Donor appreciation gifts build bonds

Two organizations find meaningful ways to thank loyal supporters

By Mae Strehlow

While one-time donors can make a major impact with a single gift, recurring donors are incredibly valuable for nonprofits. Recurring support provides organizations with a predictable revenue stream and helps foster long-term donor loyalty opens in new window. In fact, the average recurring donor gives 42% more annually than those giving one-time gifts. The University of Tennessee^® Institute of Agriculture opens in new window (UTIA) and Hunterdon Land Trust opens in new window are two organizations working hard to cultivate relationships with recurring donors to maximize their impact and ensure the sustainability of their missions. And donor appreciation gifts help strengthen those bonds.

UTIA team members buy into the mission

Fundraising incentives a ‘massive success’

UTIA provides education, research and out-reach related to agriculture, natural resources and community development. Through a statewide network of research centers and extension programs, UTIA works to support farmers, strengthen rural communities, promote sustainable practices and, more broadly, improve the lives of Tennesseans and beyond.

Michele Wilson, senior advancement executive assistant, is part of the UTIA fundraising team tasked with building donor relationships and securing resources to support the institute. Each year, an orientation conference is held to welcome new employees and introduce them to the institute and all it encompasses, from updates in the Herbert College of Agriculture and the College of Veterinary Medicine to the happenings in units dedicated to research and outreach.

As part of the fundraising team, Wilson hosted a booth during the 2025 conference. She and Tom Looney, assistant vice chancellor for development, talked to the new employees about opportunities to support UTIA through payroll deductions. Employees can sign up to make a regular contribution to programs and initiatives of their choosing.

“A lot of folks decide to give $10 per paycheck,” Wilson said. “It’s a way for people who work here to contribute something extra, knowing they’re a part of something bigger. They care about the mission and the people involved.”

Employees who signed up for recurring do-nations were given Koozie^® 6-Pack Coolers. Wilson chose the coolers—in bright Tennessee orange and imprinted with the UTIA logo—after receiving a product sample in a Blue Box mailing. “I thought it was great,” she said. “It keeps your lunch cold, and I see people I work with using them. It’s not a piece of swag that gets put in the corner of an office. It’s very functional.”

The donor incentives aren’t just functional for lunch time. As an incentive, they helped drive results. Wilson said 212 out of 276 attendees signed up to make recurring donations. “The giveaways motivated people to stop and listen,” she said. “This year was a massive success.”

Hunterdon Land Trust sees donor relationships thrive

Special event commemorated with thank-you gifts

Hunterdon Land Trust is a nonprofit dedicated to the protection and preservation of the healthy ecosystems and natural resources of New Jersey’s Hunterdon County. Since its founding in 1996, the organization has preserved more than 12,000 acres of forests, streams and family farms, and it now manages eight nature preserves. “Hunterdon County is one of the healthiest counties in New Jersey, thanks in no small part to access to clean water, preserved landscapes, and open space for recreation,” said Heather Mulvey, director of development.

The organization is headquartered at the historic Dvoor Farm on land once owned by Wiliam Penn. Its offices are in a stone farmhouse built in 1798. The farm serves as a center for inspiration, education and connection and is now listed on the state and national register of historic places.

As a nonprofit, fundraising is critical to the organization’s work. Gifts, grants and fundraising events power the conservation and preservation efforts. Like many organizations nationwide, a significant share of funding comes from monthly and yearly contributors. In fact, recurring donations are growing—nonprofits saw their average recurring donor base grow 127% opens in new window over a recent five-year span.

Hunterdon Land Trust held a spring fund-raiser called Wine & Art at the Farm. Hosted at the Dvoor Farm, the event included a catered meal and an art sale. The 200-plus attendees received branded stemless wine glasses as donor appreciation gifts. Mulvey said the souvenir glasses helped maintain connections with supporters and increase visibility within the community.

Perfect for toasting special moments

“As an environmental group, we were pleased to offer a ‘green’ gift option that’s practical and not plastic,” Mulvey said. “Attractive and useful, the imprinted glasses will continue to promote our brand and our green efforts long after the event.”

Donor appreciation gifts maintain momentum

UTIA and Hunterdon Land Trust are two examples of organizations using donor appreciation gifts to send a message and bolster relationships with loyal supporters. Whether given as fundraising incentives or used as donor thank-you gifts, promo products can play a meaningful role in driving results for mission-driven organizations.

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