Do You Want More Success? Do This ONE Thing.
Do You Want More Success? Do This ONE Thing.
This is the most generous time of year.
But honestly? This is impactful ANY time of year.
Whether youβre writing a letter, an email, a text, a voice message β or better yet, making a personal visit β one simple change can transform your relationships and your results.
Always begin with YOU.
In my consulting, I edit scores (and scores and scores) of letters, emails, and appeals every month. And 99% of the time, they begin with the nonprofit β NOT the reader.
Yes, somewhere later in the message there’s usually a donor-focused sentence.
But itβs buried. Itβs not the opener.
And thatβs too late.
Youβve already missed the chance to authentically connect.
Because itβs not about what you say.
Itβs not about what you do.
Itβs about how you make your giver feel.
As Maya Angelou reminded us β and I had the joy of singing with her long ago β
βPeople will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.β
YOUR giver wants to feelβ¦
- Seen.
- Like youβre talking directly to them.
- Known.
- Special and important.
- Appreciated.
Opening with YOU does all of that β instantly.
**Real Examples:
The βBeforeβ I See All the Time vs. the βAfterβ You Should Use**
Before:
We want to thank you for making XXX a very special placeβ¦
After:
YOU make XXX this very special placeβ¦
Before:
We invite you to leave your mark onβ¦
After:
You have already left your mark here β and you represent us every day as you travel through life.
Before:
On behalf of the XXX Administration, I want to thank youβ¦
After:
Your financial gifts to XXX make a profound difference β especially for students facing financial challenges.
Before:
We are excited to share that the building walls were recently raisedβ¦
After:
You are part of an exciting time for XXX as the building walls were recently raised.
Additional βYOU-Focusedβ Openers That Work Beautifully
- Your partnership in this mission isβ¦
- Your impact reaches farther than any of us can see today.
- Your support is especially meaningful as we move forward withβ¦
- Your commitment is bringing important support toβ¦
- You bring a unique understanding of XXXβs history and potential.
- Your role as a trustee is shaping the future ofβ¦
And Remember β Opening with a Question Can Also Boost Engagement
Questions naturally make the brain lean in:
- When you think back to your time at XXXβ¦
- Did you know itβs been 40 years since XXX has had a major facilities renovation?
- When you imagine the future of XXX, what do you wish for?
This Isnβt About Making Donors βSaveβ Us
Itβs not about neediness.
Itβs not about pretending the giver does everything.
Itβs about making them feel seen and heard β like the real partner they are – Β in every message, human or AI-boosted β as you build sincere personal relationships.
Because YOU Are Key to Your Success
You inspire generosity.
You create connection.
You make people feel valued.
You move missions forward.
YOU matter.
And YOU are important to me.
Invest in Joy!β’
