Dottie Simmons Parham

Smart Acquisition List Selection Oct. 18, 2005 By Dottie Simmons Parham Whether you're a small regional mailer, a first-time-in-the-mail political candidate or a large international nonprofit organization, how you target your prospective donors helps define your short- and long-term fundraising success and potential. In no particular order, here are 15 key steps toward smart list selection: 1) Set your annual and campaign goals. How many donors do you want to acquire? At what cost per donor? How much are you willing to invest? 2) If you're a first-time mailer, construct test mailings that allow you to analyze and eventually capitalize on your potential. Build