We are just starting a new policy next year of sending a custom made thank you card from our parent group (I would attach, but don't think I can) after each event that the community partner who helps or donates. The chair of the event (the one who worked with them) sends this. At the end of the year, we will send a final thank you letter on school letterhead from the school principal and parent group president. Also, for the business that helped regularly throughout the year, we will make an 11x17 sign and have students sign it.
We sometimes write a letter to the editor of our local paper thanking the community for its support. It is pretty widespread and generic as far as thank yous go but folks do notice...and are seemingly pleased by it.
JHB, I hadn't considered the idea that donors might prefer not to be named so publicly, an excellent point.
I had thought that we wouldn't put any acknowledgment unless the donor signed off, but our PTO prez thinks there might be issues with having outside links on the website, and doesn't want to "go there". So I wondered if anyone else had gone through this thought process, or had problems with links, or had a good experience.
For businesses that donate to our silent auction, the principal types up a thank you letter and then the kids (I believe 3rd grade and up) rewrite that same letter in their own handwriting, which is then sent to the business. It's a nice way to keep the kids involved in the fundraising process and it's more personal for the businesses to not get a typed "form" letter, but rather something handwritten.
Organizations with which I've been involved have done a variety of things...
Formal business-style thank you letter Handwritten thank you note
Thank you letter included on a picture colored by students
Listings in our school newsletter Wall of stars at event with one donor name written on each star Post-event Flyer touting success, explaining how many attended/funds raised, thanking parents in general for participating and specifically listing all those who donated on back. This was sent home only to families.
When you get into more external recognition such as posting links on websites and 'thank you' ads in the local paper, be sure to ask first. Some businesses love the exposure and recognition. Others feel it simply generates more requests from other local groups who see the company helped the PTO. We've even had people donate to some our events on the condition they weren't listed publicly!
Definitely one of the most popular was when we've done some sort of thank you letter where the kids colored or wrote on parts of it.
P.S. When you thank these vendors in something like a newsletter that your families read, be sure to also encourage families to patronize these local businesses.
Does your school do anything to say "thanks" to community donors, either for donating to silent auctions or other things?
We're discussing putting up a special page on our website, with links to donor websites (if provided, and if the donor says okay), but some people think that's risky. Has anyone done it? Any upsides / downsides?
