Comments on: Nonprofit Newsletters – Are You Making These Mistakes?

By: Courtney

Courtney — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 20:00:42 +0000

You’re right – you want your newsletter to be the opposite of long and boring. Think of who is reading it, and write to them, using short and entertaining chunks.

For some more great tips…
http://www.affinityconnection.com/index.php/blog/item/15-how-to-create-a-newsletter-people-eagerly-read.html

By: Coaching helps your messages sizzle | "With"isms from Lori Jacobwith, Fundraising Coach

Wed, 09 Feb 2011 14:03:02 +0000

[...] Nonprofit Newsletters: Are You Making These Mistakes? Pamela Grow , March 25, 2009 [...]

By: Mary Cahalane

Mary Cahalane — Tue, 21 Dec 2010 01:37:07 +0000

Harry, following a suggestion that I picked up from Tom Ahern, ours is four pages – it’s an 11 x 17 piece of paper, which means 4 regular sized pieces to work with. But it’s heavy on the photos and captions (color – which is really so cheap if you just print it yourself!), so a really easy read. Four pages can definitely work!

And thanks again, Pam, for having these discussions!

By: Pamela Grow

Pamela Grow — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 13:58:27 +0000

If a communications piece is compelling, almost any length can work. There’s the key word: compelling. And don’t forget donor-centric.

Typically I recommend some color, even if the newsletter is merely printed on color stock.

For more on this topic, please read: http://community.icontact.com/p/pamelagrow/newsletters/pg070809/posts/the-grow-report-another-take-on-donor-newsletters

By: Harry J Tucci Jr

Harry J Tucci Jr — Mon, 20 Dec 2010 13:49:49 +0000

I would tend to disagree with two items, one being the length and the other the use of color. Done right a 4 page newsletter on simple paper stock with the strategic use of pictures to break it up, can go a long way towards increasing mission effectiveness. I do not want to be forced to sit and read some long winded appeal letter … show me concrete examples of what you are accomplishing and why my $$ are needed.

The Maine Coast Heritage Trust recently sent me one like this and it immediately moved to the top of my donor pile. The Jesuit Center in Pennsylvania is another good example. With today’s technology it really costs no more to print than a boring black and white letter.

By: Pamela Grow

Pamela Grow — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 11:00:23 +0000

Bentley, if you've created a schedule of e-newsletters to complement your print newsletter, 2-3 print newsletters a year is enough (read Don't be shy - communicate!). The key is to communicate with passion consistently.

By: Pamela Grow

Pamela Grow — Tue, 23 Nov 2010 10:56:59 +0000

I do recommend communicating with foundations – both current funders and prospective funders – however I believe a personalized letter is a better approach. And my advice was more of a knee-jerk response to working at a foundation and being deluged with newsletters that no one had the time to read.

By: diana hills

diana hills — Mon, 22 Nov 2010 16:25:24 +0000

Thanks for the post Pam. I have a question for you: Why do you recommend not sending your newsletters to those foundations who are supporting you? What about foundations that haven’t yet supported you that you are trying to reach out to?

By: Mary Cahalane

Mary Cahalane — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 16:33:24 +0000

We just started producing a print newsletter for our supporters. So far it has been very well received.

Lots of pictures, captions and a focus on our supporters and what *they* make happen.

(We do include an envelope, and results the first time out showed some pretty strong support from those receiving the piece.)

By: Bentley Worthy

Bentley Worthy — Mon, 08 Nov 2010 13:34:44 +0000

There was a big lull in our newsletter production, but now I’m trying to keep us on schedule. How do you feel about only 2 newsletters a year? I don’t want to over commit to doing more than that right now, especially if there are in between e-newsletters.

By: Pamela Grow

Pamela Grow — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 15:32:43 +0000

Thanks for sharing John … I’m going to use this idea with a client of mine!

By: John Lepp

John Lepp — Sun, 14 Mar 2010 14:54:04 +0000

great post Pam. Another tip – a client of ours used to publish a tear away coupon as part of their 4 page newsletter. We would fold in a BRE as well. We tested taking out the coupon and included it as a separate piece with a BRE and it beat the pants off the tear away.

By: Pamela Grow

Pamela Grow — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:48:39 +0000

Thank you for sharing Jay! Great newsletters – I like that you have “Follow us on Facebook” too and the photos and stories are truly compelling!

So true, Sandra. A picture says a thousand words. I always check w/ board members too (re: printers) – sometimes someone knows someone in the industry (harkening back to the 6 degrees of separation theme).

I have used print newsletters primarily as a donor communication tool and followed the Donor-Centered Fundraising model.

By: Jay

Jay — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:32:34 +0000

For an excellent example of a quality newsletter, go to http://www.shilohranch.org – Click on “Shiloh Results Newsletters” in left column. Then download pdf. files.

By: Sandra Sims

Sandra Sims — Fri, 31 Jul 2009 14:28:16 +0000

Two mistakes I see with small NPOS trying to “save money” –

No photos – Pictures of clients, volunteers, donors are a must!

Bad printing – Pictures lose effectiveness if you can’t tell who the people are. Shop around for the best printing for the price. If your current printer doesn’t cut it – switch.

By: Kris Hoots

Kris Hoots — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:44:50 +0000

I think you have some good points here — especially about inconsistent publishing and boring content.

I think that the length and style of the newsletter is determined by the objectives of the newsletter.

Is it merely a communications piece? Are you using it to only tell of your successes? OR is it integrated with your overall fundraising strategy and you are using it to tell a story, to show your donors how they can help — but in a more visual presentation?

We have experience with newsletters outperforming direct mail appeals in astounding ways. For many small organizations, the newsletter has not been used for anything other than communication — with zero opportunity for fundraising. And so it becomes a matter of retraining the donors so they will read it and respond.

By: Joanne Fritz

Joanne Fritz — Thu, 30 Jul 2009 15:34:37 +0000

I think some newsletter editors think too much in “journalistic” terms. A quarterly newsletter is not “breaking news” and it is perfectly ok to lead off with a feature story rather than a “newsy” story. After all, a newsletter is a totally optional read for the recipient. A warm fuzzy article showing people…donors, volunteers, public, clients…interacting in some way with the organization is more likely to get the piece read than the latest fundraising figures, or a message from the Executive Director.