Writing a Thank You Letter with ChatGPT
Is it that hard to write a thank you note?
Apparently it is since I’m still waiting to receive one from a few organizations I donated to recently.
Of course, I’m not that kind of person who keeps waiting and waiting (and waiting) to see if a thank you letter is in the mailbox.
Oh, who am I kidding? I am that kind of person.
If I’ve said it once, I’ve said it many times…thank you letters are important.
Recently, I was asked to help edit the thank you note that is sent out with the quarterly giving report from my church. Someone suggested (humorously) that we should get ChatGPT to write the letter. We deferred – at least this time.
Quick sidebar: Last week’s post, Should You Be Afraid of AI?, featured a mini-primer on AI and its uses in the church. If the terms “AI” and “ChatGPT” feel foreign to you, I suggest you take a quick read of that post.
Back to the suggestion of using ChatGPT to write a thank you note. Why not? It’s a practical application of AI. And what the heck? It’s fun to experiment.
So here goes: How to write a thank you note using ChatGPT.
The prompt: Write a short two paragraph thank you letter to people who give regularly to First United Methodist Church in Salem, OR. Thank them for helping to pay for worship, child care, the music program, and world missions.
Let’s just say, I’m pretty impressed with ChatGPT’s letter.
Dear Members and Supporters of First United Methodist Church in Salem, OR,
On behalf of the entire congregation, I want to extend our deepest gratitude for your unwavering support and generous contributions to our church. Your regular giving has made a profound impact on our ability to fulfill our mission and serve the community with love and compassion.
Thanks to your financial support, we are able to offer vibrant worship experiences that uplift and inspire our congregation. Your contributions help us maintain our beautiful sanctuary, provide necessary resources for our dedicated child care program, and nurture the growth and development of our talented musicians. Furthermore, your donations enable us to engage in meaningful world missions, reaching out to those in need both locally and globally. Your partnership ensures that we can extend our support and love to those who need it most.
Once again, we express our heartfelt appreciation for your ongoing commitment to First United Methodist Church. Your generosity helps us create a welcoming and inclusive space where individuals and families can find solace, grow in faith, and serve others. We are truly blessed to have you as valued members of our community.
May God's grace continue to guide and bless you abundantly.
With sincere thanks,
[Your Name] [Your Position/Role in the Church]
Wow. That’s a pretty decent thank you letter – despite the fact that it’s more than two paragraphs long (following directions can be hard…even for a robot).
Here are the changes I would make:
Dear (First Name):
Your gifts are changing the world!
On behalf of the entire congregation, thank you for your unwavering support and generous contributions to our church. Your regular giving has made a profound impact on our ability to fulfill our mission and serve the community with love and compassion.
Thanks to your financial support, we are able to offer vibrant worship experiences that uplift and inspire our congregation.
Your contributions help us...- maintain our beautiful sanctuary
- provide necessary resources for our dedicated child care program and
- nurture the growth and development of our talented musicians.Furthermore, your donations enable us to engage in meaningful world missions, reaching out to those in need both locally and globally. Your partnership ensures that we can extend our support and love to those who need it most.
Once again, we express our heartfelt appreciation for your ongoing commitment to First United Methodist Church. Your generosity helps us create a welcoming and inclusive space where individuals and families can find solace, grow in faith, and serve others. We are truly blessed to have you as valued members of our community.
For the most part, the content is spot on. The formatting is in need of work and I like to make my letter skim-able for easy reading. Please note the new first line. I think it grabs the reader’s attention and makes them want to read on. Want more ideas for compelling opening lines? Read Opening Lines: More Important than You Think.
Like it or not, AI is here to stay. It can control you or you can control it by using it for good purposes. If it helps you express gratitude by writing a thank you note and getting it into the hands of the gift-giver more quickly...go for it.
Please, don’t make me wait forlornly by my mailbox any longer. Thank you.
Photo credit: Ann H @pexels.com
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Cesie Delve Scheuermann (pronounced “CC Delv Sherman,” yes, really) is a Stewardship Consultant for the OR-ID Annual Conference. She is also a Senior Ministry Strategist with Horizons Stewardship. For 25 years, while working as a volunteer and part-time consultant, she has helped raise over three million dollars for numerous churches and non-profit organizations. Want to know what else ChatGPT can do for you? Then watch 10 ChatGPT Hacks THAT’LL CHANGE YOUR LIFE!! (that may or may not be a little hyperbolic).
You can reach Cesie at inspiringgenerosity@gmail.com, at CesieScheuermann.com, or at cesieds@horizons.net. Want to schedule a meeting? She’s got you covered!
Schedule a meeting now.
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