---
name: donor-update
description: "Write a warm donor update or stewardship message that makes a supporter feel their gift mattered. Use when asked to write a donor update, a thank-you/stewardship email, a supporter newsletter, or a gift acknowledgement. Produces a donor-centred update — sincere thanks, the specific impact of their support, a brief story, and a light, optional next step — that strengthens the relationship and sets up the next gift."
---

# Donor Update Skill

Donor retention is cheaper than acquisition and runs on one feeling: *my gift mattered and I'm appreciated.*
A stewardship update delivers that — thank them sincerely, show the concrete impact of their support, and make
them feel part of the work, **without immediately asking for more**. This skill writes that message so donors
stay donors.

## Working from a brief

Given "write a thank-you update to our donors", **produce the full message anyway** — build it around the impact
provided, and mark any invented figure or story as *(example — replace with real data)*. Never fabricate impact
as real; never withhold for missing detail.

## Required Inputs

Ask for these only if they aren't already provided (else infer and label for replacement):

- **The audience** — all donors, a segment (major/recurring/first-time), or one person; and how personal.
- **What their support did** — the specific impact/outcome to report (numbers and/or a story).
- **The occasion** — gift acknowledgement, periodic update, milestone, or year-end.
- **Tone & next step** — your voice, and whether there's a light ask or purely stewardship (often better).

## Output Format

### Donor Update / Stewardship Message

- **Warm opening & thanks** — sincere, specific gratitude up front (personalised where possible).
- **Your impact** — what their support specifically made possible, concretely (a number and/or a moment) — "because of you, …".
- **A story or glimpse** — one short, human illustration of the work in action.
- **Belonging** — language that makes them part of the community/mission, not a transaction.
- **Light next step (optional)** — an invitation (event, update, share) or, only if appropriate, a soft ask — never the focus of a stewardship message.
- **Sign-off** — warm and personal, from a real person.

Provide a **short version** (for SMS/social/quick email) and mark invented specifics for replacement.

## Quality Checks

- [ ] Leads with sincere, specific thanks — not a thinly veiled new ask
- [ ] Impact is concrete and donor-attributed ("because of you…"), not generic
- [ ] Includes a human story or glimpse, not just numbers
- [ ] Makes the donor feel part of the mission (belonging), not a transaction
- [ ] Any ask is light and optional — stewardship first
- [ ] Tone is warm and personal; invented figures are marked for replacement

## Anti-Patterns

- [ ] Do not make a "thank-you" that's really just another donation ask — stewardship builds the next gift
- [ ] Do not be generic ("thanks for your support") — name the specific impact their gift had
- [ ] Do not present invented impact as real — mark placeholders for the org
- [ ] Do not write like a corporation — warmth and a real human voice retain donors
- [ ] Do not omit the story — numbers thank the head, a story thanks the heart

## Based On

Donor-stewardship practice — gratitude-first, impact attribution, storytelling, and relationship-building ahead of the next ask.
