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The Bloomies are our award for outstanding donor communications in the nonprofit sector. Each week, we’ll feature a newsletter, email, direct mail piece, acknowledgement, solicitation or social media post that caught our eye.

Nominated by: Steven Shattuck

Tell us about the fundraiser and/or organization you are nominating: Nathan Hand, Director of Advancement – The Oaks Academy

The Oaks Academy is a Christ-centered school that exists to provide a rich, classical education to children of diverse racial and socioeconomic backgrounds, preparing them to succeed in a rigorous secondary educational program and to demonstrate spiritual, social and emotional maturity.

Tell us about the piece you are nominating:

This Bloomie goes to a mailed acknowledgement letter following an online donation:

oaks-letter

The envelope also contained a new donor welcome postcard:

oaks-back

oaks-front

Why do you think they are deserving of a Bloomie?

The letter itself is worthy of a Bloomie (donor-centric tone, impact statement, feedback mechanism, hand-written signature) but what really puts this over the top is the postcard. It’s great that Oaks acknowledged the gift as a “first” gift, and truly welcomed the donor into the fold. A second invitation for a visit hits home that the donor is valued, even after a small gift.

Know someone deserving of a Bloomie? You can nominate someone here >>

Kristen Salmon

Kristen Salmon

Product Manager at Bloomerang
Kristen Salmon is a Product Manager at Bloomerang. Kristen holds a Master of Public Affairs degree with concentrations in Nonprofit Management and Policy Analysis from Indiana University Bloomington and a Bachelor’s degree in Sociology from Oklahoma State University. She also worked for two years as a Research Assistant in grad school on the multi-year Indiana Nonprofits: Scope and Community Dimensions project.