Books, Publications

The Nonprofit Membership Toolkit, by Ellis M. Robinson, published by Chardon Press, has great information on special appeals. Available at www.josseybass.com, or 800-956-7739 for $35 plus shipping.

Useful Web Sites

We have tried to choose a few of the best sites out there that have information on special appeals. The sites below are ones that we think will be around for awhile, offer free or very low cost resources, and are well managed and frequently updated.

www.malwarwick.com. This great site by Mal Warwick and Associates, a guru of direct mail, contains a wonderful collection of how-to articles including how to write good fundraising letters. Click on “All About Direct Mail” and review the articles listed there or go to “Ask E-Mal” and review the list of questions and responses or ask your own question. The free newsletter is very good.

www.nonprofitmailers.org. The Alliance of Nonprofit Mailers was established in 1980 as a national coalition of nonprofit organizations sharing a vested interest in nonprofit postal policy. It is an advocacy group on Capitol Hill in Washington, DC, but also offers information on mailings to the general public. Click on “Tools for Nonprofit Mailers” for basic info on how to create a mailing, and on “Industry Links” for lots of other good web sites.

www.USPS.com The US Postal Service’s site has information on bulk mailing rates, and procedures, and also connects you to articles and other resources on Direct Mail.