Jim

As a decorated war veteran, the late Colonel James L. Draper Jr.'s final — and perhaps grandest — act of charity came in the form of The Draper Foundation Fund, a $30-million endowment entrusted to The Community Foundation of Northwest Connecticut. The new fund, which represents the largest single gift in the Foundation’s history, will benefit mainly local charitable organizations by making yearly awards to 19 nonprofits named by the Drapers, as well as through annual discretionary grants.

What are the real costs of e-philanthropy? Coming from a direct-mail background, my experience has taught me that every, single component has a specific return on investment and is measured for value. Unfortunately, the words “return on investment” ring hollow in many development conference rooms these days. If one more person says, “Just send an e-mail — it doesn’t cost anything,” I’ll scream. Wake up and smell my energy drink — it costs plenty. As I started to pull my notes together for this article, I went to what was safe — let’s see — five costs that every fundraiser needs to consider for

What are the real costs of e-philanthropy? Coming from a direct-mail background, my experience has taught me that every, single component has a specific return on investment and is measured for value. Unfortunately, the words “return on investment” ring hollow in many development conference rooms these days. If one more person says, “Just send an e-mail — it doesn’t cost anything,” I’ll scream. Wake up and smell my energy drink — it costs plenty. As I started to pull my notes together for this article, I went to what was safe — let’s see — five costs that every fundraiser needs to consider for