An Attitude of Gratitude and Five Ways to Show It

The golden rule, “treat others as you would like to be treated” has tarnished a bit in recent years. The new and improved platinum rule might be “treat others as they would like to be treated.”

In a world where customization and individuality abound, how do we recognize our donors’ preferences for how they want to be acknowledged, appreciated, and loved?

Gratitude Languages (based on Gary Chapman’s 5 Love Languages)

Words of Affirmation – Your donor loves reading your impact reports, the stories you share, and behind-the-scenes interviews with direct service staff. 

Acts of Service – Your donor wants to be invited to get hands-on experience through volunteer work. They love feeling personally involved in the mission of your organization and giving back to a cause they care about. 

Receiving Gifts – Your donor is tickled by the branded calendar you send each year. They treasure the coffee mug you passed out at the donor stewardship breakfast, and they would really love a tote with your logo to show the world how much they care.

Quality Time – Your donor likes one-on-one meetings with you. They appreciate the relationship with your organization, but like to have time to develop personal connections with an individual staff member.

Personal Touch – Your donor appreciates a special card on their birthday, a reference to their favorite hobby or activity, and loves to have their donation acknowledged with a hand-written card or phone call. They want to be known and seen as a full person out in the world.