Holiday Gift-Giving to Your Donors: A Guide for Nonprofits

You’ve probably given some of your donors and board members mementos to mark holidays or special occasions.

Maybe it’s a tradition to present a “special something” to trustees as they conclude board terms, or to recognize volunteers who have served for five or ten years.

Your organization might have a certificate, piece of art, or other object for these purposes — like the proverbial gold watch given to retirees.

Give Your Donors Something They’ll Treasure

Having a single gift that recognizes a specific benchmark saves time and helps donors feel like part of something larger than themselves. On the other hand, choosing a one-of-a-kind gift for a donor or leader who has made a difference to your organization will make them feel uniquely appreciated.

The biggest challenge of all may be deciding what sort of tokens you should use to mark regular, recurring benchmarks and how to find unique gifts for exceptional individuals and unique occasions.

While you want to give donors something they will treasure, the most meaningful gifts are less about cost and more about reflecting the tie between your organization and the donor. After all, donors want to see their support stewarded wisely to achieve the greatest good, not invested in lavish presents.

There’s no absolute rule of thumb about how much you should spend on a donor gift, but focusing on items produced by or authentic to your organization is a great place to start.

Considerations When Gifting Donors as a Group

Many organizations have donor societies associated with lifetime giving and planned giving. Sometimes there are special categories for annual fund or campaign contributions as well.

One group I worked with had a society for donors with lifetime giving of $1 million or more. This was a very special group, and in addition to events and other benefits, each member received the same gift. The organization invited an artist to create a small statue for this purpose. It incorporated elements from the group’s logo and materials, like stone and wood, tied to its conservation mission. When I visited donors’ homes, I sometimes saw it proudly displayed.

However, the stewardship director told me that he overlooked several considerations in commissioning the gift. Because it was both fragile and heavy, it was difficult to ship. In several cases, it arrived broken and had to be repaired or replaced. It was also about two feet tall and did not always fit into popular display areas, like office shelves.

Recently, the organization decided to phase out this gift. In choosing a new one, they’ll need to factor in issues like shipping and ease of display (just as you should if you elect to do something similar).

Providing Truly Unique Gifts to Donors and Volunteers

Sometimes a donor or volunteer does something that transforms a capital campaign or makes a project possible. In these cases, it makes sense to provide them with a special thank you.

A Personal Example

I was charged to come up with a gift for a donor like this. He was a billionaire and a collector, exactly the sort of person who knows what he wants and is able to secure it. What I needed was something that was special — not because of its value, but because it represented his tie to our organization.

• If the group focused on elementary education, I might have thought about framing children’s drawings.
• If it was a university, I could have looked at a signed book from an important professor.

In this particular case, we had already given the donor framed photos of interesting landmarks, so that wasn’t an option.

On Finding That Perfect Gift

I poured myself a big cup of coffee and sought inspiration online. I found myself browsing a site focused on rare books and historic documents. To my surprise, I found a drawing of the original design for the monument the donor invested in preserving. It was a print from the 1860s and available for less than $200. My CEO agreed that it was the perfect gift.

We could have spent more and gotten a rare, mint condition book on the monument. However, the simple drawing (which we beautifully framed), conveyed our gratitude and was a unique addition to the donor’s collection.

Think of Things Only Your Organization Can Provide

Think about unique (and inexpensive) gifts that only your organization can give:

• Drawings or cards made by the children you serve
• Signed books from authors, professors, or illustrators affiliated with your group
• Photographs of nature preserves, historic homes, or other places you’ve protected
• Products created by recipients of your organization’s grants or micro-loans

Giving a Donor the Gift of Recognition

Recognizing a donor is also a gift. Many groups feature lists of supporters in their annual reports or have a donor wall in their buildings.

Of course, your top priority is making sure that donors want to be listed and that you are using their preferred name. We’ve all sent messages and made calls to ensure that no mistakes slip into this process! Personally, I’ve lost plenty of sleep over annual reports and even more when signing off on names that would be literally set in stone.

When thinking about on-site recognition, it’s wise to consider the future. For example:

• Maybe a wall provides space for all your current donors, but what about new ones?
• What if you’re in a leased office and decide to move, or a building must be torn down to make way for something that serves the organization better?

Considering these possibilities could put you on a path toward a more flexible choice — maybe one involving digital technology or modular pieces. Donors will appreciate your thoughtfulness, and your future self will have less stress.

Use Your Gift to Reflect the Connection You Share

Choosing the right donor gifts or donor recognition opportunities may seem overwhelming. Focusing on what makes your organization unique, the nature of the relationship between your organization and the donor, and how a gift will last over time (or how much it will cost to ship!) will help narrow down the options.

Case in point — I once worked with a grant-maker that sometimes received thank you gifts from grantees. My most treasured memento from that time is a one-inch square piece of tin ceiling tile from a historic site. It has no real value on its own, but it is priceless because of the connection it offers to a special place.

Ultimately, the most meaningful gifts reflect the mission of your organization, turning simple tokens into powerful symbols of gratitude and shared purpose.