The Full Story:
In keeping with its culture of philanthropy and commitment to donor stewardship and experience, Habilitas Foundation sought to bring the same spirit to its engagement strategy. In 2023, they launched a milestone recognition campaign that focused entirely on gratitude—no fundraising asks, just a heartfelt appreciation for years of loyal support.
In previous years, milestone anniversaries of consecutive giving had been marked with postcards. By leveraging ThankView, Habilitas Foundation was able to scale the effort, include more voices, and create a more personalized donor experience. Using simple recording guides and ThankView’s video request tools, they were able to engage foundation staff, board members, rehabilitation staff, and even beneficiaries to record messages of appreciation.
The campaign highlighted 20, 25, 30, and 35 years of giving milestones. Each video included the donor’s first name and number of years of giving, but no additional personal data—preserving privacy while keeping the message personalized. Those creating videos were encouraged to be themselves and to speak as they would conversationally, and could follow a suggested script or speak freely using their own words.
Accessibility and inclusion remained central to the campaign—when a blind patient wanted to participate, the team provided in-person support to ensure their message could be recorded. By making sure every supporter could participate, the Foundation highlighted that accessibility is more than a goal of the organizations it supports—it is a core principle that guides its own actions and relationships.
The response from recipients was overwhelmingly positive. Donors expressed delight, surprise and appreciation for the personal touch, and in one case even stopped by the office in person to thank the team. Internally, the campaign sparked excitement too. Volunteers and staff found the process rewarding and asked to participate again, helping build momentum for future efforts.
This campaign also reinforced Habilitas Foundation’s long-standing belief that every gift matters. Their culture of philanthropy emphasizes recognizing donors for their commitment, not the size of their contributions. From a $10 donation to a major gift, each act of generosity is honored and celebrated.
Thanks to ThankView, Habilitas Foundation now has a repeatable, scalable approach to milestone recognition. They plan to expand the program in the coming years to include additional giving tiers and a broader array of community voices.
For other teams considering a similar approach, the takeaway is clear: Start small, invite others in, and lead with gratitude. When donor engagement is driven by appreciation instead of expectation, powerful results happen.