When it comes to nonprofit fundraising, whether it’s online fundraising or offline, there’s a lot of talk about how important it is to follow up with donors and thank them.  This week I received a handwritten thank-you note from the folks at the International Justice Mission (IJM), a nonprofit organization that I’ve been supporting with a very modest monthly donation since the beginning of the year.  Here’s what it said:

Dear Beth,

Thank you for partnering with IJM.  Your faithful support is enabling us to provide much needed advocates to the poor in Africa.  Thank you for joining us in this worthy fight.  We couldn’t do this work without you!

The letter came in a hand-addressed envelope and didn’t come with a receipt or ask for another donation; it was just a simple, genuine thank-you note.

I wonder how long the folks at IJM spent writing out these letters to small-time donors like me, of which I’m sure there are probably thousands upon thousands.  I also wonder how many employees cursed with the gift of nice handwriting ran for cover when the plan was announced.  But clearly they thought the investment of time was worth it in order to communicate how much they appreciate a community of supporters who give in ways, however small, that enable them to continue to do their work.

I’ve always been impressed with IJM’s work and had the impression that excellence is something they value highly, but this was really going above and beyond.  If I had been on the fence about whether or not my contribution was making any sort of difference, this small token of appreciation certainly provided encouragement to put me diffinitively in the future supporter’s camp.

But here’s someone I sure hope IJM is thanking much more profusely: Roy Klabin.  He’s running the NYC marathon on November 1st and has already raised almost $8,000 online for IJM in about 3 weeks.  He’s having a much greater impact as a fundraiser for IJM than he would as just a donor, because his commitment to and advocacy for IJM is reaching people in his circle of friends who might not otherwise have thought to donate.  Kudos, Roy!  Keep up the great work!