--- title: How to Celebrate your Donors description: By celebrating the gifts bestowed upon our organizations from our varied donor constituencies, we develop stronger, sometimes lifelong, relationships. --- [![TWB Fundraising](https://blog.twbfundraising.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/TWB%20Fundraising%202023%20Theme/images/TWB-Logo_RGB-web.svg)![TWB Fundraising](https://blog.twbfundraising.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/TWB%20Fundraising%202023%20Theme/images/TWB-Logo_RGB-web_invert.svg)](https://www.twbfundraising.com/) - [Advancing your mission for a greater impact.](https://www.twbfundraising.com/) - [Why work with us](https://www.twbfundraising.com/why-work-with-us/) - [Who We Are](https://www.twbfundraising.com/why-work-with-us/who-we-are/) - [Our Team](https://www.twbfundraising.com/why-work-with-us/our-team/) - [Our Partners](https://www.twbfundraising.com/why-work-with-us/partnerships/) - [How we increase impact](https://www.twbfundraising.com/how-we-increase-impact/) - [Fundraising Counsel](https://www.twbfundraising.com/how-we-increase-impact/fundraising-counsel/) - [Organizational Development & Leadership](https://www.twbfundraising.com/how-we-increase-impact/organizational-development-leadership/) - [Data Management, Analytics & Research](https://www.twbfundraising.com/how-we-increase-impact/data-management-analytics-research/) - [Executive Recruitment & Transition Counsel](https://www.twbfundraising.com/how-we-increase-impact/executive-recruitment-transition-counsel/) - [Who we help](https://www.twbfundraising.com/who-we-help/) - [Arts and Cultural Institutions](https://www.twbfundraising.com/industry/arts/) - [Higher Education](https://www.twbfundraising.com/industry/higher-ed/) - [Faith-Based Organizations](https://www.twbfundraising.com/industry/faith/) - [Human Services](https://www.twbfundraising.com/industry/human-services/) - [Animal Welfare](https://www.twbfundraising.com/industry/animal-welfare/) - [Healthcare and Health-Related Organizations](https://www.twbfundraising.com/industry/healthcare/) - [Organizations and Associations](https://www.twbfundraising.com/industry/organizations-and-associations/) - [Executive Search Positions](https://blog.twbfundraising.com/topic/executive-search) - [Blog](https://blog.twbfundraising.com/) - [Blog Posts](https://blog.twbfundraising.com/topic/blog-post) - [News and Events](https://blog.twbfundraising.com/topic/news-events) - [Fundraising](https://blog.twbfundraising.com/topic/fundraising-2) - [Resources](https://www.twbfundraising.com/resources/) - [Executive Search Positions](https://blog.twbfundraising.com/topic/executive-search) - [Blog](https://blog.twbfundraising.com/) - [Resources](https://www.twbfundraising.com/resources/) [![TWB Fundraising](https://blog.twbfundraising.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/TWB%20Fundraising%202023%20Theme/images/TWB-Logo_RGB-web.svg)![TWB Fundraising](https://blog.twbfundraising.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/TWB%20Fundraising%202023%20Theme/images/TWB-Logo_RGB-web_invert.svg)](https://www.twbfundraising.com/) - [Advancing your mission for a greater impact.](https://www.twbfundraising.com/) - [Why work with us](https://www.twbfundraising.com/why-work-with-us/) - [Who We Are](https://www.twbfundraising.com/why-work-with-us/who-we-are/) - [Our Team](https://www.twbfundraising.com/why-work-with-us/our-team/) - [Our Partners](https://www.twbfundraising.com/why-work-with-us/partnerships/) - [How we increase impact](https://www.twbfundraising.com/how-we-increase-impact/) - [Fundraising Counsel](https://www.twbfundraising.com/how-we-increase-impact/fundraising-counsel/) - [Organizational Development & Leadership](https://www.twbfundraising.com/how-we-increase-impact/organizational-development-leadership/) - [Data Management, Analytics & Research](https://www.twbfundraising.com/how-we-increase-impact/data-management-analytics-research/) - [Executive Recruitment & Transition Counsel](https://www.twbfundraising.com/how-we-increase-impact/executive-recruitment-transition-counsel/) - [Who we help](https://www.twbfundraising.com/who-we-help/) - [Arts and Cultural Institutions](https://www.twbfundraising.com/industry/arts/) - [Higher Education](https://www.twbfundraising.com/industry/higher-ed/) - [Faith-Based Organizations](https://www.twbfundraising.com/industry/faith/) - [Human Services](https://www.twbfundraising.com/industry/human-services/) - [Animal Welfare](https://www.twbfundraising.com/industry/animal-welfare/) - [Healthcare and Health-Related Organizations](https://www.twbfundraising.com/industry/healthcare/) - [Organizations and Associations](https://www.twbfundraising.com/industry/organizations-and-associations/) [Contact Us](https://www.twbfundraising.com/contact-us/) November 6, 2014 # How to Celebrate your Donors Written by [Dean Rein](https://blog.twbfundraising.com/author/dean-rein) Do you and your organizations *CELEBRATE* your donors? I’m not referring to acknowledgment, recognition or stewardship, but actually celebrating their role in advancing the mission of your organization. Oftentimes nonprofit organizations get mired in the processes and procedures related to gift acknowledgement and recognition systems. Those are important elements of a successful development operation and should not be taken lightly. But by celebrating the gifts bestowed upon our organizations from our varied donor constituencies, we develop stronger, sometimes lifelong, relationships. Celebrating donors includes the personal touches that we extend in gratitude for a donor’s charitable investment in our goals and aspirations. These touches can be simple and inexpensive, while conveying our deepest appreciation. When was the last time you received a personal, hand-written letter?  With today’s electronic communications, form letters and computer-generated gift receipts are common, but the hand-written note is a rarity. This simple gesture conveys the genuine appreciation we have for our donors. Like the note, a personal phone call is a special touch to build our relationships with donors, saying “thank you” and letting donors know how much they mean to your organization. These are two of the many ways we can truly celebrate our donors and their support. In 1986, President Reagan proclaimed November 15 “National Philanthropy Day” - a day to recognize philanthropy and its impact on our nonprofit institutions and communities.  Many organizations and associations have set aside this day of celebration. The [Association of Fundraising Professionals (AFP) promotes National Philanthropy Day](http://www.afpnet.org/content.cfm?ItemNumber=4032) by hosting events among its chapters across the country and recognizes donors, volunteers and development professionals through local and national awards programs. This is a day to celebrate all of our partners who are inspired to help us achieve our goals. Take a moment and reach out to your partners. Write a note, place a call. *Celebrate* their engagement in philanthropy! [![twb-gift-charts-1](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/494592/interactive-143859608835.png)](https://blog.twbfundraising.com/hs/cta/wi/redirect?encryptedPayload=AVxigLKer7wtnRO5ynEeUOZkug124awhORAh6f7SW8wYiGi%2BDv8bQfG1l7PpCLAKeJJ7fWu4xj%2BkrTXQSI3ga97HnR6IsVvB8DwNkSjHxLE5BER6EUKjAFICrlE9i4Clqiw71dXC6Zk2BfJe9I%2Bh%2BPwXs3TLxsG%2FFFVTYasZ73jlBLGdm9MfMKoyUSSKF5oPqfa%2B%2F3lEAqYG3AEOelM%2FuH%2BUUnnLLpBZ3dKZiIj4tZsv1x5ZI9txaezS61k%2FDhn5h8qW8esG2IQLGcL3wL0%3D&webInteractiveContentId=143859608835&portalId=494592) - [#AFP](https://blog.twbfundraising.com/topic/afp) - [#Blog Post](https://blog.twbfundraising.com/topic/blog-post) - [#National Philanthropy Day](https://blog.twbfundraising.com/topic/national-philanthropy-day) [![Dean Rein](https://blog.twbfundraising.com/hubfs/Blog%20Authors/drein-29.jpg)](https://blog.twbfundraising.com/author/dean-rein) Written by ### [Dean Rein](https://blog.twbfundraising.com/author/dean-rein) Dean Rein is Senior Counsel at Ter Molen Watkins & Brandt. ## Comments Questions or comments? Join the conversation! [![TWB Fundraising Logo](https://blog.twbfundraising.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/TWB%20Fundraising%202023%20Theme/images/TWB-Logo_RGB-web_invert.svg)](https://blog.twbfundraising.com/) How to reach us 2 North Riverside Plaza Suite 1875 Chicago IL 60606 - [+1 312.222.0560](tel:3122220560) - [+1 312.222.0565](tel:3122220565) - [info@twbfundraising.com](mailto:info@twbfundraising.com) Follow us on Sign up for our newsletter Get the latest in nonprofit news and advice delivered straight to your inbox. [![The Giving Institute Logo](https://blog.twbfundraising.com/hubfs/raw_assets/public/TWB%20Fundraising%202023%20Theme/images/TheGivingInstitute_logo.svg)](http://www.givinginstitute.org/members/?id=29718537&&trackr=GivingInst) Copyright © 2026 TWB Fundraising. 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