Re: UKNM: Re: Charity e-fundraising

[Mark Walker]

Dear Charles/all


Is the following information of any use?


At Sussex Community Internet Project (http://www.scip.org.uk) we work on

the principle that the best thing is to give people the chance to join our

own lists. Those lists are part of the service we offer people, as well as

a possible route to their pockets for our fundraising activities.


We use a form on the web site to capture their address (we don't feel we

need to know much more about them as a first step in our 'relationship')

and tell them how frequently they may expect to be contacted by us. We then

use this list to post messages, prompt discussion and ask for

help/resources.


On another site we run for UK Communities Online

(http://www.commuinties.org.uk) we have split out discussion lists (open,

frequent messages) from an announcement list (one way, no more than

fortnightly).


Over the past three years the SCIP mailing list has been highly successful

in accessing resources for SCIP and others, although having a membership

averaging no more than 200. The content is highly localised, and most

members appear to come from Sussex.


The list also functions as a source of help for other groups. We discourage

blatant advertising of commercial services (because so many people

complained the first time someone dropped a message in) but will accept

notices of events and training which we consider of value to list members.


To build list membership further would require a slightly more concerted

marketing effort than we can currently commit to, and the web site needs a

good going over before we really start pushing it (which we hope to do in

the New Year - does anyone want to give us free online design

consultancy/crit for xmas?)


Tying in with other discussion, we've never thought of sponsorship for the

list but we are given the majordomo list server functions free of charge by

another charity, which we're told are worth about 100 quid a year at their

rates. We have also started experimenting with using free mailing lists on

other charities' sites.


This is a very modest undertaking, and we are a very small community

organisation with almost no money, but I suspect that the same would apply


to FOE and others in terms of generating lists which you own and which

people join voluntarily.


Maybe the question of scale would undermine this approach for you but

surely you're better talking to people who have said they want to hear from

you? What returns do you expect on standard postal junk mailings (sorry

targeted campaigns)


Any comments?


Mark Walker

Project Manager


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Sussex Community Internet Project

Exploring the ways that local people can use information and

communications technology to create better communities

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SCIP, Community Base, 113 - 117 Queens Road

Brighton BN1 3XG

Tel 01273 234049

0956 627116 (mobile)

Fax 01273 234731


http://www.scip.org.uk


Supported by BT, Legal and General, Pavilion Internet,

UK Communities Online and Brighton & Hove Council

** Partners in Regeneration **


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