Date Posted:17:03:43 08/26/04 Thu Author:Ginger Arnold Subject: Mass Mailings
On the listserve this past week there was talk about doing mass mailings. Some people said bad things about doing them. I for one have had great success with doing them! I am in a very small harbor town on the west coast of WA. Our phone book is less than an inch thick. In July I sit down with my last three years of sponsors lists and the phone book. I send a letter to everyone that explains how important the NIE program is to our kids and how they can become a part of such an important program. I include a three-fold flier that has a payment stub and explains in more detail what is in it for each sponsor, and my business card. I give them two weeks to respond. If I haven't heard anything from them at that point I make a phone call. I introduce myself and ask if they received my letter. Most of the time I either get a "not interested" or a definite yes. I got a late start to fundraising this summer and just sent out the first wave of letters (I do them in small batches so the company doesn't have a huge postage bill all at once.) on the 9th of August. To date I have received $2220. It takes about $4500 to fund my program a year. So I am about 1/2 way to my goal. I send out small batches of these letters until I complete the phone book. It takes me about 2-3 months every two weeks of mailing. By January if I have not received enough money to cover the last half of the year I will hit the street with the good ole' shoe leather. I haven't had to do this even once in the 3 1/2 years I have had this position. (hear me knocking on wood!) I would gladly email anyone a copy of these forms I use. Just email me. I use word for Mac to write my forms. If you can't open them just let me know and I can fax copies to you. Good Luck to everyone for the upcoming year!
Ginger Arnold
The Daily World
Aberdeen, WA
360-532-4000 ext. 239
Mass Mailings