Summer may be slower in terms of fundraising, sales, and programming—but it’s the perfect season for stewardship. When things quiet down, you finally have time to pause, reflect, and reconnect with the people who fuel your mission or business: donors, clients, and volunteers.
Stewardship isn’t just a “nice to have”—it’s a strategic investment in relationships. In both nonprofit and small business worlds, retention is more cost-effective than acquisition. Keeping existing supporters, customers, or collaborators engaged is easier, cheaper, and more sustainable than constantly finding new ones.
So how can you use this summer season to show real appreciation without overwhelming your team or budget? Here are practical tips and tools you can implement right now—with a big return on investment later.
💌 1. Send a Handwritten Thank-You Note (Yes, Really)
Handwritten notes stand out. They’re personal, intentional, and increasingly rare—making them incredibly effective.
Who to thank:
- Long-time or first-time donors
- Loyal clients or referral partners
- Volunteers who go above and beyond
What to include:
- A specific reason for your gratitude
- A recent success they helped make possible
- A warm closing from a real person (not just “The Team”)
📌 Tool to Use:
Order branded stationery through Canva or Moo. Use an Airtable or Google Sheet to track who you’ve thanked, when, and for what.
📌 Pro Tip:
Schedule 15 minutes a week to write 3–5 notes. It’s manageable, meaningful, and builds long-term goodwill.
📸 2. Create a “Summer Shoutout” Series on Social Media
Use your platforms to publicly celebrate the people who support your work. This not only thanks them but also inspires others to get involved.
Try a series like:
- #MissionMakersMonday – highlight a volunteer, donor, or client
- #ClientWinWednesday – spotlight a customer success story
- #ThankfulThursday – a shoutout to a community partner or vendor
What to include:
- A photo or quote from the person
- A short caption about their contribution
- A call to celebrate or thank them in the comments
📌 Tool to Use:
Use Canva for branded templates, and Later or Buffer to schedule your posts in advance.
📌 Pro Tip:
Always get permission before sharing personal photos or stories—and tag people to increase reach.
🎁 3. Send a Small Summer Gift
You don’t need a big budget to surprise and delight your community. Thoughtful, seasonal tokens can go a long way.
Ideas include:
- Branded sunglasses or water bottles
- $5 coffee gift cards with a note
- Locally made treats or candles
- Discount or promo code (for small businesses)
📌 Tool to Use:
Use USPS flat-rate shipping, Pirate Ship for discounts, or digital delivery via Giftly, Square, or email.
📌 Pro Tip:
Pair the gift with a message that ties it back to your mission, services, or summer campaign.
✍️ 4. Share a Personalized Impact or Progress Update
People want to know how their time, money, or loyalty is making a difference. Now is the perfect time to update them—with a human touch.
What to send:
- A simple, text-based email update
- A mini impact report with a few photos and stats
- A short video update from your founder or ED
What to say:
- What’s been accomplished so far this year
- What you’re working on this summer
- How their support has helped (be specific!)
📌 Tool to Use:
Use Mailchimp, MailerLite, or Flodesk for email marketing. Try Loom or Vidyard for simple personalized videos.
📌 Pro Tip:
Keep it short, visual, and focused on the reader’s role in your success.
🤝 5. Host a Low-Key Summer Appreciation Event
Summer is the perfect time to gather people in a relaxed, informal way to say thank you and build relationships.
Event ideas:
- Backyard BBQ or picnic in a public park
- Ice cream social or lemonade stand fundraiser
- Rooftop happy hour or patio meet-up
- Volunteer “bring a friend” appreciation day
Keep it simple:
- Light refreshments
- Music and good conversation
- A few words of thanks and a story or two
📌 Tool to Use:
Use Eventbrite or Google Forms to manage RSVPs, and Canva to design invites.
📌 Pro Tip:
If an in-person event isn’t feasible, consider a Zoom “Summer Gratitude Coffee Chat” or mailed DIY party kits.
🧠 6. Build a Gratitude System You Can Use All Year
Summer is a great time to test new stewardship strategies—but don’t stop there. Turn appreciation into a system.
Build a simple stewardship plan:
- Monthly thank-you themes (e.g., July = donors, August = staff, September = volunteers)
- Quarterly impact update schedule
- A rolling list of top supporters with thank-you dates
📌 Tool to Use:
Create a gratitude calendar in Trello, Notion, or Google Sheets. Use reminder apps like Todoist to schedule touchpoints.
📌 Pro Tip:
Delegate thank-you tasks across your team. Everyone should be part of your gratitude culture.
💡 7. Ask for Feedback as a Form of Appreciation
Believe it or not, asking someone’s opinion is a powerful way to show that you value their experience and insight.
Questions to ask:
- For donors: “What inspired your gift?”
- For clients: “What’s been most helpful in working with us?”
- For volunteers: “How can we improve your experience?”
Use this feedback to improve—and mention it in future updates to show you’re listening.
📌 Tool to Use:
Use Google Forms or Typeform for surveys, or invite people to quick 15-minute “gratitude interviews.”
📌 Pro Tip:
Offer a small thank-you (like a gift card drawing or discount) to increase participation.
Final Thoughts: Gratitude Is Your Summer Superpower
Summer is your secret weapon for deepening relationships, building loyalty, and strengthening your community. In a season when everyone’s inbox is a little quieter and schedules are a little looser, a thoughtful gesture stands out even more.
You don’t need a big budget. You don’t need a huge team. You just need a plan—and the willingness to lead with appreciation.
Whether you’re a nonprofit stewarding donors and volunteers or a small business celebrating loyal clients, the time you invest in gratitude this summer will pay off in fall fundraising, referrals, and renewals.
Need help building a stewardship strategy that fits your team, goals, and budget?
I help small businesses and nonprofits create simple, sustainable systems that strengthen relationships year-round. Let’s work together to build a gratitude plan that leads to growth.