I'd appreciate hearing how other agencies handle the issue of selecting the proper addressee/salutation. For instance, if a donation is received signed by one person, with the matching correspondence and return address naming only that person, but the check also lists a spouse, do you only acknowledge that one person with the gift, or do you include the spouse's name as well? Do you assume that the way the correspondence is signed is the way the donor wants the gift acknowledged or do you always include the spouse as well? I'm most concerned with naming a spouse who may be deceased, or a couple who might be divorced/separated. Thanks for any input. Lori Del Nero Administrative Assistant VNA/Hospice of Monroe County East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania [Email Removed]

We continue to use the record's addresse until we hear otherwise from them. Assumin that a donor will not get upset the first time he/she must tell us a spouse is deceased. Database Consultant

Hi Lori! I use the names from the check even though the wife will sign the letter or vice versa. We use Couple Addressee and Salutation for all acknowledgement letters. We figure, if the check has both names, it's from both people, since it is a joint account - they both take responsibility. Knock on wood, we haven't had any problems. Aimee J. King Gifts Program and Stewardship Coordinator Inglis Foundation www.inglis.org

Don't forget that there are also business rules you can set in configuration, so that if someone is marked as deceased, you can have RE prompt you to change marital status, the send mail checkbox, and most importantly, the addressee/salutation.

If it is an existing account, and we have used Mr. & Mrs. without being corrected, we will continue to address them as such. If it is a new donor we don't assume that even though there are two names they are husband and wife. I did this once and was told, quite heatedly, that Patricia Jones was not married to her son, James Jones. For new accounts I add any other name under Relationships and code them: Additional Name on Check. Michael J. Sherman Donor Services Manager The Boys & Girls Clubs of Tampa Bay 1307 N. MacDill Avenue Tampa, FL 33607 813.769-7533 [Email Removed]

What I find interesting thouth is that the business rule fails to change Head of Household Status. Melissa S. Graves Manager, Development Database & Direct Mail Planned Parenthood of Connecticut [Email Removed] 203-752-2804 P.S. I will be attending the conference in October. A group of Forum users will be meeting on Sunday. Contact me directly if meeting interests you.