Giving Thanks, Strategically

If you want to use your event to shower your supporters in gratitude, you can do so in a way that also demonstrates the impact of your organization. Donors, corporate partners and supporters lend their resources to your mission for a reason. And when you show your audience why others support you, you have the opportunity to tell more of your story and bring new people on board.

Portland metro area’s Regional Arts & Culture Council (RACC) holds an annual breakfast that they have historically used as an opportunity to thank corporate partners who are instrumental in funding local arts programs. It’s a chance for corporate sponsors, supporters of the arts and artists to convene in one room to celebrate the arts.

This year, RACC made a strategic shift in the way they thanked their biggest corporate supporters. Instead of going down a list of thank-yous, RACC made a video for their biggest corporate supporters that talked about why it’s important to support the arts, how creativity fuels innovation, what the arts do to connect communities and how a thriving arts community goes hand-in-hand with a thriving economic community.

Instead of simply thanking corporations who fund the arts, they showed why they fund the arts. This allowed RACC to recognize their biggest partners, show the impact of giving and further illustrate the mission of the organization.

Thanking supporters is vital. Consider ways that you can give recognition while also showing the reach and impact of your mission. This will allow your audience to see why others value the work you do and motivate them to join in.

Photos by Andie Petkus