An update after a few weeks: what did you do with the gift?
Send donors an update 3 to 6 weeks after Giving Tuesday: one result with a photo, honesty about what has not worked yet and an invitation to give monthly.
TL;DR Send donors a short update 3 to 6 weeks after Giving Tuesday. Show one concrete result with a photo, be honest about what has not worked yet and invite them to give monthly. In WeGlow Mail the update from the thank-you pack is ready, so you copy nothing. That way donors see what their gift did and stay with you.
After Giving Tuesday it goes quiet. Donors gave, got a thank-you and then hear nothing for weeks. That is exactly when an update is worth gold.
This article says when to send it, what goes in it and how a small team can have such an update ready in an hour.
Why send an update after a few weeks?
An update proves that the gift went somewhere. Donors want to know what their money did, not only that it arrived. Those who see that trust you more and give again sooner. The Giving Tuesday toolkit stresses stories and real images, and an update is exactly the place to show them.
- They see that their gift changed something
- They feel part of your work
- You get a natural moment to ask again
The thank-you email says thanks, the update shows what happened. Together they make the difference.
When do you send the update?
Send the update 3 to 6 weeks after Giving Tuesday, so between 22 December 2026 and 12 January 2027. Earlier there is nothing to show yet, later people forget who you are. By the end of December you usually have a first result to show.
| Moment | What |
|---|---|
| 1 December | Gift and automatic thank-you email |
| Within 48 hours | Personal thank-you messages |
| 3 to 6 weeks later | The update with photo and invitation |
| Around the first yearly overview | Tax certificate, if your organisation is recognised |
Choose a date that fits your work, for example just before or just after the holidays. Put the date in your agenda straight away.
What goes in the update?
Put four things in the update: a thanks, one concrete result with a photo, an honest sentence about what has not worked yet and an invitation to give monthly. Keep it under 150 words. A long newsletter does not get read, a short update does.
- Thank the reader by name and recall Giving Tuesday.
- Show one result that people can see, with a real photo.
- Say honestly what has not worked yet and what you are doing about it.
- Invite them to give monthly, with one button.
- Close with when the next update comes.
How do you choose one concrete result with a photo?
Choose the result a donor can picture best: a tent bought, a food bank filled, a roof repaired. Show it with a real photo, not a stock photo. One strong image works better than five numbers. Find more about images in the article on photo and video.
If you do not have a big result yet, show a first step, such as the first activity or the first equipment you bought. That is more honest than exaggerating.
Example, hypothetical: "Hi Sara, four weeks ago you gave on Giving Tuesday. Thanks to you and other donors we bought twenty new bean bags for our youth work. In the photo you can see them already in use."
How do you stay honest about what has not worked yet?
Say in one or two sentences what has not worked yet, and what you are doing now. Honesty builds trust. An organisation that only reports success sounds like a brochure. An organisation that says a delivery was delayed or that the goal has not been fully reached sounds like people you can give to.
- Name what did not work in plain words, without excuses
- Say what you are doing meanwhile to fix it
- Give a new date or a next step
- Do not make promises you cannot keep
How do you invite people to give monthly?
Invite with one sentence and one button, without pressure. Say what a small monthly amount makes possible, for example "with 10 euros a month a child can take part every week" if that is true for your work. Such an amount is a hypothetical example. A donor who already trusts you says yes more often.
Read how to go about it in our article on monthly donors. How to choose amounts and labels is in the article on amounts and labels.
How do you send the update with WeGlow.world?
With WeGlow.world the update email from the thank-you pack is ready in WeGlow Mail. You adapt the text, add your photo and the button to your donation page and choose when the email goes out. With the tag for the first name you address everyone personally.
You also find the texts of the thank-you pack in the guide with the thank-you pack. The automatic thank-you email already goes out separately as soon as you fill in a thank-you text. Read how to handle the first thanks in the article on thanking after Giving Tuesday.
The most common mistakes
Most updates fail because they come too late, are too long or are only about the organisation. Plan the update in advance and write it from the donor's side: what did your gift do?
- Letting people hear nothing until half a year later
- Putting five topics in one email
- Using a stock photo instead of your own work
- Reporting only successes
- Hiding the invitation to give monthly
Frequently asked questions
When is the best moment for the update?
Between 3 and 6 weeks after Giving Tuesday. With WeGlow Mail on WeGlow.world you schedule the update in advance, so it goes out at the right moment.
What if I have no result yet?
Show a first step and say honestly what is still to come. A small, real update is better than none. WeGlow.world helps you with a ready-made template in the thank-you pack.
Do I send everyone the same update?
For most donors one update is enough. Top donors, ambassadors and partners are best given a personal version as well. In WeGlow Mail via WeGlow.world you choose the audience per email.
May I ask for a monthly gift in the update?
Yes, it is a good moment, if you do it gently and honestly. One sentence and one button are enough. With WeGlow.world donors can also give monthly on your donation page.
How long may the update be?
Under 150 words, with one photo and one button. That reads on a phone in one minute. Use the template from WeGlow.world as a starting point.
Prepare your update plan
Create a free account on WeGlow.world and set up your donation page with a thank-you text, and the update is ready for you in WeGlow Mail too. No setup fees and no contract. Start via the sign-up page or request a demo.
Sources and check: Giving Tuesday Toolkit for nonprofits, checked on 7 October 2026. The sample text and amounts are hypothetical.