Make a plan
Create a post-donation strategy/process & timeline everyone on your team is aware of/has agreed to (ex: admin, finance, development, executive team, etc) for thanking donors & letting them know how their gift has made a difference.
Example:
- If a donor makes a one-time donation, that donor will receive:
> An immediate email receipt (Harness takes care of for you)
> An immediate text message "thank you" (Harness sends for you)
> Added to your monthly/quarterly email list

- If a donor makes a monthly donation, that donor will receive:
> An immediate email receipt (Harness takes care of for you)
> An immediate text message "thank you" (Harness sends for you)
> A monthly text message "thank you" & update (Harness sends for you)
> Added to your monthly/quarterly email list
> A mo/quart text message featuring "behind the scenes"/exclusive content

Stick to the plan
It's easy for stewardship plans to fall down your list of priorities - the donor has given (mission accomplished) and your plate is full with the next thing (fundraiser, event, task, meeting, etc.).

You cannot afford NOT to do this! ⌚

Don't take just our word for it - tons of research shows donors stop giving because:

> They were never thanked for their donation.
> They received no information on how their money was used.
> They weren't asked to give again.
> They didn't think the charity needed their money anymore.

Instant, automatic gratification
Every donor expects an email receipt acknowledging their gift, but what a delightful surprise to also receive an instant, personalized text message with a lighthearted GIF or heartfelt message of thanks or infographic showing how a donor's gift has/will make a difference? 💥

Perks for you? Saves you admin time sending out a manual message! 🤲

Modern, two-way communication
Let's be real - most of us have email inboxes teeming with shopping promotions, software update announcements, spam & scams we're never going to take a look at.

Unfortunately, donors are also less likely to weed through all of that to find your monthly e-blast featuring the great stuff your organization is doing. If that's all you're hoping they're seeing, you might have better luck sending them a message via airmail! 🦉

So let's cut the clutter. Let's reach donors where they're at....on their phones 📲.

Emails are INFORMATIONAL. Texts are CONVERSATIONAL.

Text messages are not only quicker to send & receive (no wifi needed!) - they give you the ability to talk to your donor on a more human, personal level. No sterile "thank-you-donor-for-your-gift" robot messages here 🚫🤖

Donors are more likely to see and respond to a text message than they are an email! FUN FACT: Email open rates = avg 20% // Text open rates = 98% 😮