The start of a new fiscal year is upon us, and we are revisiting how we track ask levels and how we name our appeals. This is my first chance to set up a new fiscal year in RE at this organization and I want to make sure we do it the best way we can.

In the past the appeals have been named things like "AF 05-06 Builder" (Builder is one of our leadership categories). It is completely driven by the ask level. Prior to my arrival, packages were never used, and I started implementing them so that we can track which mailings were best responded to.

I would like to start using a separate appeal for each mailing, so that we can track how many and which communications a constituent received, and if we need to, using package to track the asks. We are also moving away from our appeal letters asking for a donor category, but rather asking for a specific dollar amount.

After all that, my question is: how do you track your ask levels for your constituents? Should I enter tham as packages? Should I use the target field on bio 2? My colleagues would like to be able to track the asks, so the target field may mean extra work to add attributes or notes when new ask levels are added for next year. What has worked for everyone else?

Thanks! :)

Johanna Shaw
Development and Alumni Relations Associate
School Year Abroad
[Email Removed]

Johanna - For our direct mail annual appeals we actually incorporate the ask level in the appeal description. We do not use packages for these particular appeals because everything goes out the same way - by a direct mail piece done by an outside vendor. We utilize packages for other appeals though. A small sample of our recent appeal IDs/Descriptions from our spring annual appeal: IR1Z06 IR1Z06-Current $1,000 - $4,999.99 IR1Z16 IR1Z16-Current $500 - $999.99 IR1Z26 IR1Z26-Current $250 - $499.99 IR1Z36 IR1Z36-Current $100 - $249.99 IR1Z46 IR1Z46-Current $50 - $99.99 IR1Z56 IR1Z56-Current $25 - $49.99 IR1Z66 IR1Z66-Current $20 - $24.99 IR1Z76 IR1Z76-Current $10 - $19.99 IR2106 IR2106-Lybunt $5,000 and up IR2116 IR2116-Lybunt $1,000 to $4,999.99 IR2126 IR2126-Lybunt $500 to $999.99 IR2136 IR2136-Lybunt $250 to $499.99 IR2146 IR2146-Lybunt $100 to $249.99 IR2156 IR2156-Lybunt $50 to $99.99 IR2166 IR2166-Lybunt $25 to $49.99 IR2176 IR2176-Lybunt $20 to $24.99 IR2186 IR2186-Lybunt $10 to $19.99 IR2196 IR2196-Lybynt under $10 IR3106 IR3106-Lapsed $5,000 + IR3116 IR3116-Lapsed $1,000-4,999.99 IR3126 IR3126-Lapsed $500-999.99 IR3136 IR3136-Lapsed $250-499.99 IR3146 IR3146-Lapsed $100 to $249.99 IR3156 IR3156-Lapsed $50 to $99.99     IR3166 IR3166-Lapsed under $50 IR3206 IR3206-Lapsed $5,000 + IR3216 IR3216-Lapsed $1,000-$4,999.99 IR3226 IR3226-Lapsed $500-$999.99 IR3236 IR3236-Lapsed $250-$499.99 IR3246 IR3246-Lasped $100-$249.99 IR3256 IR3256-Lapsed $50-$99.99 IR3266 IR3266-Lapsed $49.99 and under Tracie Cassidy Database Coordinator Seattle Children's Hospital Foundation (206) 987-6833 [Email Removed] Check out the "other" forum! http://reusers.server-planet.com