Boost Fundraising Letter Response Rates by Making Responding Convenient

By Alan Sharpe, CFRE
I had a client who wanted to drive prospective customers to his online store using a postcard. Great idea, I thought, and cost effective.

He had a terrific product, a compelling offer, and a sound business model. He had just one problem. He wanted to make all website visitors register before they could browse his product catalog. Big mistake.

So I, along with his business partner, managed to talk him out of the idea. And he was glad that we did.

That’s because one of the fundamental requirements of direct mail is that you make it easy for your prospects, customers and donors to respond. The word to remember is “convenience.” You must make responding as convenient as possible. Here are some ways to do that with your donors.

REPLY DEVICE

  • Print your donor’s name and address on it so the donor doesn’t have to.
  • If your donors must complete part of the card, give them enough space (most direct mail donors are over 60 and can’t read or write without glasses).

REPLY ENVELOPE

  • Pay for return postage so your donors don’t have to hunt for a stamp.
  • Print your return address on the return envelope.

TEAR-OUT COUPONS

  • Place coupons at the outside corners of the page (not in the gutter or the middle of the page), where they are easy to tear out.
  • Perforate the edges of tear-out coupons with a fine perf, not a coarse one, so they are easy to tear out.

PAYMENT

  • Offer as many payment options as possible without paralyzing your reader.
  • Accept all the major credit cards.
  • Accept cheques.
  • Accept recurring monthly donations.
  • Accept donations by telephone (toll-free, of course).
  • Accept donations by mail.
  • Accept donations on your website.

One of the beautiful things about donating by mail is the convenience. But that is only true if the direct mail donating experience is convenient. Use some of these methods to improve your convenience quotient and your donors will thank you for it—with their gifts.

Learn more

How to Write Effective Direct Mail Fundraising Reply DevicesHandbook Number 12
How to Write
and Design Effective Direct Mail Fundraising Reply Devices.

Attract the gifts you need by making the donation process quick and painless for your donors (and you).


How to Increase the Size and Frequency of Donor Gifts with Fundraising Letters
Handbook Number 13
How to Increase the Size and Frequency of Donor Gifts with Fundraising Letters.
Tested, proven tactics for raising more money from your current direct mail donors (with their cheerful participation).

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