{"id":"wri-np-donor-thank-you","audience":"nonprofit","category":"writing-emails","technique":"grounding","title":"Thank a donor with the real impact of their gift","free":false,"task":"Write a thank-you email to a returning donor under 90 words. The first sentence thanks him by name for the exact amount and names the program. Say what the gift pays for using the current cost, note that this is his third gift, and make no new ask of any kind. Sign it from the executive director. Write a prompt that gets that email.","materialLabel":"Donor record and program notes (attached to your prompt automatically)","material":"DONOR RECORD\nName: Harold Brenner\nGift: $250, received Nov 2, designated for Bright Pages (after-school reading program)\nHistory: gave $100 in 2021 and $150 in 2023. This is his third gift.\nNotes: retired school librarian. Prefers email. Asked last year not to be put on the phone list.\n\nBRIGHT PAGES PROGRAM NOTES\n- 64 kids in grades 2-5 this fall, at 3 elementary schools.\n- Kids pick their own books to keep. Tutors read with them twice a week.\n- Old flyer (2023): \"$25 buys a child's books for a whole semester.\"\n- UPDATED Sept 2025 budget: book costs went up. It now costs $50 to cover one child's books for a semester. Please stop using the $25 figure.\n- So $250 = books for 5 kids for a semester.\n\nFROM THE DEVELOPMENT TEAM\n- Year-end campaign launches Dec 1. Don't mention it in thank-you notes; donors hate being asked again right after giving.\n- Monthly giving program just launched, but same rule: no asks in thank-yous.\n- Sign thank-yous from Rosa Delgado, Executive Director.\n- Volunteer tutors are needed too, but that's an ask. Leave it out.","rules":[{"type":"maxWords","max":90}],"mistakes":[{"title":"Trusting the AI to count words","why":"AI is bad at counting. Ask for \"under 90 words\" and it often lands well over.","fix":"Cap each part: \"4 sentences, each under 18 words.\"","checks":["maxWords"]},{"title":"Generic thanks","why":"The AI writes \"Thank you for your generous support\" without the amount or the program.","fix":"Say it: \"First sentence thanks Harold for his $250 gift to Bright Pages.\"","checks":["r0"]},{"title":"Using the old impact number","why":"The notes include an outdated $25 figure. The AI may say his gift covers 10 children.","fix":"Add: \"Use the current cost: $250 covers books for 5 children.\"","checks":["r1"]},{"title":"Sneaking in an ask","why":"AI thank-you notes often end with \"We hope you'll continue your support\" or a volunteer pitch.","fix":"Add: \"No asks of any kind. Sign it Rosa Delgado, Executive Director.\"","checks":["r2"]}],"promptHints":[{"label":"Sets a word limit","patterns":["\\d+\\s*words","word (limit|count)"]},{"label":"Names the gift and program","patterns":["\\$?250","bright pages"]},{"label":"Uses the current cost","patterns":["\\b5 (children|kids)","\\$?50","current cost","updated"]},{"label":"Bans any ask","patterns":["no ask","don'?t ask","no (request|appeal)","no solicitation"]},{"label":"Says who signs it","patterns":["rosa","executive director","sign"]}],"hint":"A good thank-you is specific and asks for nothing. Tell the AI the amount, the current impact figure, his history, and that asks are off limits.","rubricLabels":["The first sentence (after a greeting like 'Dear Harold,' or 'Dear Mr. Brenner,') thanks him by name for his $250 gift to Bright Pages","Says the gift covers books for 5 children for a semester (not 10, and does not use the old $25 figure) and acknowledges that this is his third gift","Makes no ask of any kind (no year-end campaign, monthly giving, volunteering or 'consider giving again'), and is signed Rosa Delgado, Executive Director"]}