My two cents on the thank-you note issue:
 
I am a fundraising professional who has contact with donors of all kinds,
from a few bucks up to several million dollars.  Do you think people
start out making large gifts?  No, no.  Most donors start out small, and
with good stewardship and the feeling that their money is accomplishing
something good, and that the charity really appreciates their support,
they are much more likely to think well of you and to give you an even
bigger gift next time around.
 
The important thing to remember is, there are a whole lot of charities
out there competing for a limited pool of donors and dollars.  If you
were a donor who had a choice between sending money to a charity that had
thanked you for your previous gift, or one that did not even acknowledge
receiving it, which would you choose to give your money to next time
around?
 
It has nothing to do with wanting to see your name on a plaque or
a listserv or whatever.  It has everything to do with simple human
courtesy.  If someone has decided to send you their hard-earned money,
they damn well deserve a simple acknowledgement that the gift was
received.  If you are overworked, stressed out and just too busy to
send a thank you to each donor, you can find 30 seconds to post a
general thank-you to all on this message board.
[Posted in FML issue 4371]