![]() ![]() Tip: If you receive a memorial donation and you don’t recognize the name of the deceased or don’t see the name in your database, it’s worth checking with your executive director, board members, and even former board members to see if the person has a relationship to the organization that you aren’t aware of.Ģ. If you receive a memorial donation seemingly out of the blue and don’t recognize the name of the deceased, you may want to contact the donor to thank them for the gift and ask if there’s a family member they’d like you to notify of the gift. Use this opportunity to ask which family member should receive notifications of gifts, make sure you have that person’s contact information, and to learn about the deceased’s connection to your organization or mission. Often, the family of the deceased will reach out to let you know that the organization is named as a recipient of memorial contributions. Here are some suggestions for acknowledging memorial gifts: One of the most important things to remember is that you typically need to send two different letters after your organization receives a memorial gift: an acknowledgment letter to the donor and a notification letter to family of the deceased. This is an opportunity to play a positive role in carrying forward someone’s legacy and extending kindness to their family and friends during a difficult time. Instead, you are sharing that their loved one is being remembered in a meaningful, thoughtful way. It might help you to think of your role this way: your job isn’t to console. You probably don’t receive memorial gifts as often as you receive traditional gifts, so it’s understandable if the process isn’t second nature to you.Īs you set up your process for acknowledging memorial gifts, you may feel intimidated about writing to people who are grieving. Are you as comfortable with your process for acknowledging memorial gifts? You may be so accustomed to this process that you don’t have to think twice before generating an acknowledgment letter and dropping it into the mail. As a fundraiser, your daily or weekly routine likely includes sending acknowledgment letters to donors who made a gift to your organization.
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