Our awesome colleagues at The Better Fundraising Co. created “Thankuary” approximately seven years ago. As a grant recipient, you might already know of it and even practice its wise tenets annually.
(No, it’s not about being thankful for football playoffs! Or is it…? No, no. Must focus.)
The month of January can be a joyful time, however you look at it, whether for Thankuary or football. All kidding aside, when you—a grant professional—practice Thankuary, the joy comes from the feeling of expressing pure thankfulness for your funders and their impact, without asking, cultivating, hinting, or even hoping for a future grant.
It is very memorable, even fun, for both the writer (you) and the recipients (your funders) of your thanks. Sharing your gratitude creates a touching, undiluted moment (because it includes no asking, cultivating, hinting, or hoping).
Some organizations might practice this sort of ritual around the time of Thanksgiving, to stand out from other holiday cards. But we like January best, because it can sometimes be a bit of a letdown at first, after the many festivities that have recently wrapped up. Next in January, we do look forward to Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, but the month otherwise lacks celebration… and sunshine. Let’s brighten it.
Also, we like January as the ideal time to celebrate Thankuary because we predict that this new year, 2026, will be all about Relationships in the world of grants. We embark on this year with thankfulness in our hearts for the funders who have chosen to create and grow Relationships with us! Funders are never to be taken for granted, because they make the difference in the world through us, not the reverse (sentiment inspired by Better Fundraising).
Relationships in 2026 will be more critical than ever. Certain funding and certain funders have decreased or ceased. And AI has increased the competition for those reduced funds. Everything feels very contracted.
Our Relationships with funders will make the difference moving forward, mark our words. We must tell them, tell them repeatedly, and do so genuinely. To help, we offer a free grants-specific resource for you, loaded with suggestions for strengthening your Relationships, our Grantmaker Relationship Guide. Also, the Better Fundraising Co. offers fantastic ideas for thanking donors and funders.
Now is the time to share your thanks. And your rallying cry should be, “For Relationships!”
Do you have longtime, cherished Relationships with certain funders? What are your favorite ways to show appreciation to them? Have you already been practicing Thankuary? If so, how long? Comment below!