Monday, February 5, 2007
Surprise, surprise – my mailbox last week was filled with a bunch more credit card solicitations, as well as a few opportunities to stop worrying and learn to love tax time...by tax prep software people. Too bad (for them) that I use an accountant.
BAD FUNDRAISING PRACTICES
(A) One of the worst direct mailers in the country is a national charity that shall go unnamed. Their stuff is absolutely brutal!
Normally, I feel sorry for a worthy cause that can't compete with more sophisticated non-profits. But this organization brags about the fact that it doesn't use professional fundraisers. They're actually proud of the fact that they write and produce such ineffective and over-costly mailings.
I could go on and on about what a waste of money their mailings are and how they're able to help fewer people because of their refusal to enter the 20th century, let alone the 21st. But I'm only writing a blog and not a book.
I'll see. Maybe I'll get into their package in greater depth in my next issue of Rants 'N Raves.
(B) I received a package from another fundraiser that certainly scores high on the professionalism scale.
The outer envelope is compelling. The donation card is well done. They've included an item that recipients will consider helpful and will, at the same time, promote the organization's name. And most of the letter is well-written.
So what's my gripe? They lied to me.
They say that, "thanks to me", they were able to fund over 900 researchers, spend $5 million in research projects, sponsor 10 students, distribute 14,259 informational binders and educate 569,132 members of the public.
They'd be right if I'd donated something like $10 million. But I only gave them about $50 or $60.
PRESCRIPTION: Don't tell donors that they were solely responsible for such achievements. Tell them the truth – that they "helped" the organization accomplish a great deal. Then the reader will believe your next statements and not dismiss them the way they were by...
Dr. Bob
b_knight@telus.net
BAD FUNDRAISING PRACTICES
(A) One of the worst direct mailers in the country is a national charity that shall go unnamed. Their stuff is absolutely brutal!
Normally, I feel sorry for a worthy cause that can't compete with more sophisticated non-profits. But this organization brags about the fact that it doesn't use professional fundraisers. They're actually proud of the fact that they write and produce such ineffective and over-costly mailings.
I could go on and on about what a waste of money their mailings are and how they're able to help fewer people because of their refusal to enter the 20th century, let alone the 21st. But I'm only writing a blog and not a book.
I'll see. Maybe I'll get into their package in greater depth in my next issue of Rants 'N Raves.
(B) I received a package from another fundraiser that certainly scores high on the professionalism scale.
The outer envelope is compelling. The donation card is well done. They've included an item that recipients will consider helpful and will, at the same time, promote the organization's name. And most of the letter is well-written.
So what's my gripe? They lied to me.
They say that, "thanks to me", they were able to fund over 900 researchers, spend $5 million in research projects, sponsor 10 students, distribute 14,259 informational binders and educate 569,132 members of the public.
They'd be right if I'd donated something like $10 million. But I only gave them about $50 or $60.
PRESCRIPTION: Don't tell donors that they were solely responsible for such achievements. Tell them the truth – that they "helped" the organization accomplish a great deal. Then the reader will believe your next statements and not dismiss them the way they were by...
Dr. Bob
b_knight@telus.net
posted by DoctorBob | 4:03 PM
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