The Power of a Thank You

I want to give a shout-out to Habitat for Humanity Central Arizona for their exemplary donor stewardship practices, which unfortunately are not always common among other organizations.

Several weeks ago, I wrote an article on The Huddleston Group Blog stressing the critical importance of consistently practicing exceptional donor relations for every donor, regardless of their contribution size, particularly in light of the recent decline in philanthropic giving. To provide context, my wife, a CPA, handles both our personal and business tax returns each year. Fortunately, we consistently owe the maximum amount of tax to the State of Arizona. However, thanks to The Arizona Charitable Tax Credit, we have the option to redirect that tax amount to qualified charitable organizations. Each year, we thoroughly research various charities and typically contribute the maximum allowed by law. And each year, we eagerly await the responses from the organizations. This year, we were pleasantly surprised by Habitat for Humanity of Central Arizona and extremely disappointed by two other major nonprofits that shall remain unnamed, as to this day, we have received no response whatsoever.

However, Habitat for Humanity of Central Arizona got it right! Within 72 hours of our donation, my wife received a personal telephone call expressing gratitude for our contribution, followed by a beautifully crafted thank-you letter with a personal handwritten note the very next day. My wife, the CPA, was thoroughly impressed, and while she has always recommended the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit to her clients who owe the State, she now shares her own positive experience with Habitat for Humanity. Undoubtedly, this has led to increased donations and greater awareness of the incredible work Habitat for Humanity does here in Arizona. All of this resulted from a simple telephone call and a handwritten note—gestures that should be second nature to any charitable organization but are sadly often overlooked or taken for granted.?

Having CPAs, attorneys, and financial planners recommend specific organizations to their clients is a golden opportunity for most nonprofits. Yet, many fail to prioritize donor stewardship and consequently miss out on numerous potential opportunities. Many of us perceive the Arizona Charitable Tax Credit as a charitable contribution, even though it involves redirecting owed taxes. However, I am astonished by the number of organizations, like the two that failed to respond, that seem to take this program for granted. As someone who has been in the nonprofit sector for nearly 40 years, I strongly advocate that every nonprofit regard any donation, regardless of its size or source, as a valuable opportunity to initiate a meaningful relationship that could evolve into a long-standing partnership, rather than a one-time transaction.?

Our hats are off to Habitat for Humanity of Central Arizona, and we urge all nonprofits, whether they qualify for the tax credit or not, to emulate their exemplary practices in donor stewardship. You can read my earlier post at https://www.dhirubhai.net/pulse/revitalizing-nonprofit-fundraising-2024-ron-j-huddleston-anf7c/?trackingId=oRK5EN6iOAOO%2FS4HyLuBBA%3D%3D.

Thank you.