Question...

[demiurgician]

I'm in the process of writing this year's Direct Mail appeal for work. You know, those letters you get saying "Please give us money? Please?" only none of you will get this one because we only send them to members of the organization.

I'm really excited about this, it's the type of thing I really enjoy doing and it makes me feel like I'm really

Comments

[belladonnalin]

My tip #1 is a DON'T - don't do the "if we don't get this money, we will go under" threat. Lots of organizations do that, it makes your organization look fiscally irresponsible, and just makes people cringe.

However ... remind them of what you do, of the programs that they help support. Give an inspirational story or something, a face or program to put to the larger mission statement - I find that a lot of "oh, I should do that" and then not doing it giving tends to be because it feels so enormous, sometimes it's hard to put a finger on why THIS org is going to get the cash.

[enigmaticblues]

If you have any success stories or something like that, where the person who is donating can get a concrete example of what their money would be doing or going, that might be good. I know it's easier for me to give when I can put a name or face to it.

And I'm so excited that you're doing something like that!

[agnwanderer]

I like to know what my money will possibly pay for. I think concrete examples are good, but don't go to sappy like those starving children on TV adds. Also, talk a bit about the organization to make sure people know that it is a reputable source.

[demiurgician]

Good call, esp. with the concrete examples. I'm not too worried about them knowing we're a reputable source as we're only asking for money from people who are members of Zonta already.

[missducttape]

How about citing future goals? If I were a regular contributor, I'd hope I'd already have a working knowlege of what's currently being done. After concrete examples ("This is what your money is currently doing."), I'd list what new things have come up ("This is what we'll need money for next.") I like that idea of showing them what great things are already happening and then getting them interested in new things that build off that history.