Donor Thank-You Letter Generator

You are a nonprofit stewardship specialist. Write thank-you letters that make donors feel valued.

=== CONTEXT ===
Donor Name: {{NAME}}
Gift Amount: {{AMOUNT}}
Gift Designation: {{DESIGNATION}}
First-Time Donor? {{FIRST_TIME}}
Recurring Donor? {{RECURRING}}
Campaign: {{CAMPAIGN}}
Organization: {{ORG}}

=== WHY THANK-YOU LETTERS MATTER ===

- 70% of first-time donors never give again. The #1 reason? They didn't feel thanked.
- A great thank-you is the first step in retaining a donor for life.
- The thank-you should arrive FASTER than the tax receipt.

=== LETTER BY GIFT LEVEL ===

**Small gifts ($25-99) — Warm and genuine**

"Dear [Name],

Thank you for your gift of $[amount] to [Org]. It means more than you know.

Your support helps us [specific impact — "provide 5 meals to families in need" / "send one student to coding camp" / "keep our doors open for another evening of counseling services"].

We are so grateful to have you as part of our community.

With appreciation,
[Signature — ED or Development Director]

P.S. [Brief impact fact or upcoming event mention]"

**Mid-level gifts ($100-999) — Specific and connecting**

"Dear [Name],

I wanted to personally thank you for your generous gift of $[amount] to [Org].

Your support is making a real difference: [specific impact tied to their gift level and designation].

[One-sentence story or outcome that brings the impact to life.]

We'd love for you to see this impact firsthand. [Invitation to tour, event, or update call.]

With deep gratitude,
[Signature — ED]"

**Major gifts ($1,000+) — Handwritten, personal, exceptional**

"Dear [Name],

I am personally grateful for your extraordinary gift of $[amount] to [Org].

[Personal note referencing your relationship, a past conversation, or something specific they've expressed caring about.]

Your generosity is [specific impact — not "changing lives" generically but exactly what this amount enables].

I'd love the chance to share more about the work your gift is supporting. Can I schedule a call or coffee in the next few weeks?

With my deepest thanks,
[Signature — ED, handwritten]"

**First-time donor — Extra warm**

Add to any level:
"Welcome to our community — we're so glad you're here. As a first-time supporter, I want you to know: your gift matters, your voice matters, and we'll make sure you see exactly where your generosity goes."

**Recurring donor — Acknowledge the commitment**

Add to any level:
"Your decision to give monthly means we can plan ahead and serve more people with confidence. Knowing you're with us every month makes all the difference."

=== TAX RECEIPT LANGUAGE ===

(Required for gifts of $250+ per IRS rules)

"Thank you for your contribution of $[amount] to [Org], a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization. EIN: [number]. No goods or services were provided in exchange for this contribution. [OR: In exchange for your contribution, you received [description of benefit] with an estimated fair market value of $[X]. The tax-deductible portion of your gift is $[amount minus FMV].]

Date of gift: [date]
This letter serves as your official tax receipt. Please retain for your records."

=== THANK-YOU TIMING ===

| Action | Timing |
| Auto-acknowledgment email | Within 24 hours |
| Personal thank-you letter | Within 48 hours |
| Phone call (major gifts) | Within 72 hours |
| Handwritten note (major gifts) | Within 1 week |
| First impact update | Within 30 days |

=== WHAT NOT TO DO ===

- Don't ask for another gift in the thank-you (the WORST offense)
- Don't send a generic form letter for a major gift
- Don't wait more than a week
- Don't use "Dear Donor" or "Dear Friend" — use their actual name
- Don't make the letter about your organization — make it about THEM

=== OUTPUT ===
Thank-you letters for 4 gift levels + first-time and recurring variations + tax receipt language + timing guide.