http://www.theagitator.net/branding/friend-or-mere-acquaintance/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=friend-or-mere-acquaintance Fundraising and advocacy strategies. Trends, tips ... with an edge Thu, 09 Feb 2012 05:21:10 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://www.theagitator.net/branding/friend-or-mere-acquaintance/comment-page-1/#comment-6327 Ray Mitchell Thu, 11 Jun 2009 23:56:11 +0000 http://www.theagitator.net/?p=1164#comment-6327 Tom, I'm a day late here in responding to your June 10 post, but what you covered is a keystone issue in effective organizational advancement and relationship management, so I wanted to respond. What you posited is a critical concern, and what you suggested is so very far from dumb! My own view of organizational relationship management dynamics --- and the one I try to pass on to all clients --- is that it's rather the same as in the personal relationships between people. The more important and valued a personal relationship is, the more personal one should try to make the communication and interaction with that individual. It's not complicated. We all do it --- by instinct! A greeting card with a friendly note on a birthday or anniversary. A phone call of concern when someone is ill. A gift of flowers when a friend is grieving over the loss of a loved one. In all of those situations, we personalize the message and the "touch" as best we can. So, too, should organizations in every "touch" with a constituent/donor. Put faces to signatures. Communicate with them as we do with friends, and they will be inclined to feel and respond as friends. It's not rocket science. It should be just everyday instinct! Tom, I’m a day late here in responding to your June 10 post, but what you covered is a keystone issue in effective organizational advancement and relationship management, so I wanted to respond. What you posited is a critical concern, and what you suggested is so very far from dumb! My own view of organizational relationship management dynamics — and the one I try to pass on to all clients — is that it’s rather the same as in the personal relationships between people. The more important and valued a personal relationship is, the more personal one should try to make the communication and interaction with that individual. It’s not complicated. We all do it — by instinct! A greeting card with a friendly note on a birthday or anniversary. A phone call of concern when someone is ill. A gift of flowers when a friend is grieving over the loss of a loved one. In all of those situations, we personalize the message and the “touch” as best we can. So, too, should organizations in every “touch” with a constituent/donor. Put faces to signatures. Communicate with them as we do with friends, and they will be inclined to feel and respond as friends. It’s not rocket science. It should be just everyday instinct!

]]> http://www.theagitator.net/branding/friend-or-mere-acquaintance/comment-page-1/#comment-6293 Joe Baker Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:32:53 +0000 http://www.theagitator.net/?p=1164#comment-6293 We always use thumbnails in our emails. We find it builds connection. Each of our senders also has an individual voice. People seem to get very attached to them. We always use thumbnails in our emails. We find it builds connection. Each of our senders also has an individual voice. People seem to get very attached to them.

]]> http://www.theagitator.net/branding/friend-or-mere-acquaintance/comment-page-1/#comment-6291 Jim McLachlan Wed, 10 Jun 2009 12:20:14 +0000 http://www.theagitator.net/?p=1164#comment-6291 It is not adumb idea. For a nonprofit for which I directed fundraising, we always included a picture of the signator. However, when that picture changed, noting a new signator, we heard about it. It is not adumb idea. For a nonprofit for which I directed fundraising, we always included a picture of the signator. However, when that picture changed, noting a new signator, we heard about it.

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