When was the last time you reached out to your most active members and thanked them for their active participation in your organization's political advocacy efforts? Recognizing and thanking your “five star” advocates is a win-win strategy. Not only does shining a light on your most active advocates strengthen your relationship with them, but it also increases the likelihood that they will continue to engage in your association or nonprofit's advocacy initiatives.
Let’s consider the importance of thanking advocates by comparing this strategy to a real-world example as though your organization was a grocery store. During the holiday season at the end of each year, a leading supermarket chain thanks its loyal, repeat customers by giving small gifts, such as scented candles or gourmet treats, in recognition of the value that they bring to the food store. This simple gesture solidifies the connection that customers feel toward the store, and increases the likelihood that the customers will continue to be frequent shoppers. In this same manner, reaching out and sincerely thanking your top advocates, as if they were shoppers with a customer loyalty card, will serve your organization well in the long run.
We put together a short list of easy and effective ways to genuinely thank your top advocates: