Comments on: Salvation Army Scores Online http://www.theagitator.net/online-activism/salvation-army-scores-online/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=salvation-army-scores-online Fundraising and advocacy strategies. Trends, tips ... with an edge Thu, 24 May 2012 10:56:41 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 By: Molly Brooksbank http://www.theagitator.net/online-activism/salvation-army-scores-online/comment-page-1/#comment-7942 Molly Brooksbank Fri, 14 Aug 2009 16:06:30 +0000 http://www.theagitator.net/?p=1215#comment-7942 Hi Stephen, I worked with Michelle & team on the campaign and I think what you want to know is, is it a reasonable cost per donor acquired? The answer is yes, very much so. Actually, it was a profitable acquisition campaign and we sourced more prospects (whether for volunteers or donors) to boot. The time investment is very minimal and there's almost no risk, so it was definitely worth it for them. The Eastern Michigan division is always and trying new things, which is a good thing and benefits the whole org. Cheers, Molly Hi Stephen,

I worked with Michelle & team on the campaign and I think what you want to know is, is it a reasonable cost per donor acquired? The answer is yes, very much so. Actually, it was a profitable acquisition campaign and we sourced more prospects (whether for volunteers or donors) to boot.

The time investment is very minimal and there’s almost no risk, so it was definitely worth it for them. The Eastern Michigan division is always and trying new things, which is a good thing and benefits the whole org.

Cheers,
Molly

]]> By: tbelford http://www.theagitator.net/online-activism/salvation-army-scores-online/comment-page-1/#comment-7933 tbelford Fri, 14 Aug 2009 05:25:46 +0000 http://www.theagitator.net/?p=1215#comment-7933 Stephen, Yes, all the facts necessary to judge this an unqualified winner are not on the table. Yes, I wish fundraisers bared their data for all the world to see ... do you? Yes, I think you're right to view with caution. But Yes, I'm confident the Salvation Army wouldn't be talking this up if it was a loser. And Yes, I'm still happy to cite this as exemplary out-of-the-box thinking. Yes, there's enough info in the post for you to dig into the idea if you are motivated to do so. And Yes, I think you're cynical. Tom Stephen,
Yes, all the facts necessary to judge this an unqualified winner are not on the table.
Yes, I wish fundraisers bared their data for all the world to see … do you?
Yes, I think you’re right to view with caution.
But Yes, I’m confident the Salvation Army wouldn’t be talking this up if it was a loser.
And Yes, I’m still happy to cite this as exemplary out-of-the-box thinking.
Yes, there’s enough info in the post for you to dig into the idea if you are motivated to do so.
And Yes, I think you’re cynical.
Tom

]]> By: Stephen Best http://www.theagitator.net/online-activism/salvation-army-scores-online/comment-page-1/#comment-7919 Stephen Best Thu, 13 Aug 2009 15:51:47 +0000 http://www.theagitator.net/?p=1215#comment-7919 Show me the money! I'd like to see all of the costs and all the revenues associated with this story. There's no way for third parties to evaluate this program based on the information in the story. Without all the facts, no conclusions can be drawn. I'd also be interested to see how many of the 4,316 people who said they'd volunteer actually show up. My bet? Less than a dozen, if any. That's not me being cynical. It's experience with polling numbers and questions about what people's intentions are, and the value of a promise to volunteer. What I find frustrating about these reports (and it's endemic) is the universal absence of results that can be used to evaluate these programs. In this story, in particular, the costs are being deliberately withheld by the Salvation Army. Am I wrong to be skeptical when key information is withheld? I don't think so. Not when I have to responsibly advise clients. Show me the money! I’d like to see all of the costs and all the revenues associated with this story. There’s no way for third parties to evaluate this program based on the information in the story. Without all the facts, no conclusions can be drawn.

I’d also be interested to see how many of the 4,316 people who said they’d volunteer actually show up. My bet? Less than a dozen, if any. That’s not me being cynical. It’s experience with polling numbers and questions about what people’s intentions are, and the value of a promise to volunteer.

What I find frustrating about these reports (and it’s endemic) is the universal absence of results that can be used to evaluate these programs. In this story, in particular, the costs are being deliberately withheld by the Salvation Army.

Am I wrong to be skeptical when key information is withheld? I don’t think so. Not when I have to responsibly advise clients.

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