Welcome folders for your non-profit donors

How welcome packets can increase donations for non-profits

Did you know that a pocket folder can help increase donations and retain current donor interest? It’s true, and it’s not too difficult to make it happen.

So how do welcome packets help increase donations and donor retention rates?

When it comes to donating to non-profits, trust is everything.

There are numerous studies about what it takes to get donors to trust. What the welcome packet does is provide a level of transparency.

But how does a pocket folder for charity donors help provide transparency?

It’s not so much about the folder itself, but what you put in the donor packet—and yes, how you brand your organization does matter.

Donor welcome folder for a community non-profit organization
Branding matters—even on your non-profit pocket folders.

To help instill trust in your donors, here’s what to include in your welcome packet:

  • A thank you letter from the executive director or founder—be sure to have them sign the letter
  • Your latest newsletter
  • List of member benefits. Do they receive a discount in your online store? Or do they receive special newsletters—written just for donors?
  • A promotional giveaway, like a bookmark, stickers, or notepad
  • Donation card. Include this only if the welcome folder is sent out at least a few months after the initial donation.
  • The previous year’s report. Want to be really transparent? Include numbers from the last 5–10 years.
  • A calendar of events for the next few months. Be sure to keep your welcome packs up-to-date so you don’t include old calendars.
  • If you are dealing with local donors, include a list of volunteer opportunities. If your donors are far away, give them some ideas of how they can help the cause, even if they don’t live close by.

Non-profit Donor Welcome Folders | Easy Pocket FoldersWhy do donor welcome packs work?

  1. When you give them information, it instills trust.
  2. The follow-up is your way of saying thanks.
  3. This gives you the chance to show donors how you are using their funds to further their cause.

This all goes further than just telling donors how their donations are split between administrative costs, marketing costs, and their cause. Yes, those pie charts, graphs, and tables full of figures do help—and are necessary.

But modern donors want (and expect more). Do you serve underprivileged children? Run a food bank? Curate exhibits at a museum?

Whatever your cause, your donors want to know that the money they give you is doing something. In your donor thank you packets, share stories about how someone’s life was improved because of donations. Tell donors that a family could eat because of their generosity (for example, from the Northern Illinois Food Bank: “For every $1 donated, Northern Illinois Food Bank provides $8 worth of groceries to a neighbor in need.”).

Your non-profit donor welcome folders are merely a tool to help you tell your story—and say thanks at the same time.

Never used non-profit folders before? Here’s how to use them.

  1. Host an event. Whether it’s a general fundraising event, or an event specifically for donors who have given before, we’re sure you have at least a few fundraising events each year.
  2. Get donor mailing addresses. Be sure to ask permission so you can gather their names and addresses. This is an important step, as privacy is an ever-increasing concern. Also, let them know how you intend to use whatever information you collect. For example, it can be as simple as “We do not sell or share your personal information.”
  3. A few weeks (or a few months) after your event, mail out welcome packets to new donors and thank you packets for previous donors. Yes, it’s a bit tedious to do this, but your attention to these little details will make donors feel like you really pay attention to them, making them more confident in giving to your organization.

Welcome folders for everyone

One last thing: don’t forget about online donors. As online donations to non-profits increase each year, you would be remiss to leave these donors off your thank you packet mailing list. Just like collecting names and addresses from people who attend your charity fundraising events, be sure you ask online donors if it’s ok to use their information as a means of staying in touch.

Need cheap welcome folders? Easy Pocket Folders can help.

Whatever your budget, whatever your design skills, we can find a folder that will work for your needs. Browse our entire collection at EasyPocketFolders.com or learn more about non-profit presentation folders.