DM Diagnosis: What’s New?

Each of the four Wishbucks coupons has a value based on my gift history, and each has a photo and story of a child’s wish. And the letter gives additional examples of children’s wishes, encouraging me to return one or more of the Wishbucks with my donation made out in the same amount.

There is nothing deceptive about this package, and in no way does it pretend to be a matching-gift offer. But it has taken a successful matching-funds technique and made it Make-A-Wish’s own. Bravo!

Turning trash into treasure
Vietnam Veterans of America and Lupus Foundation of America have an interesting offer in the mail these days. The 5.5-inch-by-7.75-inch closed-face, white outer is addressed to “Resident” and contains only one item: a large plastic bag. No letter, no reply device, no return envelope — none required, because everything is printed on the carrier envelope.

In essence, they’re trolling for junk and, if you’ve got any, you simply put it in the bag and it will be picked up on the appointed day. Both organizations clearly explain that donated items will be sold to for-profit wholesale buyers and proceeds will support the groups’ missions.

But here’s the weird thing: While the Lupus Foundation understandably requests, “Please, no furniture or large items,” Vietnam Veterans of America asks, “Please … no cash donations.”

Wouldn’t it seem any nonprofit organization engaged in junkraising could benefit from a reply envelope inside the package along with the plastic bag? Because even though they’re not using fundraising-responsive lists to hunt for junk (nor are they targeting direct-mail responsive lists at all, in fact), why turn away occasional cash gifts that would at least help cover the cost of the solicitation?

New offers might not materialize every day, but new ways of approaching old ones can. Let us be luminous beings in that endeavor.