Hope I am putting this in the proper forum. We are a relatively small organization (approx. 4,500 constituent records). We are in the process of preparing for our first annual appeal, which also happens to be our first appeal through Raiser's Edge. 75-80% of our constituents are previous memorial donors and quite a few of those are local businesses entered as organizations. We do want to target those who have given in the past, however what kind of success rate have any of you seen in soliciting organizations for an annual appeal? Is it worth the printing and postage costs or should we focus more on individuals? Many of these organizations made a one-time donation in memory of a colleage or former employee - does history show that organizations tend to continue memorializing such people? Any advice is appreciated. Lori Del Nero Administrative Assistant VNA/Hospice of Monroe County East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania [Email Removed]

The only thing I have noticed about organizations is that many of ours prefer to give at the same time every year. We started only asking in the fall and it had the same sucess we have every year at that time. Many of them held onto their gift cards until the next year and gave at the same time they usually give. 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!