This is an area we've never before used. We now have a prospect researcher (hospital foundation) that is interested in possibly using this area, but we'd like to get your input as to how and why it is/can be used and any other info anyone can give us. Thanks!

We use this for mailings. For example we send out a Spring mailing to acquire new donors. What we would use the package codes for is to further break down our appeal code. Each package code would represent a list that we used in the mailings whether we rented them from other organizations or if the list was from a magazine subscription. This way we can track not only how many gifts come in off of the appeal but we can see which lists were more successful than others. So, basically it would look like this. Appeal = MS07...and then a package code could look like this S71. In the description of setting up the package code of S71 you would enter which list this code represented. Hope this is helpful Maryann Snyder [Email Removed] Parkland Foundation

We use this to segment our solicitation appeals: Say you are sending out a spring mailing. I create an Appeal like 2007 Spring Direct Mail I then create segments that are meaningful for us to breakdown for reporting - expense versus return things etc. Examples of Packages in this scenario: Renewal Acquisition 'Purchased' Community List Reactivated (SYBUNT from previous year) Perhaps your segments are based on the materials that get shipped with your solicitation and they're different for each group. (First class mailing versus Bulk on the Renewals you're trying to moves management into a higher gift...etc.) Hope this helps! Laurel Quaintance Friends of Bassett Manager,Fund Development Services Cooperstown, NY 13326 [Email Removed] 'please forgive my typing mistakes!'

We use this a lot with events to tell what was sent. Example: Appeal is 2007 Luncheon; packages are Underwriter package, General Invitaton, Comp Invitation. We also segment our Annual Fund mailing and use packages to show which segment the constituent falls into. Jo Jo Ward Neuhaus Education Center (713) 664-7676 ext. 233 [Email Removed]

I was planning to use the package for the ticket levels in my upcoming event. Does anyone use it that way? And if you don't, how do you track the various ticket levels and their associated benefits? We do have the events module but that doesn't seem to solve the issue of varying levels of tickets and different benefits -- in order to make sure that we give the participant an accurate tax-deductible amount. Laurie @ Kempe

Package is best used when you use it as a subdivision of the appeal. For events we use it to identify which volunteer gave us the name to invite (rather than making them all solicitors). For Direct mail we use it to identify the segment (lapsed, current, first time donor, etc. Appeal and package usually identify what went out not what came in. We use a gift attribute to track the ticket level and number of tickets. We have the event module but you can't do financial reporting on units (as they are called in the events module) so we had to add the attribute. *** I can spell, I just can't type. Where is spell check? Melissa S. Graves Manager, Development Database & Direct Mail Planned Parenthood of Connecticut [Email Removed] 203-752-2804

I don't use appeals and packages to track my event tickets. How I manage this is with the registration fees/Units in the event module - The is a spot to put the 'receipt' amount when you enter in the different levels of fees. When I link the gifts to the event module - I glance at the registration fee tab which has the correct receipt amount and transfer that to the receipt amount field on the Gift. It's not very elegant - but it works for us right now and I can always double check my receipt values via a constituent query - listing Amount Paid, Registration Fee and Receipt Amount under the Event Participants area. Laurel Quaintance Friends of Bassett Manager,Fund Development Services Cooperstown, NY 13326 [Email Removed] 'please forgive my typing mistakes!'

We have begun to use packages but have become frustrated on the reporting end. Reports do not allow the option of filtering by package. For those of you who use packages what is your basic report used to show the results of a package? Thanks Tina Gorski-Strong Director of Alumni Relations The Wheeler School Providence RI [Email Removed]

I use the Appeal Performance Analysis. On the Format tab, in Detail, I check off "include package information." ****************************** Dawn Veillette Diana Development Manager The Children's Museum (formerly Science Center of Connecticut) West Hartford, CT 860.231.2830 x51 [Email Removed] Igniting Curiosity through Science and Nature ****************************** [i]--- Edited at 2/22/2007 12:22:10 PM by Dawn Veillette Diana[/i]

 I don't currently use packages this way currently, but I have in the past and worked very well for the organization. It not only segments the current event, but will help in planning future events by providing a historical reference to table/chair levels. This allows for segementing future event invitations by past event table/chair levels (which you also suggest a higher level); space requirements based on the number and size of the tables; and how many of each invitations for each level you should consider printing and mailing.