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Question: What do depression, high cholesterol and obesity have in common with performance in swimming, running and playing basketball?

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Heritage is dedicated to both raising funds for our charity partners as well as to spreading the word about the wonderful service they provide to their constituents. However, there is a third benefit of our campaigns that is often overlooked—the non-monetary donation. Of course, the non-monetary gift that can have the greatest lasting value for a charity is the planned gift. In our 2006 campaigns for one partner—Special Olympics Colorado—Heritage campaigns generated 25 pledges to include that charity in the donor’s will. The ultimate value of these pledges is impossible to estimate, but it could prove to be a source of revenue for many years to come.

Last month, the Postal Governors approved a rate case that included a 9.3 percent rate increase for Standard Mail—which includes nonprofit mail. This increase comes in addition to a two cent increase on first class postage, from 39 to 41 cents. The nonprofit increase is not across-the-board, though, and Heritage is developing strategies to keep postage costs as low as possible for our partners. Our volume allows us some flexibility in how our mail is sent, which creates the opportunity to achieve maximum postal discounts. The rate case is not yet finalized, and we will keep you posted on its progress.

A recent front-page article in the NonProfit Times dealt with a number of issues regarding nonprofit telefundraising campaigns. Some of the issues included scripting, getting donors’ attention, and making compelling presentations. Among the featured experts in the piece were our CEO, John Braune, and Mike Land, the leader of our B2B division. As flattering as it is to have such a respected periodical seek out our insights on this issue, knowing that we are doing good work for great charities is always its own reward.

Several states legislatures across the country have seen do-not-mail bills introduced in their sessions this spring. Some of those bills included language that would exempt nonprofits, but others did not. One that did not was in Arkansas. Due in part to Heritage’s lobbying efforts, that bill—along with those in other states—has died in committee. This aspect of the privacy movement (the next level for the do-not-call supporters) is one that will not go away easily, and we can expect to see such bills again in the future. The time may come when the voices of charities need to be heard clearly on this issue, but for now, this threat to nonprofit fundraising has abated. Watch this space for more information on this issue.

The Vanished Children’s Alliance will be holding a black tie gala and live auction on May 4 at the Santa Clara Marriott. This event will be VCA’s first annual event of this kind, and will feature live music and fine dining. The intriguing invitation describes one of the items for the live auction as “a place often referred to as a red fruit & you meet a celebrity!” This event is another great example of the special events that can be such a significant fundraising tool for America’s greatest charities.

Mothers Against Drunk Driving has launched its annual effort to prevent teens from driving and drinking on prom night. The initiative, Think.Prom, offers teens the chance to take a pledge not to drink before they turn 21 and to never drink and drive, because they “want to have an absolutely, unimaginably, great life” and to “…remember it. All of it.” This effort features posters, banners, pledge pads, and other tools for teens, parents, and schools to use in helping America’s teens make prom one of the best nights of their life—not the worst.

We have received information from the Wal-Mart Corporate Headquarters in Bentonville, Arkansas that the company’s charitable giving policies now exclude making donations through professional fundraisers like Heritage. Recently-fulfilled pledges to our partners from Wal-Mart and Sam’s Club stores have exceeded $500,000, which is a major loss to our clients—if they let it be. The good news for our partners is that Wal-Mart and Sam’s Clubs will accept solicitations from employees of nonprofits, leaving an opening to some very good leads. For details, contact your Account Executive.

The month of March was Multiple Sclerosis Awareness Month, and the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America was very involved in its activities to promote awareness of this disease. The purpose of this series of conferences and events was to “expand knowledge, understanding, and support of individuals whose lives are affected by multiple sclerosis.”

The month featured regional and national events featuring symptom management and newly diagnosed issues; participation in the National MS Society’s conference in Washington, DC, and the Everybody Falls CD launch party. Everybody Falls is a new CD from Erik Kjelland, and was produced by Jilladair Carlson, who personally has MS. Guests got to bid on items donated by some major celebrities, including George Clooney, Mary Tyler Moore, Maria Sharapova, and others.

That question was addressed at The Direct Marketing Association’s Nonprofit Federation conference recently. The answer from the presenters was a qualified “yes”. That is to say, they are mailing too much to unresponsive lists. Lead generation and segmentation are the most effective tools of addressing this challenge—something Heritage has decades of experience doing in our telefundraising and other campaigns.

The Slate 60 biggest contributors to America’s nonprofits were recently recognized at a banquet in Little Rock, Arkansas. This event, which is conducted jointly by the online magazine Slate and the Chronicle of Philanthropy, recognized the 60 largest donors to nonprofits for 2006. Topping the list was investor Warren Buffet. Buffet’s pledges for 2006 exceeded $43 billion, with actual gifts of nearly $2 billion. The main beneficiaries of these gifts were universities, hospitals, and health-related foundations.

We completely understand that a charity’s donors are its lifeblood. All of the great intentions and plans in the world cannot serve an organization’s constituents without the financial resources to make those plans a reality. Those resources come almost exclusively from donors, for most nonprofits. Thus, the manner in which those donors are treated is of paramount importance.

Our representatives are trained to make every presentation to a prospective donor one that is “Positive, Passionate, and Polite”. Also, we take care of our partners’ donors through thoughtful mailings, grateful emails, and considerate Inbound phone bank agents. Our job is to raise funds and public awareness for our partners, and the key to doing it well is to practice the Golden Rule in every touchpoint we have with their current and prospective donors. Public trust in charities can be brittle—and difficult to restore, once broken. That’s why we are committed to “Just Doing It Right” in every phone call, every mail piece, every email, and every personal contact we have with your donors. We know you take that seriously—and we do too, like our future depended on it—because it does.