Hi! We are doing a major acquisition mailing this Fall. I new to the fundraising world and was wondering if anyone had any rule of thumb retention advice. Our current plan is: 1. Personal call welcoming the new donor, asking them if they have any questions, how often would they like to/how would they like to hear from us. 2. Mailed a special receipt/welcome package with an small overview brochure 3. Month after the first gift a special mailing Should there be another special mailing before adding them to the general mail stream?? Maybe with some specific results on what they initial responded to (i.e. HIV/AID programs, etc.) What has worked for your organizations?

I wish we had program like that at our hospital! Right now, we're just doing a personally signed letter. Please forgive my ignorance, what systems do you have in place to make this automatic? Marc Marc A. Pitman Inland Foundation Waterville, ME USA http://inlandfoundation.org/  http://fundraisingcoach.com/

We set up a special appeal ID for each topic and during gift processing they enter that appeal.

We can then set up a special mail merge/receipt based on that appeal and since it is in a special run we know which ones are 'new'.

Is that what you meant?

If this doesn't make sense feel free to email me at [Email Removed]

That's EXACTLY what I meant. Thanks! Marc A. Pitman Inland Foundation Waterville, ME USA http://inlandfoundation.org/  http://fundraisingcoach.com/

I was reading a brochure from the AFP recently about membership and it said that first-time donors who make a second gift within four months of their first gift are more likely to become consistent annual donors. It sounds like you are doing most of the right things to get that second gift. Another point the brochure makes is that the second mailing should be a "credibility piece" that explains how effective and efficient and careful with a dollar your organization is. However, it sounds like you'll be tailoring that second letter according to the information you gather from your "Welcome" phone calls. Who is making those calls? Keep us posted on your progress! Marilyn R. Shriver Development Director Save The Bay, Inc. - Narragansett Bay Providence, RI

Thanks for the feedback/info Marilyn! The calls will be made by our account managers - so they know our programs and the letter will include their name/phone number so if the donor has additional questions they can reach someone here. It will be more taxing than our regular flow of new donors but we really feel the investment will be worth it in the long term.

I highly recommend Penelope Burk's book Donor Centered Fundraising. she has done TONS of research on donor retention and she is a GOD. very specific helpful information. Eva Owens Director of Development Austin Humane Society