Knowing doesn't refer to mere demographics or geographic segments of the population. Deep, powerful knowledge of your audience comes from psychographics. Their desires, fears, beliefs, frustrations, interests, and past donating preferences.

So how do you get to know them? What are the tools that reveal donor thinking and psychographics?

• Study complaint letters you receive. They usually reveal a great deal about your donor's expectations and feelings. Study any letters from donors and prospective donors.
• Examine the mailing list data card. Begin near the top of the card. Here is a useful description of what the prospects have responded to or donated to in the past. Next is the profile data. I recommend you be skeptical of this information. Finally, the golden data on the card comes from the usage history. These are "competitors" who have used the list for continuous runs.

Take a close look at who else is successfully using the list. Study their web sites, publications, and copies of their mailings. Learn about their mission as it compares to yours. All this reveals insight into what emotions motivate the donors.

• Talk to your major donors. Have someone in your organization in a high position make the phone call - such as the Executive Director, Director of Development, or possibly someone on the board. First thank them for their generosity. Then ask them a few questions about why they give to your mission. What do they like best about what you're doing? I strongly recommend making these calls.
• Do what they do. Check out the magazines, books, newsletters, web sites, ads, and produc
  Career Change - Making the Big Leap
  Often people contemplate a change of career with some trepidation, holding fears such as:- Will I be able to achieve what I am aiming for?- What if I don’t earn enough money?- Will I regret my decision?One common tool for helping you to decide whether you are right in wanting to change jobs i
  sychographics. Their desires, fears, beliefs, frustrations, interests, and past donating preferences.

  So how do you get to know them? What are the tools that reveal donor thinking and psychographics?

  • Study complaint letters you receive. They usually reveal a great deal about your donor's expectations and feelings. Study any letters from donors and prospective donors.
  • Examine the mailing list data card. Begin near the top of the card. Here is a useful description of what the prospects have responded to or donated to in the past. Next is the profile data. I recommend you be skeptical of this information. Finally, the golden data on the card comes from the usage history. These are "competitors" who have used the list for continuous runs.

  Take a close look at who else is successfully using the list. Study their web sites, publications, and copies of their mailings. Learn about their mission as it compares to yours. All this reveals insight into what emotions motivate the donors.

  • Talk to your major donors. Have someone in your organization in a high position make the phone call - such as the Executive Director, Director of Development, or possibly someone on the board. First thank them for their generosity. Then ask them a few questions about why they give to your mission. What do they like best about what you're doing? I strongly recommend making these calls.
  • Do what they do. Check out the magazines, books, newsletters, web sites, ads, and produ
    The Shipboard Management Structure
    It has oft been asked by those ashore how a ship operates, who is in-charge and ignorance shines forth when an engineer is asked "and when will you become Captain"! It is therefore time to lay-to-rest some of these myths and to give explanation as to what foundation a ships management structure is based upon.Every business whe
    ve donors.
  • Examine the mailing list data card. Begin near the top of the card. Here is a useful description of what the prospects have responded to or donated to in the past. Next is the profile data. I recommend you be skeptical of this information. Finally, the golden data on the card comes from the usage history. These are "competitors" who have used the list for continuous runs.

  Take a close look at who else is successfully using the list. Study their web sites, publications, and copies of their mailings. Learn about their mission as it compares to yours. All this reveals insight into what emotions motivate the donors.

  • Talk to your major donors. Have someone in your organization in a high position make the phone call - such as the Executive Director, Director of Development, or possibly someone on the board. First thank them for their generosity. Then ask them a few questions about why they give to your mission. What do they like best about what you're doing? I strongly recommend making these calls.
  • Do what they do. Check out the magazines, books, newsletters, web sites, ads, and produ
    Franchised Service Stations Should be Given Incentives to Sell Flex Fuels and Bio Fuels
    Can we give gas stations and incentive of $40,000 one time tax credit to convert 2 or more pumps to Bio Diesel, Flex Fuel or Bio Fuel? Would that provide the catalyst to help get these fuels at most of our gas stations in the United States?Some say it is not enough, yet others think, well it might work? Now then, the other iss
    tinuous runs.

  Take a close look at who else is successfully using the list. Study their web sites, publications, and copies of their mailings. Learn about their mission as it compares to yours. All this reveals insight into what emotions motivate the donors.

  • Talk to your major donors. Have someone in your organization in a high position make the phone call - such as the Executive Director, Director of Development, or possibly someone on the board. First thank them for their generosity. Then ask them a few questions about why they give to your mission. What do they like best about what you're doing? I strongly recommend making these calls.
  • Do what they do. Check out the magazines, books, newsletters, web sites, ads, and produ
    Employment Job Searching Using the Internet
    Finding employment opportunities has never been easier than now- with the consistent and constant growth of the Internet. Using the Internet, job seekers can simply find vacancies of their choice in the location of their choice. With a simple click of the mouse, a huge list of job opportunities is literally at their fingertips.such as the Executive Director, Director of Development, or possibly someone on the board. First thank them for their generosity. Then ask them a few questions about why they give to your mission. What do they like best about what you're doing? I strongly recommend making these calls.
  • Do what they do. Check out the magazines, books, newsletters, web sites, ads, and products targeted for your donors and prospects. Examine them and get a feel for what's working.

  Armed with this knowledge you can "become" the donor or prospect. You understand how they think and what they think about. You know their beliefs; what keeps them awake at night; and what they respond to.

  And this is the foundation for great copy that hits your donor's hot button... triggers an emotional reaction... and motivates them to act - to donate. Your fundraising efforts will improve when you know your donors and you write copy that resonates with them based on this knowledge.