Don't Say Thanks...Go To Jail!

Teaching Elephants to Talk Tip
By Matt Lewis
Feb. 17, 2005

For years we’ve been stressing the importance of thanking donors and supporters. But until now, nobody has actually gone to prison for not doing it…

According to the Washington Post, a fundraiser for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee was arrested for embezzling more than $360,000. Turns out, he would deposit DSCC donations into an account he set up in the name of a company that just happened to have the same initials as the committee, DSCC.

His crime became known when he didn’t send thank you notes to the donors!

When one of the donors inquired about the lack of a thank you note, the DSCC checked into it. A copy of the cancelled check showed it had been deposited in an account listed under the thief’s name.

Lesson learned: Never steal. And always send thank you notes!