Global Weekly Update July 25, 2011

Introducing RESULTS!

This Wednesday, July 27, we will be hosting our first RESULTS introductory call. This call, which is the first in an on-going monthly series, will be a short and sweet taste of what RESULTS is, who we are, and why we do what we do. Do you have a friend, neighbor, or colleague who is curious about the work you do with RESULTS? Does your group have some interested prospective members? If so, have them register to join us this Wednesday, July 27, at 9 pm ET to get to know us and other interested peple across the country.

Please e-mail Mary Peterson, global grassroots associate for expansion with any questions.

Say Thank You to Your Representative and Ask Them to Take the Next Step on Microfinance

Ninety-seven representatives signed on to a letter asking that USAID use our global microfinance investment to reach those who can use it most, namely those living on less than $1.25 per day. Thank your representative if they signed the letter and ask them to take the next step by co-sponsoring H.R.2524, the Microenterprise Empowerment and Job Creation Act of 2011. If your representative didn’t sign the letter, let them know that they can still take meaningful action to assure that our microfinance dollars are used to alleviate poverty in the best possible way.

Use these tools:

List of letter signers and background information on H.R.2524

Action alert to send a letter requesting that your representative cosponsor H.R.2524

Switchboard number ((202) 224-3121) and laser talk so you can call your member of Congress about H.R.2524

Final signers of microfinance letter (97): Baldwin (D-WI), Bartlett (R-MD), Berkley (D-NV), Berman (D-CA), Bishop S. (D-GA), Bordallo (D-GU), Blumenauer (D-OR), Brown C. (D-FL), Butterfield (D-NC), Capps (D-CA), Capuano (D-MA), Castor (D-FL), Carney (D-DE), Carter (R-TX), Carson (D-IN), Christensen (D-VI), Connolly (D-VA), Conyers (D-MI), Clarke (D-NY), Davis D. (D-IL), Davis S. (D-CA), De Fazio (D-OR), Degette (D-CO), Dicks (D-WA), Doyle (D-PA), Doggett (D-TX), Grijalva (D-AZ), Ellison (D-MN), Engel (D-NY), Eshoo (D-CA), Farr (D-CA), Flores B (R-TX), Fortenberry (R-NE), Fudge (D-OH), Filner (D-CA), Hastings (D-FL), Heinrich (D-NM), Hinchey (D-NY), Herrera B (R-WA), Holt (D-NJ), Johnson E.B. (D-TX), Johnson H. (D-GA), Grijalva (D-AZ), Green G. (D-TX), Gutierrez (D-IL), Clarke H. (D-MI), Honda (D-HI), Jackson (D-IL), Jackson-Lee (D-TX), Kildee (D-MI), Larsen (D-WA), Lee (D-CA), Lewis J. (D-GA), Lofgren (D-CA), Lujan (D-NM), Markey (D-MA), Matheson (D-UT), McCaul (R-TX), McCotter (R-MI), McDermott (D-WA), McNerney (D-CA), Miller B. (D-NC), Miller G. (R-CA), Moran (D-VA), Murphy C. (D-CT), Olver (D-MA), Payne (D-NJ), Peters (D-MI), Peterson (D-MN), Price (D-NC), Rangel (D-NY), Reichert (R-WA), Richardson (D-CA), Rohrabacher (R-CA), Rothman (D-NJ), Ruppersberger (D-MD), Rush (D-IL), Ryan (D-OH), Schakowsky (D-IL), Schrader (D-OR), Shuler (D-NC), Sires (D-NJ), Smith A. (D-WA), Smith C. (R-NJ), Speier (D-CA), Stark (D-CA), Terry (R-NE), Towns (D-NY), Van Hollen (D-MD), Waters (D-CA), Wilson (D-FL), Woolsey (D-CA), Wu (D-OR), Yarmuth (D-KY), Young (R-AK), Young (R-IN).

August Recess is Almost Here! Have You Booked a Meeting with YOUR Congressperson?

The month-long August congressional recess, set to begin August 8, is a wonderful time to connect with your member of Congress back in his or her home district or state. Have you met with your representative or senator in the last six months? What are you waiting for? Use our handy action alert to get started making your request. Don’t lose heart if it takes a bit of time to secure your meeting; this is typical, but old-fashioned RESULTS persistence will see you through. Throughout the month of August, we will continue working on the microfinance and Education for All legislation that either is or will soon be up for consideration in Congress. For help customizing your meeting agenda, call on your regional coordinator or your RESULTS staff for advice and assistance.

Have You Thanked a Donor Today?

One of the biggest reasons donors stop contributing is simply because they don’t hear “thank you” enough. It’s such a simple thing, but it’s the most important factor in keeping our supporters engaged and feeling good about their donations.

Now is the perfect time to send a big thank you out to all our donors. Without their help, the International Conference and Lobby Day simply couldn’t happen. These weeks after Lobby Day is when our own personal excitement about our work is at the highest peak of the year. Let your group’s enthusiasm bubble over while you let them know how critical their support is to our life-saving, transformative work!

This is also a great time to communicate with supporters because summer brings a bit of a lull before our fall fundraising campaign. Many groups will hold fundraising events in the fall and many more partners will be reaching out with contribution requests during the Friends & Family letter-writing campaign. When your donors hear from you, your passion and reports of our success will make them smile. They will remember what you have said to them the next time they hold a RESULTS donation envelope in their hands.

Here are a few tips and ideas as you consider reaching out to donors this summer:

• Reach out to everyone who has donated or taken action with you in the last year or two.
• Send an e-mail with a few candid pictures attached of your group members in action in DC or in your district. This will help them feel like they are part of your RESULTS family.
• Write a letter with a few of your group’s highlights and breakthroughs from this Lobby Day and beyond.
• Write a blog post for your group’s local website about your lobbying experiences and include thanks to your donors in the text.
• Emphasize your donors’ role in our successes. We couldn’t do it without them!

However you choose to communicate, don’t forget to invite folks to engage with you further by following RESULTS on Twitter, becoming a RESULTS friend on Facebook, or making a donation through the website. We know you’ve done amazing things. Share this wonderful feeling with your extended RESULTS donor family and let them share it with you.

We know you’ve done amazing things. Share this wonderful feeling with your extended RESULTS donor family and let them share it with you!

There are some cuts that do not heal.

— Marian Wright Edelman, speaking to the RESULTS International Conference on June 20, 2011

July 27: RESULTS Introductory Call at 9 pm ET. Register today!

August 8–September 5: Congressional recess (a great time for a face-to-face meeting with your legislator back in your district)

August 13: Global Conference Call: Focus on Education for All. 2:00 pm ET. (888) 409-6709

September 10: Global Conference Call: Focus on Education for All. 2:00 pm ET. (888) 409-6709