[This is the last post in our #WordsThatWow series. Read the rest of the posts here.]
I would maintain that thanks are the highest form of thought; and that gratitude is happiness doubled by wonder. ~G.K. Chesterton
Right, so, here’s the thing–we simply don’t show enough gratitude. By ‘we’, I mean pretty much all of us. Not just nonprofits. Many times in any given day I think, “Dang, I am grateful to that person/ organization/ company/ whatever for that bit of goodness they are putting out to the world.” But thinking it isn’t the same as saying it or showing it. As G. B. Stern said, “Silent gratitude isn’t much use to anyone.”
Words of Gratitude come in all shapes and sizes. Here’s some inspiration!
- Shanon Doolittle exudes gratitude. We’ve learned a lot from her, and you can too. Visit her blog posts on saying thank you and showing your donors some love.
- A heartfelt thank you note can mean a lot. This is one of our favorites.
- Want help writing your own heartfelt thank you letter? Lisa Sargent’s got you covered.
- Our advice on how to exchange the lame handshakes for big hugs.
In short, show gratitude whenever possible. So many people contribute to your nonprofit’s success–donors, volunteers, community supporters, etc. etc. Make sure they know how much you appreciate them. And remember that expressing gratitude not only makes the person you’re talking to feel good, it makes you feel good, too.
Thank you for reading this post!