UKNM: Re: Charity e-fundraising

[Charles Linn]

Thanks to everyone for comments both on and off list


General advice on e-mail lists seems to be "don't", and yes I can see the

pitfalls.  This mailing has raised an interesting point for me, which is when

is unsolicited email unacceptable?


All respondants to my mailing have implied it is always unacceptable on first

consideration, but this is not my direct experience within FOE.


Whether you think they are a good idea or bogus, email petitions are fairly

popular within Friends of the Earth and I have sent of many messages to various

targets encouraged by an initial mailing from the likes of WWF and Amnesty.

Neither I nor my collegues object to this even though it is unsolicited.  I

wonder if home users object more as their email service is not free but they

have to pay for a connection.


How about if the mailing to them did not directly ask for money, but advertised

a service? e.g.


"Find out about environmental problems in your area, how they affect you and

what you can do about it at www.blah.blah.


If you like the site and found it useful, please consider helping us continue

this work.  We are a totally independantly funded organisation who relly on the

support people like you provide"


In other words, you merely pointed them to a website address which was

providing a useful service, but also happened to have a fundraising element to

it.  I think that this approach is sensitive, but has potential.  The question

is, is it possible to avoid pissing anyone off from a list, even if it is

targetted and they are already charity givers, and is that risk so high that it

cancels out the possilbe bennefits of letting a very large number of people

know about a free service you provide?


Cheers


Chas


-- 

Charles Linn

Web Producer

Friends of the Earth


http://www.foe.co.uk


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