I would like to know how other organizations use Appeal packages when mailing seperate letters to constituents.  In the past I have always created seperate appeals, but I am being asked to consider breaking the appeal down into packages.  My concern is financial reporting.  It makes it much easier to simply choose the appropriate appeal in the drop down and there I have my numbers, rather than a query, date parameters etc.  Not to mention, it is very helpful to me to look into the constituents appeals tab and see the specific appeals the donor has received.

 Any suggestions?

I actually find querying easier because I have my mailing as one appeal and I can select the entire thing without having to find each separate appeal code I used. The appeals tab records both the appeal and package so you can see exactly what a constituent was sent.

The way I use appeals I never need to use data parameters but might select an individual package.  Each mailing date gets a separate appeal so my Novemeber Donor Renewal mailing is coded 08-12DR and I have 6 package codes CDa, CDb, LYa, LYb, LPa and LPb.  (Current donor, LYBUNT and Lapsed).  I can then track how each group did using the appeal performance analysis report but when I want to get the whole group I only need to query on one appeal ID.

In March I will use a different appeal code.  For my acquisition mailings I will use a different appeal code.

This has been discussed previously as well.  Be sure to check past postings because I have gone into much more detail on use of campaigns, funds and appeals in past postings.