If you don't take the time to take action for the good of the sector, you are essentially condoning its deterioration. Heed Angel's advice. Do your part. Visit www.dmaaction.org and make your voice, your organization's voice, your beneficiaries' and donors' voices heard. Without your help, there will be organizations that suffer, people whose needs won't be met, and all the great work your organizations do will be weakened.
If you can't even get the person's name or last gift right, how on earth do you expect a donor to believe you will use his or her donations effectively?
During the Nonprofit Organization of the Year Award Luncheon at the 2011 New York Nonprofit Conference last Wednesday, the talk prior to the Human Rights Campaign accepting the honor centered around the measures to eliminate nonprofit mail discounts and restrict charitable deductions.
If you haven't heard, there's a new report available on multichannel fundraising from FundRaising Success sister brand DirectMarketingIQ. The report, "The Art & Science of Multichannel Fundraising," which I am honored to be a part of, is a guide of best practices, tips, techniques and case studies on multichannel fundraising campaigns compiled by some of the nonprofit industry's brightest minds and most successful organizations.
The Direct Marketing Fundraisers Association passed along the full list of winners and runners-up for its Package of the Year awards. Bringing home the highest honor, Package of the Year, was Fountain House for its Flying Cat Pads and Cards campaign.
There's a fine line between raising funds and raising donors' ire through direct mail. Make sure you toe the rope carefully and send your donors relevant, engaging direct-mail solicitaions.
Pardon me as I steal from Mail Enterprises' ever-gracious Scott Swedenburg today. As usual, his quarterly Direct Fundraising Tips e-letter brought a smile to my face, so I thought I would share some of it with you. Here, Scott offers tips on how to help donors get excited about writing that check.
