--- title: Post-Event Thank You Communication Plan description: Having a thank you strategy in advance of your event is critical to making sure every single donor gets thanked. Here is our sample plan! image: https://blog.swellfundraising.com/hubfs/pexels-photo-169657.jpeg --- [Client Login](http://manage.swellgives.com) - [![Twittee](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/hubfs/Swellfundraising-Mar2017-Theme/Images/twitter_secondnav.svg)](https://twitter.com/swellfunds) - [![Facebook](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/hubfs/Swellfundraising-Mar2017-Theme/Images/facebook_secondnav.svg)](https://www.facebook.com/swellfundraising) - [![LinkedIn](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/hubfs/Swellfundraising-Mar2017-Theme/Images/linkedin_secondnav.svg)](https://www.linkedin.com/company/3605977?trk=tyah&trkInfo=clickedVertical%3Acompany%2CclickedEntityId%3A3605977%2Cidx%3A2-1-2%2CtarId%3A1459363657085%2Ctas%3Aswell%20fund) [![Swell logo](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/hs-fs/hubfs/swell_just_website.png?width=144&name=swell_just_website.png "swell_just_website.png")](https://www.swellfundraising.com) # Blog ### Categories - [Fundraising (53)](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/topic/fundraising) - [Event Tips (52)](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/topic/event-tips) - [Event Tech (20)](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/topic/event-tech) - [Peer to Peer (7)](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/topic/peer-to-peer) - [Online Fundraising (6)](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/topic/online-fundraising) - [technology (5)](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/topic/technology) - [Junior Board (4)](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/topic/junior-board) - [Social Media (4)](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/topic/social-media) - [Event Ideas (3)](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/topic/event-ideas) - [Management (1)](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/topic/management) [See all](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/post-event-thank-you-communication-plan#) # Post-Event Thank You Communication Plan Written by : ### [Maria Davis](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/author/maria-davis) Categories: [Event Tips](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/topic/event-tips) Thanking your donors properly is perhaps more important than getting them to the event in the first place. Donors want to give for your mission, but they often won’t admit just how important a quick thank you is to keeping them coming back each year. Here is a sample plan for ensuring you thank ALL donors- no matter how small the gift- in a timely manner post-event (and do so without stressing yourself out). **1 Month Pre-Event **If you have a very large event, you’ll need some help writing thank you notes. If you have any other staff who work in your office, you’ll want to enlist their help as well. So a full month in advance, block off "Thank You time" on your calendar AND your co-worker’s calendar for the week *after* the event. Depending on the size of your event attendees, you may want to do a couple of hours each morning that week, or just one hour during lunch, whatever makes sense. But reserving that time in advance is crucial so you know you won't keep putting it off once the event is over. **1 Week Pre-Event **Write handwritten notes to all of your committee members and major donors that have already given. (Make sure you keep a list of who you’re including to avoid duplicates.) You can write in past-tense, as if the event already happened, and do not seal the envelope until after the event, just in case you need to add something personal or relevant. Go ahead and address them as well. Writing these before the event makes certain that you can get them in the mail ASAP when it’s over. These are your VIP people, so they need to be thanked immediately. **Day After Event **Personally call every event committee or board member and the top tier donors. If you’re not the Executive Director, split up the task with him or her, dividing by importance of the connection and amount raised. It’s so important for donor retention that each top donor and volunteer is immediately thanked. Also, mail the thank you letters you pre-wrote (aren’t you so glad now that you did that?!) **1 Week Post-Event **Now that you already have time blocked on your calendar, divide all of your donors by segment (starting with highest donor to lowest) and start to chip away at the list. If you have extra staff helping, divide and conquer. As you finish, go ahead and get them in the mail that day. **2 Weeks Post-Event **Finish any remaining thank-yous (maybe some that came in late) and add-in your major volunteers. They are just as important and should be thanked in a timely manner as well! 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A Personalized Donor Experience The difference between a forgettable gala and one that leads... [Read More ![Read More](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/hubfs/Swell_Fundraising_May_2016_Images/tile_arrow.svg) ![Read More](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/hubfs/Swell_Fundraising_May_2016_Images/tile_arrow_hovered.svg) ](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/creating-personalized-donor-experiences-at-your-events) Brooke Battle Why We Canceled the Auction at Our Nonprofit Fundraising Event *“Join us on November 2nd for our annual gala. Guests will enjoy cocktails, dinner, a silent...* [Read More ![Read More](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/hubfs/Swell_Fundraising_May_2016_Images/tile_arrow.svg) ![Read More](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/hubfs/Swell_Fundraising_May_2016_Images/tile_arrow_hovered.svg) ](https://blog.swellfundraising.com/why-we-canceled-the-auction-at-our-nonprofit-fundraising-event) Brooke Battle Peer to Peer Fundraising: A Nonprofit Guide to Fundraiser Communication Effective communication is the cornerstone of successful peer-to-peer fundraising campaigns. This... 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