June 23, 2006 | Categories Nonprofit Technology

Dear [First_name] [Last_Name],

Do Mail Merge Fundraising Appeals Still Work?

We’ve all seen the ‘personalized’ letters in our mail and in our email. 99% of the time they are canned versions that simply inserts our name into the letter (or even better, one of our pets names!).

Not too long ago (early 1980’s), this type of communication was very powerful because most people thought it really was personalized.

Jump to the 21st century, and you’ll understand that this perception is no longer the case. However, that doesn’t mean you should stop personalizing your acknowledgments!

Real Personalization Still Works!

The best way to personalize your acknowledgements in DonorPerfect is to print out the canned version, and at the bottom of the page handwrite your personal note. Short and simple is the rule here- Something like:

When a donor receives this type of personalized letter, they will feel special because their letter was picked out of the stack on purpose. The donor literally feels touched and is apt to feel a stronger relationship with you and the organization- which ultimately leads to more frequent and bigger gifts down the road.