Getting Telefundraising in Gear

Another key to success is outreach. Though federal do-not-call legislation doesn't really affect nonprofits -- only requiring them to keep track of and respect prospects' and donors' wishes to not be solicited by phone -- there's a negative perception of telemarketing and telefundraising that has to be overcome and makes it even harder to reach potential donors. "It takes more energy, more times dialing that phone than it ever has before to reach the maximum percentage of your population," Pavelka says. Organizations have to respond to this challenge by doing the math and finding ways to reach the maximum percentage of their population, she adds.