Direct Mail

SM Direct - a partnership of the JM Advancement Organization and TSG Direct, Hampton, New Hampshire, offers a broad range of fundraising services and products for the non-profit organization seeking stability and growth for its charitable work. These services include program planning, list rentals, creative services, computer services, word processing, graphic arts design and mail processing.

Direct mail as a fundraising tool can help:

• To broaden the base of support.
• To involve large numbers of members and/or constituents.
• To identify new major gift prospects.
• To identify individuals who may be interested in planned gifts.
• To provide an effective public relations vehicle.
• To provide a source of immediate cash.

To understand the value of direct mail solicitation, one must first be aware that there are two distinct segments in any direct mail program. One segment is acquisition. This deals with the acquiring of new or first-time donors.

The other segment is renewals. This, as the name implies, deals with repeat donations from previous donors. If there is a high rate of renewals in your direct mail program, it is easy to chart out sizable profits over a period of time. Direct mail fundraising is the most effective way of reaching the largest number of new prospects at the lowest cost. You do not acquire new donors to make quick money. You acquire donors as a longer-term investment.