Mom always said that we should say “thank you” when someone does something nice for us.

Mom also always said that “please” is a magic word. In my experience, nonprofit organizations are pretty good at “please.” Like the individuals who run them (and like pretty much all people everywhere), nonprofits tend to be better at asking than at thanking.

So let’s work on saying “thank you,” shall we?

It’s not just good manners; it’s also a good way to build relationships.

Building relationships is key. In fact, I’ll go so far as to say that the success of your nonprofit depends on your relationships – not only with donors and funders, but with every human being with whom you interact.

Thank-you notes in response to every donation are the starting point. If you’re not doing that bare minimum, start now. That goes for foundation and government funders as well as individual donors.

If your thank-you note goes, “Thank you for your donation. This letter serves as your tax receipt,” revamping it to shower the donor with sincere gratitude is your first step.

I hope you’ve covered those basic steps. When else might you say “thank you”?

Luna Stage sends me a thank-you email every time I attend a performance. Of course the email also asks me to spread the word and suggests I might like to subscribe to next season’s program. But first the thanks come through, loud and clear. One line stands out:

As an audience member, you are the most vital element of any of our productions.

That line makes me feel just a little bit special. This email makes me more likely to do the things they’re asking me please to do, like share on Facebook or buy a season pass.

Thank-you notes don’t always pay off right away, but I’m convinced that they do always pay off. They strengthen your ties to people who have already demonstrated interest in your work. Getting closer to those people is the most efficient way to win support for your organization, hands down.

So, besides donors and funders, people who purchase your goods or services are another group to thank.

Who else? You might thank people when they:

• Volunteer. Annual volunteer appreciation events are, like donor thank-you notes, a must. But think how a handwritten note might affect a volunteer who has just spent hours registering event attendees or entering names into a database.
• Engage with you on social media. You can automatically send thank-you notes to everyone who follows, friends, or subscribes. Thanks to folks who comment on blog posts or videos are also a good idea.
• Give good service. Vendors like to know when they’ve done a good job – and they’ll be motivated to do it again if you express your gratitude.
• Pay attention. Time is a valuable commodity. Thank people just for spending their time with you – for reading, watching, or showing up.

I feel I’m missing many opportunities to make someone feel special by saying thank you. What can you add to this list?