Posted on March 7, 2012
It is important for organizations to properly thank and acknowledge their donors at all levels. I hope that Areyvut donors know how much we appreciate their support, help and partnership. A few years ago to show our appreciation to our “major” donors we sent them a small Purim gift. The was a small “token” of our appreciation and cost less than $10 each all in. While donors appreciated the taffy apple (who doesn’t, they are really good) and Purim treats, we have not sent out a Purim gift since 2008. We felt that donors gave to support Areyvut’s work in the community and did not need or want their money being used to thank them. So we informed donors that “we have discontinued our annual distribution of Purim gift baskets to our major donors and offer our sincerest appreciation through non-material means.”
I know that many agencies spend considerable time and money sending these Purim baskets to their donors and that many donors enjoy being acknowledged in this way on Purim (and in other similar ways throughout the year). It is important for each agency to know their donors. I am lucky that Areyvut’s donors do not want or expect these gifts and prefer that we spend their money on what it is intended for, namely, operating expenses and supporting our programs and engaging Jewish youth with the core Jewish values of chesed, tzedakah and tikkun olam so that they become thoughtful, giving members of the Jewish community of tomorrow.
