Is anyone using the package field in gift tracking? If so can you share a brief description of what you are tracking and what it rolls up into. Also do any of the standard reports calculate useful information for tracking packages? Donna Marie Foos Data Base Administrator American Red Cross of Southeastern Virginia 611 West Brambleton Avenue Norfolk, Virginia 23510 757.446.7382 [Email Removed]

We use package to describe the type of solicitation. Appeal = Spring 2005 Direct Mail Package = Hand signed by CEO (or Low Donor or Recent Donor, etc.) We send out different types of solicitations and Package narrows it down to the type. This way we know which type of letter/package is working well. Hope this helps. Aimee J. King Gifts Program and Stewardship Coordinator Inglis Foundation 2600 Belmont Avenue Philadelphia, PA 19131 voice: 215-581-0741 fax: 215-878-0904 email: [Email Removed] website: www.inglis.org

The Package function was one of Blackbaud's better improvments to RE. But you should know that the Dashboard has a report called Appeal Package Response, and while it's handy, it *double counts* any gift that is soft-credited, so the total isn't 100% accurate. I suggest running the Appeal Performance report - and including the Package info (an option on the Format tab).

Regards, Joe Meehan
Director of Database Administration
Saint John's Health Center Foundation
Santa Monica, Ca 90404
(310) 829-8895
[Email Removed]

I love packages. We use them for all of our appeals. When we do a Direct Mail we usually have separate letters for 1 time donors, renewal donors, LYBUNTS and Lapsed. We assign these as packages. We will even assign these as pacakges when there are no differences in the letters just so we can track response rates from these groups. Last I saw also the Dashboard did not allow you to use all dates so if you mailing falls over 2 calendar years or 2 fiscal years you can't report on the whole mailing. I therefore do not use dashboard for that. I use the appeal performance report. Melissa S. Graves Manager, Development Database & Direct Mail Planned Parenthood of Connecticut [Email Removed] 203-752-2804 *** Sorry my typing is not what it should be!

We break each appeal down into packages based on the distinct groupings that get different mailings (some are done in-house, some thru a mailhouse, some with first class postage, some bulk, some get personal notes from solicitors, some don't). All in all, we have 4-8 different presentations to go to different subgroupings, and using packages help us track how many of whom got which mailing -- and the related response rates. Mary Rindfleisch Ridgefield (CT) Library

We use packages to track the source of the gift. Here are some examples: Appeal: Auction Package 1: Sponsorship request Package 2: Fund an Item (these are sponsorship gifts solicted during the auction -- donors "bid" their scholarship donation amount) Package 3: In-kind donation request Appeal: Annual Fund Package 1: Fall mailer Package 2: Spring mailer Package 3: Individual solicitation Package 4: Unsolicited Appeal: Annual Banquet Package 1: Sponsorship request Package 2: Table envelope Package 3: Gift in lieu of attendance Appeal: Mission trip Package 1: Knightly News (our parent newsletter) Package 2: Individual solicitation Package 3: Student letter Package 4: Unsolicited When we get our AF solicitations scheduled for next year, I may split my appeal letters into two groups because two different letters will go out. For example, Spring-general AF and Spring-major donor AF. Hope this helps. Christine Mildner Heritage Christian School Hillsboro, OR [Email Removed]

I would love to use the Package setup; can you tell me how the actual process/logistics of doing a setup? Thanks! Margaret S Whitaker [Email Removed] Margaret Whitaker Presbyterian Hospital Foundation