Fundraising Update: Keep Up Those Follow-up Calls

Thanks to all of you who continue to support the work of RESULTS through your own financial contributions and requesting donations from others. As we enter the final weeks of our Friends and Family fundraising campaign, we want to help you finish out this process with great success.

At this point, if you have sent out your letters to donors, you should be planning and making follow-up phone calls to these potential donors. These calls will make a huge difference to the success of your efforts. On these calls, most donors are delighted to chat, especially when they hear your enthusiasm and know that you care deeply about the mission and purpose of the organization. But, what do you say? It’s easier than you think. To help you, we have created a sample call script which you can edit and make your own! Once you start making these calls, you’ll find they are no big deal and can be quite fun.

On this month’s conference call, it was great to hear from Beth Wilson (Olalla, WA) and to learn about the big fundraising gains being made through events in San Jose; Chicago; Columbus, OH; Des Moines, IA; Sante Fe, NM; Minneapolis; and Washington, D.C. We thank everyone who is participating in fundraising. You’re proving once again that a little effort can create big rewards.

Your donations will start to arrive after you’ve made your follow-up phone calls. Once they do, collect remittance envelopes and record donations on the donations tracking form until you think you have them all. Once you have them all:

• Carefully review checks and remittance envelopes for accuracy and for omissions such as expiration dates on credit]

• cards, failure to check one of the gift designation boxes, or unsigned checks, etc.

• Be sure “Friend and Family” or “Events” is circled and that your group name is written on each envelope.

Once all your donations are ready to go, please bundle the checks and remittance envelopes together and send them directly to the New York address on the remittance envelope:

            RESULTS Educational Fund, Inc.
            P.O. Box 10413
            Uniondale, NY 11555-10413

Donations are welcome anytime but, the countdown is on toward the end of the year. Also, in addition to mailing your checks to the bank, be sure to send your donation tracking form to the DC office ([email protected]).

If you have questions or need more information, please contact me, RES/REF Development Director Donna Howard, at (202) 783-4800 x124 or [email protected].

In addition to Friends and Family efforts, some of our groups are also holding fundraising events this fall. If you know anyone in these areas, please contact the RESULTS staff (noted above) for details. Here is the list of our upcoming events.

November 20: RESULTS San Jose, CA, fundraiser

November 30: RESULTS Twin Cities, MN, fundraiser

December 5: RESULTS Chicago, IL, fundraiser

December 9: RESULTS Washington, DC, fundraiser

Finally, remember that anyone can donate online at anytime. Just go to our Donate page for more information. If donating online, please be sure to write “Friends and Family” in the comment box of the online form.

Thanks to everyone for supporting RESULTS and RESULTS Educational Fund during our annual Fall Fundraising Campaign. Your work in garnering these resources is critical to our organization!