ve ever received a donation and then immediately stressed about how to acknowledge it, this one’s for you.

Yes, you need to include the required language for tax purposes. No, it doesn’t have to sound like a robot wrote it.

A thoughtful thank-you letter is more than a receipt—it’s a relationship builder. It’s the donor’s first post-gift moment where they get to feel the impact of their giving.

When you get it right, you deepen trust, reinforce mission alignment, and lay the groundwork for future giving. All in one page.

So what makes a good acknowledgment letter?

Here’s what I always recommend:

• Lead with warmth, not the legal language. (You can tuck that into the footer.)

• Share one specific moment of impact. (Real or representative.)

• Say thank you. Then say it again.

• Make it about them, not you.

• Add a strong, thoughtful P.S.—one that either celebrates the donor’s generosity or gently introduces a next step (like monthly giving, employer matching, or a tax-savvy giving method).

• Sign it like a human. (Bonus points if it’s handwritten.)

  
  

I’ve got a free template you can use

You can download a template with plug-and-play text below. It’s warm, flexible, and adaptable for almost any type of nonprofit. You'll also get a bank of donor-centered P.S. lines you can mix and match based on your campaign goals—like reminding them to check for an employer match.

Want to see it in action?

Here are three real-life (okay, fictionalized) examples that I threw together of how this exact format can be adapted:

• Nonprofit Fighting Childhood Hunger - See how a simple meal turned into a moment of relief for a little girl—and how we made the donor the hero.

• Small Local History Museum - A family stumbles upon a connection to their past during a weekend visit—and your donor made it possible.

• Environmental Protection Org - A preserved grove. Clean air. A gift that will outlast all of us. That’s the kind of impact we get to celebrate.

This letter format is one I use all the time with clients. It's quick, grounded, and sincere. And best of all—it helps your donor feel the difference they made.

Let them feel it.

Then tell them again.

You've got this.

👉 Download the Free Letter Template + P.S. Builder 👈

Want help refining your donor journey from thank-you to next ask? Book a free discovery call and let’s chat.