Instant gratification.

I gave a seminar on “Donor Relations and the Art of Thank You” for 80 college counselors at a Camp Kesem Summit this weekend in Michigan.

One of the things I said was to write something flattering or positive about the donor in the 2nd paragraph. I told a story about how when I was in the 7th grade, my father always told me, “Find something nice to say about the boy — they’re insecure and they like to be flattered.”  I always would tell a boy after that, “You have a nice smile.”  Sometimes they didn’t have such a great smile — but it was my standard safety line.

After my speech, Anthony Pensiero from Columbia University came up to me — with a fully-written, neatly-printed “Thank You”.  I didn’t read it until after I drove to a hotel to meet my friend, but it was the first thing I did when I got into the room.  I laughed when I saw his line, “Plus I think you have a nice smile.”  I could tell he ‘got it’!

I asked for his snail mail address and promised I’d write a letter.  I did even better than that.  I included a check for $100 to start off his fundraising, and threw in some stamps to get him inspired!