Grammar Mistakes That Could Scare Away Donors (Don’t Be That NPO)

Let’s be honest: there are few things worse than sending a perfectly crafted email… only to realize you’ve made a glaring grammar mistake.

It’s like burning the kugel because you forgot to set a timer.

And while a lot of readers will know what you meant to say, your donors might be left slightly less confident in you and, by association, your organization.

Here are five common grammar mistakes that could make readers wonder if you went to school. (Spoiler: They’re easy to avoid!)

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The Apostrophe Catastrophe

There’s nothing more cringe-worthy than using an apostrophe where it doesn’t belong.

❌ Incorrect: “We appreciate all of our donor’s support.”
Wait… which donor are you talking about?

✅ Fix it: The correct phrase is:

• “donors’ support” if you're referring to more than one donor.
• “donors” if you're keeping it general.

💡 Remember: Apostrophes are for possession, not decoration!

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Your vs. You’re – Yep, This Is Still a Thing

This might be a classic mistake, but it happens way too often. Trust me—if you accidentally write:

❌ “Your the best,”
Your donors might start wondering if they really are.

(As I’m writing this, Grammarly is trying with all its might to get me to fix that one. AI still doesn’t understand context too well, it seems.)

✅ Fix it:

• “Your” = possession (your donation, your generosity).
• “You’re” = you are (you’re amazing, you’re changing lives).

💡 Quick Trick: If you can replace the word with "you are," use “you’re.” Simple, right?

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Their/There/They’re – The Triple Threat

You know the drill, but in the heat of writing a killer appeal, sometimes the wrong one sneaks in.

• There → refers to a location (Your donation helps children there).
• Their → shows possession (Their generosity made a difference).
• They’re → short for they are (They’re supporting a great cause).

✅ Fix it: Slow down. Check which one you meant to use.

💡 Pro tip: Donors will appreciate the extra attention to detail!

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The Comma Conundrum

Commas can be your best friend—or your worst enemy.

Without them, your sentences will run on like a kid after cake at a fundraising event.

But if you add too many, every sentence feels like, it's trying to catch, its breath.

✅ Fix it: Stick to the basics:

• Use commas to separate thoughts or items in a list.
• Read it out loud—if you’re gasping for breath, you probably have too many commas.

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To vs. Too (And Two)

This one’s simple, yet still trips people up.

• To → shows direction (We are going to the donor appreciation event).
• Too → means “also” or “excess” (That email had too many errors).
• Two → the number 2 (Two sponsors matched the donations).

✅ Fix it:
Remember: “Too” has an extra 'o' for when there’s extra anything—too much, too little, too late (as in, your donor’s response when they see this mistake!).

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Final Thoughts: Keep It Sharp, Keep It Credible

Nobody’s perfect. (Even I’ve been guilty of a typo or two... or seven.) But when you’re asking for donations, making these grammar mistakes can chip away at your credibility.

✅ Double-check your writing
✅ Run it through spellcheck
✅ Ask a friend to read it over before you hit send

Your donors (and your pride) will thank you.

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Stay sharp out there!

Best,
Danny Louis
The Copywriter Who Cares About Grammar (and Donor IQs)

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P.S. If you're still struggling with grammar, remember:

💡 You’re awesome.
💡 Your donors are awesome, too.
💡 It’s truly their support that makes everything possible.

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(See what I did there? 😎)

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