Taking care of people — in times of crisis, in times of need — is a high calling. It's an honor to play some small part through our work with human and social services and religious organizations. We also recognize that these organizations face particular challenges and circumstances in their fundraising efforts. Some of the particular needs we keep in mind when working with such clients include:
- Your fundraising often centers on substantial direct mail efforts. You need to easily segment your prospects in your donor database and generate mailing lists that get the right piece of mail to the right person, and no mail to some.
- You may use acquisition lists to augment your own prospect and donor files. When someone “converts” to a donor, you need a smooth process for entering them in your system.
- Working with mailhouse to merge/purge your lists and generate your mailings requires a high degree of efficiency and accuracy.
- With all this effort, you want clear, easy-to-produce reporting on which mailings and lists are effective and which aren't so you can adjust your strategies.
- In addition to direct mail, you're cultivating major and planned giving prospects and may be coordinating intensive special events.
- Funding your programs may be a bit of a “hand-to-mouth” affair, and you need clear insight on your cash flow. Knowing when your gifts will be coming in can be critical.
