Comments for happy donors http://happydonors.com fundraising tips to help you cultivate donors via mail and online Sat, 27 Oct 2012 19:57:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.4.2 Comment on Zen and fundraising response metrics by Dan http://happydonors.com/?p=839&cpage=1#comment-101277 Dan Sat, 27 Oct 2012 19:57:26 +0000 http://happydonors.com/?p=839#comment-101277 Yep, what you describe falls among the several types of fairly standard acknowledgments: 1) Straight Thank You, as personal as possible, specific to the appeal that this donor responded to, mention dollar amount of gift, maybe a section that can act as a receipt for tax purposes, no ask, no reply. 2) Same as 1), but include a gift form and reply envelope. Still no ask in the letter. Gift form has "please keep for your next gift to XOrgX". Gift form is usually personalized in the same pass as the letter, usually perfed from letter. Many/most groups have tested into this approach. 3) Same as 2), but include a specific ask amount in the letter. This is not generally used except as an acknowledgment designed specifically to get a second donation from a first-time donor. In this case, the letter directly thanks the donors for "joining our donor community" and suggesting they somehow establish this as a personal tradition by making this gift. 4) I've not seen tent cards used cost-effectively as bounce-back acknowledgements with a reply form, largely because I'd always want to personalize the form AND the tent card messaging which adds the cost of match-mail. Several vendors now do a fairly cost-efficient tent card with faux handwriting, plus a nested personalized gift card, as you likely know. Great on high-end lists and/or when your client isn't comfortable doing more conventional long-letter formats. (Again, as you likely know Otis.) Best ... Yep, what you describe falls among the several types of fairly standard acknowledgments:
1) Straight Thank You, as personal as possible, specific to the appeal that this donor responded to, mention dollar amount of gift, maybe a section that can act as a receipt for tax purposes, no ask, no reply.
2) Same as 1), but include a gift form and reply envelope. Still no ask in the letter. Gift form has “please keep for your next gift to XOrgX”. Gift form is usually personalized in the same pass as the letter, usually perfed from letter. Many/most groups have tested into this approach.
3) Same as 2), but include a specific ask amount in the letter. This is not generally used except as an acknowledgment designed specifically to get a second donation from a first-time donor. In this case, the letter directly thanks the donors for “joining our donor community” and suggesting they somehow establish this as a personal tradition by making this gift.
4) I’ve not seen tent cards used cost-effectively as bounce-back acknowledgements with a reply form, largely because I’d always want to personalize the form AND the tent card messaging which adds the cost of match-mail. Several vendors now do a fairly cost-efficient tent card with faux handwriting, plus a nested personalized gift card, as you likely know. Great on high-end lists and/or when your client isn’t comfortable doing more conventional long-letter formats. (Again, as you likely know Otis.) Best …

]]> Comment on Zen and fundraising response metrics by Otis Maxwell http://happydonors.com/?p=839&cpage=1#comment-101088 Otis Maxwell Sat, 27 Oct 2012 00:47:46 +0000 http://happydonors.com/?p=839#comment-101088 How about this compromise: a sincere "thank you" note or tent card accompanied by a donation card and reply envelope which are not mentioned in the note, but there in case the recipient is moved to give? Have you tried this? Do you approve at least as a test? How about this compromise: a sincere “thank you” note or tent card accompanied by a donation card and reply envelope which are not mentioned in the note, but there in case the recipient is moved to give? Have you tried this? Do you approve at least as a test?

]]> Comment on Why donors don’t read your fundraising letters … by Otis Maxwell http://happydonors.com/?p=802&cpage=1#comment-50874 Otis Maxwell Fri, 18 Nov 2011 03:48:06 +0000 http://happydonors.com/?p=802#comment-50874 Thanks, Daniel, for the mention! While they are there, your readers can actually download a preview which is the first several chapters of the book in addition to the article you mentioned. Just click on the image of the book upper right when you get to Otis Regrets... or not using the link above. Thanks, Daniel, for the mention! While they are there, your readers can actually download a preview which is the first several chapters of the book in addition to the article you mentioned. Just click on the image of the book upper right when you get to Otis Regrets… or not using the link above.

]]> Comment on Make sure donors know where they’re going by Dan http://happydonors.com/?p=746&cpage=1#comment-26801 Dan Wed, 11 May 2011 15:30:52 +0000 http://happydonors.com/?p=746#comment-26801 Ok, today I got a follow-up Defenders email, this time leading to a video where Cloris Leachman somewhat uncomfortably encourages Colbert to gain balls. It's a campaign. Hey, I'm all for taking risks as long as you're up for all consequences. Ok, today I got a follow-up Defenders email, this time leading to a video where Cloris Leachman somewhat uncomfortably encourages Colbert to gain balls. It’s a campaign.
Hey, I’m all for taking risks as long as you’re up for all consequences.

]]> Comment on Use a money-back guarantee in fundraising? by John Lepp http://happydonors.com/?p=638&cpage=1#comment-15897 John Lepp Mon, 17 Jan 2011 14:10:40 +0000 http://happydonors.com/?p=638#comment-15897 Thanks for the shout out Dan... and it's good to see someone putting that type of guarantee in place. Apparently in Canada, charities CAN NOT offer a money back guarantee - good for charities, bad for the donor. Thanks for the shout out Dan… and it’s good to see someone putting that type of guarantee in place. Apparently in Canada, charities CAN NOT offer a money back guarantee – good for charities, bad for the donor.

]]> Comment on Lessons from a bad donor experience by Dan http://happydonors.com/?p=602&cpage=1#comment-5130 Dan Tue, 22 Jun 2010 22:31:13 +0000 http://happydonors.com/?p=602#comment-5130 I appreciate your feelings, Jonathan, but I wasn't slamming the Ocean Conservancy or their great efforts in the midst of this mess in the Gulf. My intent -- and the goal of this blog -- is to try to help organizations attend to their donors in ways that cultivate long-term giving. This organization is great in the field, but slipped up in pretty critical ways in allowing donors to have a satisfactory relationship with them. An experience like this would drive anyone away from a retail outlet selling the a "product", and nonprofits are held to, if anything, a higher standard. As well they should be, given the number of groups worthy of donations. I'd like to think my prodding will encourage this organization to eliminate a couple of barriers to continuing giving. They tell me this is happening. I hope so, and wish them, and you, all the best. Thanks Dan Shaw I appreciate your feelings, Jonathan, but I wasn’t slamming the Ocean Conservancy or their great efforts in the midst of this mess in the Gulf. My intent — and the goal of this blog — is to try to help organizations attend to their donors in ways that cultivate long-term giving. This organization is great in the field, but slipped up in pretty critical ways in allowing donors to have a satisfactory relationship with them. An experience like this would drive anyone away from a retail outlet selling the a “product”, and nonprofits are held to, if anything, a higher standard. As well they should be, given the number of groups worthy of donations. I’d like to think my prodding will encourage this organization to eliminate a couple of barriers to continuing giving. They tell me this is happening. I hope so, and wish them, and you, all the best.
Thanks
Dan Shaw

]]> Comment on Lessons from a bad donor experience by Jonathan http://happydonors.com/?p=602&cpage=1#comment-5129 Jonathan Tue, 22 Jun 2010 21:39:55 +0000 http://happydonors.com/?p=602#comment-5129 I saw retweets of this, interesting Blog. However I must say you are awfully selfish for slamming an OCEAN CONSERVATION group in the midst of an unprecendented environmental crisis to which they are responding. You seemed to be really emotionally invested in this transaction (terms like boil over and gile?) . Did you ever stop and think that perhaps it wasn't all about you? I am enviromental activist/ fundraisier and it is upsetting when members of the public think their donation gives them carte blanche to be hyper critical. Of course thereneeds to be accountabilty, transparency and action but this goes beyond that. Often they are very out of touch with the reality of what is going on on the ground and want immediate "results" as if they are buying a product. Perhaps they are buying contrition from their guilt? OC's VP was on MSNBC recently and he was very impressive, plus their you tube feed shows the work they are doing in the Gulf-- live from the scene. NGO's are not Starbucks or Macy's, Greenpeace, Sierra, Human, Ocean Conservancy, etc. exist to fight the good fight within the thier given scope-- not to serve the donor. Like is said very interesting blog-- we will stay tuned. I saw retweets of this, interesting Blog. However I must say you are awfully selfish for slamming an OCEAN CONSERVATION group in the midst of an unprecendented environmental crisis to which they are responding. You seemed to be really emotionally invested in this transaction (terms like boil over and gile?) . Did you ever stop and think that perhaps it wasn’t all about you?

I am enviromental activist/ fundraisier and it is upsetting when members of the public think their donation gives them carte blanche to be hyper critical. Of course thereneeds to be accountabilty, transparency and action but this goes beyond that. Often they are very out of touch with the reality of what is going on on the ground and want immediate “results” as if they are buying a product. Perhaps they are buying contrition from their guilt?

OC’s VP was on MSNBC recently and he was very impressive, plus their you tube feed shows the work they are doing in the Gulf– live from the scene. NGO’s are not Starbucks or Macy’s, Greenpeace, Sierra, Human, Ocean Conservancy, etc. exist to fight the good fight within the thier given scope– not to serve the donor.

Like is said very interesting blog– we will stay tuned.

]]> Comment on How to create a very Unhappy Donor by John lepp http://happydonors.com/?p=591&cpage=1#comment-5013 John lepp Sun, 13 Jun 2010 16:57:12 +0000 http://happydonors.com/?p=591#comment-5013 Well that is brutal. I hope there is a follow up post to this Dan... Something along e lines of "they profusely apologized..." I'm posting this on Twitter in case they happen to be listening although, I'm guessing they aren't. Well that is brutal. I hope there is a follow up post to this Dan… Something along e lines of “they profusely apologized…” I’m posting this on Twitter in case they happen to be listening although, I’m guessing they aren’t.

]]> Comment on “P.S. You’ll read me.” by Dan http://happydonors.com/?p=367&cpage=1#comment-2445 Dan Fri, 25 Sep 2009 12:52:53 +0000 http://happydonors.com/?p=367#comment-2445 The key word is "so-called". Many generalist ad agencies claim to DO direct marketing, but they don't know all that much. You have plenty of excellent direct response fundraisers in Britain. Keep looking! The key word is “so-called”. Many generalist ad agencies claim to DO direct marketing, but they don’t know all that much. You have plenty of excellent direct response fundraisers in Britain. Keep looking!

]]> Comment on “P.S. You’ll read me.” by DCA http://happydonors.com/?p=367&cpage=1#comment-2441 DCA Thu, 24 Sep 2009 15:18:59 +0000 http://happydonors.com/?p=367#comment-2441 So why do so many so-called direct marketing agencies not put them in their copy then? I've even had to resort to testing the inclusion of a PS to prove my point. Grrr. So why do so many so-called direct marketing agencies not put them in their copy then? I’ve even had to resort to testing the inclusion of a PS to prove my point. Grrr.

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