Nancy Guy Freeman

Direct Mail Dos and Don'ts Sept. 20, 2005 By Nancy Guy Freeman Are your direct-mail fundraising efforts floundering? Wishing you could increase response rates or improve donor retention? Are you representing your organization effectively? Maybe it's time to review some obvious -- and not so obvious -- best practices of direct-mail fundraising: Be creative, be clever, and try new ideas -- but do NOT be deceptive in your copy or packaging. Scandals among some of the biggest and most respected nonprofits have created enough concern and suspicion in donors' minds -- make sure you keep your message and creative honest and straightforward. Mail OFTEN.