Every December, A Christmas Carol reappears in theaters, classrooms, and living rooms around the world. It is often framed as a holiday tradition or a moral fable about personal redemption. Its origins tell a much more strategic story, one that offers powerful lessons for today’s nonprofits.

Most leaders are just overwhelmed and looking for quick fixes. AI generated grants, emails, or social media posts CAN be really quick to generate. Perfecting the systems so that they sound good, however, takes time and expertise.

Most nonprofits think their acknowledgment system sufficiently thanks donors. Unfortunately, most are missing an essential piece: truly expressing gratitude. Yes, you are probably (hopefully!) sending an automated thank-you email after a donation. Maybe you even send a handwritten note or a snail mail copy printed on your agency’s letterhead. But here’s the reality: if you thank donors the same way every other nonprofit does – and the same way you have for a decade – you’re