Don Akchin

“Every nonprofit’s email list has gold,” asserts Ifdy Perez, a partner in the social marketing collaborative Razoo. Even if your database has only the most basic information, you can still extract precious nuggets of intelligence from it.  She has some interesting ideas for how to go about it.

“Your degree from [Shall Remain Nameless] has helped you get ahead in life,” said the direct mail fundraising piece. Only it hasn’t.  Because I never got a degree from Shall Remain Nameless. I think I attended a couple of seminars there, and that put me on the mailing list. But shouldn’t the database at Shall Remain Nameless be able to distinguish the alumni from the occasional visitors? I think so, and if this happens again it shall not remain nameless a second time. Then I got the email blast from one of my favorite organizations, one that receives a regular, generous monthly transfusion from my credit card to its bottom line. Headline: “When Will You Support [us]?”  First line: “You’ve been listening to [us] for a while now but have not made a membership contribution.”   Uh-oh. But here lies an advantage of email marketing over direct mail. Not even three hours later,

Convio salutes its most innovative clients – most of them nonprofit organizations – each year at an annual conference. Check out the 2008 winners for inspiration in implementing web sites, email campaigns, online advocacy, special events fundraising and other categories.

Convio salutes its most innovative clients – most of them nonprofit organizations – each year at an annual conference. Check out the 2008 winners for inspiration in implementing web sites, email campaigns, online advocacy, special events fundraising and other categories.

Convio salutes its most innovative clients – most of them nonprofit organizations – each year at an annual conference. Check out the 2008 winners for inspiration in implementing web sites, email campaigns, online advocacy, special events fundraising and other categories.

A fundraising blogger offers a few simple, no-cost ideas for growing your existing donor base.

A fundraising blogger offers a few simple, no-cost ideas for growing your existing donor base.

A fundraising blogger offers a few simple, no-cost ideas for growing your existing donor base.

Two of my clients are actively searching for a database that manages mailing lists, donor information, mass emails and online donations – and is also easy to use and inexpensive. Depending on how you define “inexpensive” and “easy,” there are surprisingly good options. TechSoup has a useful comparison chart of eight well-priced, popular programs, and IdealWare has another valuable assessment of lower-cost online integrated applications.

Two of my clients are actively searching for a database that manages mailing lists, donor information, mass emails and online donations – and is also easy to use and inexpensive. Depending on how you define “inexpensive” and “easy,” there are surprisingly good options. TechSoup has a useful comparison chart of eight well-priced, popular programs, and IdealWare has another valuable assessment of lower-cost online integrated applications.

Two of my clients are actively searching for a database that manages mailing lists, donor information, mass emails and online donations – and is also easy to use and inexpensive. Depending on how you define “inexpensive” and “easy,” there are surprisingly good options. TechSoup has a useful comparison chart of eight well-priced, popular programs, and IdealWare has another valuable assessment of lower-cost online integrated applications.