15 donor gift ideas your supporters will love

Striking a balance between requesting donations and showing appreciation can be tough. Getting it wrong can lead to donor fatigue and lapsed donors.  

Donor thank you gifts are a great way to show genuine appreciation without making a financial appeal. Most supporters don’t expect gifts, so sending one can make a lasting impression and strengthen connections with supporters. 

Not sure what makes for a strong, impactful donor gift? Ask yourself these four questions:

• Is your gift useful? ✔️ 
• Is your gift within budget? 💸 
• Is your gift tailored to your donors? 👩‍👦 
• Does the gift align with the donation amount? ⚖️ 

If you answered yes to all four, rest assured you’re on the right path. Still unsure what to give? Don’t worry—we’ve got you covered. Explore our 15 best donor gift ideas and discover a thoughtful gift for every budget, organization, and donor demographic. 

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1. E-Cards ✉️

E-cards are a simple, effective way to let your supporters know you care. Keep track of your donors’ emails in a database so you can easily access their information. 

Your E-card doesn’t have to align with a traditional holiday—sometimes, receiving a thoughtful E-Card “just because” can have the strongest impact. 

💰 Cost: $

💛 Best for: Small donors and one-time donors

2. Personalized direct mail 💌

Who doesn’t love receiving a card or letter in the mail? Show supporters you care with direct mail. 

Even better if it’s personalized with a handwritten note. You could also send postcards featuring photos from events or other images relevant to your nonprofit.

Psst… did you know Givebutter Plus offers discounted direct mail? 

💰 Cost: $$

💛 Best for: All donors

3. Beneficiary thank you video 📼

Show supporters who their funds are helping with a thank you video of your beneficiaries. 

As well as being a thoughtful gesture, it’s a powerful way to demonstrate the impact of their donations. This is an important part of effective donor communications and essential for preventing donor burnout. 

💰 Cost: $

💛 Best for: Recurring donors

💡 Tip: Givebutter’s ThankView video integration is a fast, simple way to reach your supporters with personalized thank you videos. 

4. Branded bookmark or sticker 🔖

Branded merchandise shows your supporters you appreciate them while helping to get your name and message out into the world. It doesn’t have to be expensive—a sticker or bookmark featuring your name, logo, and photographs is a cost-effective option for small donors or new connections. 

💰 Cost: $

💛 Best for: Small donors and new supporters

💡 Tip: Hand out stickers at large conference-style events so people in the awareness phase of the donor life cycle can remember you. Include your website and social media handles so new connections can easily find you. 

5. Item related to your organization 🐯

Tailor gifts to your mission to remind donors why they support you. For example, if your work is to save tigers, consider sending a small stuffed tiger or tiger keychain. If your nonprofit helps people find their voice through creative writing workshops, offer your donors a notebook or poetry zine. 

💰 Cost: $$

💛 Best for: New donors and recurring donors

6. Local business discounts 💰

Collaborate with local businesses to secure discounts for your supporters. This has the twofold effect of showing donor appreciation and expanding your reach by partnering with local organizations. 

💰 Cost: $$

💛 Best for: Recurring donors 

💡 Tip: If one of your supporters runs a local business, consider partnering with them to foster a long-term connection. Or, choose a retailer that aligns with your organization’s mission. For example, if your nonprofit offers sports programs for low-income kids, partner with a sports store. 

Learn more

Discover 10 donor engagement tips that work →

7. Certificates 📜

Recurring donors who reach new giving tiers or who have contributed consistently to your nonprofit over time (e.g., one, five, or ten years) are great candidates for receiving certificates of support.  

💡 Tip: Consider naming certificate tiers based on contribution and commitment to encourage further giving. For example, supporters who have donated $50 may receive a bronze award, while those who have donated $100 could receive a silver one. 

💰 Cost: $

💛 Best for: Recurring donors

8. Branded merch 🧢

Make your merch useful and visually appealing. It’s always worth putting a little extra time into designing tshirts and caps that your supporters will be excited to wear. 

Other popular branded items include water bottles, pens, keychains, tote bags, and flashlights. If possible, keep your merch relevant to your mission. 

💰 Cost: $ - $$$

💛 Best for: All donors and new supporters

9. Welcome package 📬

Leave a lasting impression with a welcome package for new donors. This could include a certificate welcoming them to your organization, merch, and resources to help them learn more about your mission and impact. 

Highlight other ways they can get involved beyond donating, such as volunteering or attending fundraising events. 

💰 Cost: $$ 

💛 Best for: New donors

10.  Gift cards 📬

Gift cards are a thoughtful way to show appreciation for committed supporters. Even lower amounts can add up when purchasing multiple cards, so they’re best reserved for supporters who have made significant contributions to your mission. 

💰 Cost: $$-$$$

💛 Best for: High-ticket donors, significant contributions

💡 Tip: Consider what your supporters may like based on their demographics. Givebutter’s donor segments features can help you organize and analyze donor data with ease. 

11.  Tours 🎫

If your organization has a dedicated space or building for furthering your mission, consider offering tours to VIP donors. This is a wonderful way to show them the positive impact they’ve had, while also expressing appreciation. 

💰 Cost: $$-$$$

💛 Best for: VIP donors 

💡 Tip: Have you recently fundraised to build a new space for your organization? Invite all supporters who contributed for a private viewing or host an opening night. 

12.  Educational workshop👩‍🎓

Invite experts in your nonprofit’s field to speak with your supporters. 

Donors will appreciate the opportunity to expand their knowledge—not just about your organization, but the issues surrounding it. Be sure to provide refreshments, merch, and informational resources for participants to take home. 

💰 Cost: $$$ 

💛 Best for: Recurring donors, VIP supporters

💡 Tip: On a tight budget? Host a virtual educational event instead to keep costs low. 

Learn more

4 donor appreciation event ideas to wow your supporters →

13.  Plaques 🪧

Plaques are a traditional way for nonprofits to thank high-ticket donors. This is especially true if they’ve given major gifts to fund a specific program or building. 

💰 Cost: $$$

💛 Best for: Large donors

14.  Naming decisions 🗣️

Giving naming rights to your donors is a huge honor, and should be reserved for those who have made significant contributions to your organization. Often, nonprofits choose to name programs or buildings after donors who have offered substantial financial support. 

While naming decisions come at a low financial cost, this gift holds significant value for the legacy of your nonprofit. 

💰 Cost: $

💛 Best for: Large donors, corporate donors

15.  Original artwork 🎨

Original artwork is another meaningful gift choice for organizations wanting to recognize high-ticket donors. If possible, seek out pieces that relate to your organization or mission. 

💰 Cost: $$$

💛 Best For: Large donors

Show your appreciation with Givebutter

Sending gifts is a great way to connect with your supporters and show them you care. Often, donors don’t expect more than a simple thank you letter—this is all the more reason to go the extra mile. 

A little thought can go a long way to expressing appreciation. Supporters who feel valued are likely to stay committed and engaged, leading to a healthier, more sustainable nonprofit. 

Start raising more when you sign up for a free Givebutter account. 

Donor gifts FAQs

What are good donor gifts?

A good donor gift is useful, within budget, tailored to your supporters, and aligned with their giving amount. It’s also helpful if the gift has some connection to your nonprofit. 

For example, branded merchandise, an educational workshop, or naming decisions for a particular program or building. 

What is a major donor gift?

Major donor gifts are given to those who have made significant financial contributions to your nonprofit. Common major donor gifts include artwork, naming rights, plagues, or a personalized thank you note. 

What is the best swag for donors?

Opt for high-quality swag. Great examples include t-shirts, cups, mugs, stickers, caps, or pens. Offering swag that connects to your mission adds a thoughtful touch.