The Perennial Nonprofit question: Send a Christmas card or not to send a Holiday Card
to send a Christmas card or send any holiday card, that is the question. Every year since 1991 I have been wrestling with this issue, not personally, but professionally. My family sends Christmas cards to family members, friends and a few acquaintances. This is not a problem - it's a great way to share news, convey best wishes, and generally remain in contact.
So what is the problem professionally? Are not the same services for a nonprofit organization in sending Christmas cards, or, more generally, any type of holiday card into its components? It depends on whether.
When nonprofit organizations send personalized cards, as I think that they generate a positive return on investment. In other words, if non-profit organizations, no matter how many cards they choose to post, create an individualized messages, note name, as it appears to me, the card is worth the effort. Without this personalization I'm not so sure.
masses Mailed cards
When I 17 years as president of the university was my name and title to countless organizations VIP lists surfaced. In the vernacular, I was, "someone." Since I was found apparently worthy or at least my position was considered important, my office received scores of cards: Christmas, but eventually even Thanksgiving and sometimes birthday cards.
What I found fascinating was that practically all of these cards were computer generated. My name was nowhere other than to find on the envelope label. No message to my relationship with the organization could relevant inside found. No messages associated with it in any way, who I was, or even what the university was higher against the nonprofit sending the card. No actual signature of the president of the nonprofit, also many times when I knew the fellow nonprofit executive personally. Nothing.
This was done with birthday cards. I would get maps of nonprofit organizations in the week of my birthday, but the card contained no written notice and no name. Amazing. Try this with your spouse: give it a birthday or anniversary card sans a message or your name. Not good.
Even more interesting for me, since I have left the University Presidential not I get more maps of most of these non-profit organizations. This applies to organizations with which I personally had a close relationship, and it is true for organizations in which I still know the guide.
The message I is glean from this that I now not do much thing, and I counted only "time" because I in capable nonprofit organizations was as influential and possibly use of them. But even then repeating myself, I have obviously not matter all that much, because I get easily generated by a tickler file a map.
Some non-profit organizations and their leaders, I know are proud of is how long become large or their Christmas card list. I heard the President announce a number, as if it is a sign of great power. You know, my Rolodex is bigger than your Rolodex. Or my mailing list is larger than your mailing list in more modern terms.
But this is important? Does it mean something? You actually reinforce all these impersonal card the mission and vision of the non-profit organization? Are constituents overwhelmed with joy when they receive such a card? Is the practice of sending non-personalized cards to scores or hundreds or even thousands effective development tool? I do not believe that.
Personalized Cards
When it was time for me to decide whether to the University of the hard-won funds spend, I asked myself: "Is it worth it?" I still think the same question every year now in another nonprofit leadership. Why should I spend or how much should I spend to send a map of the funds from the non-profit? It depends on whether.
I do not recommend non-profit organizations do not send Christmas cards. I'm not against a long list itself. What I propose is that the cards send in an impersonal way, will not make a positive impact as sending personalized cards. So if I am responsible for the decision, a nonprofit organization, to spend the money - resources, operations or programs, could go meet the mission - as I want to take a method known as high-impact and ultimately as effective as possible. For me, the personalized cards.
Each I-Thanksgiving spending a few hours before football games Christmas cards signed. I choose a pen usually with the blue, but really anything but black ink. This ensures my name and message stand out against the typical black font of the printed release of the map.
It takes longer, but I like to write the person's name if Fred or Fred and Mary or Mr. and Mrs. Smith, depending on how well I know it. Follow that with a set of the work of non-profit organization, for example: "It was a challenging but successful year" or "Thank you for helping us touch lives" or "As the year ends, we are pleased to start the new program .. "this then follow with some sort of Christmas or holiday season greeting:" .. boon for you and your this season "or" Merry Christmas and a Happy new year "or" best wishes in this wonderful time of year, "Finally, I have to sign my first name.
I guarantee this method will receive the attention of the component to obtain the card. Post why? Because I respond to personalized cards, so I know that others do, and because the people who receive these cards, later spoke highly of it. And a personalized card will stand out on the dining table or office desk in the stack, because it is the only one carrying a handwritten personal salutation.
Now you say, "I do not have time to do so." To which I say: "You do not have time not to do." Or if you are really pressed pare back your Christmas card list. They do not send when you have the time and willingness to customize. But many of these is that people who get a feel and appreciated that what a nonprofit hopes after all, to feel its components special.
E-Cards
The phenomenon e-card is still relatively new. Some charities are sending with this method holiday greetings to their constituents - it is cheap and immediately. But the same rule applies. Personalized e-cards provide higher ROI than non-personalized e-cards.
And although I'm not anti-technology, I would still argue that a handwritten note sent by post to a greater positive reaction as something brings forth via email and can be easily deleted. This may be an old school attitude or assessment, but the now hackneyed saying, "High Tech, High Touch" is still applicable. People enjoying and will be remembered "touched."
Customized mass or Emailed Cards
After all you can say, "If I reduce personalize my list down to a handful, our non-profit organization is an important opportunity miss to share messages and engage our constituents. "OK maybe.
When a nonprofit organization closes, it must send scores or hundreds or thousands of selected Christmas cards I would still be customized these cards in some very recommend identifiable manner. bring them to the printer you not only on and put it in the mailbox. Not only acquire an E-Card and forward it to a large database. To adjust.
Adjusting differs from personalize section. To personalize means is the recipient's name on the map and the nonprofit executive has signed the card with a personal message, even if. On an E-Card To adjust means that the non-profit organization has added content identifying in any way the map as the map of the non-profit, not buying shares or special design that does not include non-profit news or name ,
The individual card should contain current information, an expression of gratitude, and someone's name and title, even if not personally signed. Send cards not from "The Staff" or, worse yet, no source of origin at all other than the return address on the envelope or an institutional name as "University" or "XYZ ministries." Put the name of an individual, perhaps the chairman of the board, president or vice president of the rise on the map. Almost every name better than no name.
Conclusion
Nonprofit organizations spend thousands of dollars each year to send Christmas cards on ingredients. But this practice especially long lists, can more cultural tradition as a good progress methodology.
The question to send a Christmas card or not, a holiday should send map on the basis of perceived mission enhancing effectiveness are answered. Since the best promotion on relationships is, it seems logical, the best holiday cards enhance personal connections with the non-profit to close. We build relationships to personalize by at least one mailing Customizing, but it is even better.
mark nonprofit holiday cards with messages, notes and names.
