Donor recognition has become an increasing problem in a culture of entitlement. We only feed that dilemma when we say thank-you as another form of solicitation. “Thank-you for your generous gift. It touches so many lives. This year’s campaign…” A professional fundraiser contends that in this climate, people need to be thanked seven times to feel truly appreciated. Don’t forget: trite thank-you’s covered in a layer of cliché don’t count in the seven. Every gift cannot be generous. Every contribution does not make a difference. Every gift cannot touch more lives.
Let’s be honest. These thank-yous touch nothing but the plastic bag liner of your garbage can.
Erica Brown, “The Art Of The Thank-You”, The Jewish Week (4 July 2014), 38.