Talking Back
How has a recent investment in new Internet software affected your organization’s fundraising?
“The Wildlife Conservation Society now has a custom-built interface between our Web site and our database. This interface has made it easier for our members to donate and renew their memberships online by using their ID numbers to retrieve records rather than requiring that a new enrollment form be filled out every time someone gives. … Making the WCS Web experience more like other online sites by increasing convenience and speed, plus shortening acknowledgement and fulfillment time, has definitely had a positive impact. Our members tell us that the speed and benefits of joining via the Web lead them to choose the online experience over mail or phone.”
— Kathleen J. Allard, assistant director of membership, Wildlife Conservation Society, Bronx, N.Y.
“In 2003, our organization celebrated 100 years of service to the community, so we wanted to have a “big party” so to speak, to celebrate. One of our board directors gave us access to more than 1,300 potential donors, and we needed some way to capture this information. So, we decided to purchase donor software. … I am pleased with the software [FundTrack] and have transferred all our donor records, including the 1,300 potential donors, to this system. There are a few glitches, but overall it has helped better manage our donor database.”
— Crystal C. Cox, development director, Wesley House, St. Louis
LETTERS to the Editor
To the Editor:
“Is Letter Writing Really About Good Grammar?” (Just Slightly Contrarian, April 2005) NO! And thank you so much for being a bastion to those of us who’ve been preaching that to grammar lovers.
I write letters, text for publications, text for the Web and the occasional speech or announcement. And there has always been some conflict over light and motivational vs. heavy and old school.
