[CSL board] direct mail

[Karen Zgoda]

In addition to what Josh stated, I'm concerned about how this fits  
into our strategic planning.  Has CSL done other direct mailings for  
funding before; what were results?  Direct mailings of previous  
donors tends to work well.

I'm thinking we would get a more positive financial result if we  
wrote an article to publish in the Linux Journal describing how CSL  
is using Linux in community-based NPOs.  Folks could be easily  
compelled to donate after hearing about the work we are trying to  
accomplish.

...Karen

Karen Zgoda, MSW, LCSW
Doctoral Student
Boston College

karen at karenzgoda.org
http://www.karenzgoda.org


On Oct 3, 2007, at 6:22 PM, Josh Harding wrote:

> I would personally be very unlikely to respond positively to such a  
> letter
> (and my name would be on the list ;) ). Is there some less  
> conventional way
> we can reach out to an audience of people who might be intrigued by  
> us?
>
> I've stuffed envelopes for many different NPO's over the years - mass
> mailing is certainly a well established tradition, but there are  
> few things
> traditional about the CSL.
>
> What's Eric's opinion on the idea?
>
> Maybe I'm just touchy from working right next to the sales  
> department in my
> current job...
>
> -Josh
>
>
> That's my initial reaction, although I may not understand all the  
> factors...
>
> On 10/3/07, Dan MacNeil <dan at thecsl.org> wrote:
>>
>> I have it in mind to rent the Linux Journal subscriber list and  
>> sent a
>> letter asking for money (actually several test letters and one  
>> final one)
>>
>> If this works, the effort can be repeated with apache week, PC  
>> World, etc.
>>
>> Possible upsides:
>>
>>         1) not having to deal with grantors micro-management
>>         2) cash
>>
>> Downsides:
>>         1) need to build infrastructure to handle many small  
>> donations
>>
>>         2) distractions from grants
>>
>>         3) will probably consume most of the remainder of Eric's
>>            first VISTA term.
>>
>> Obviously this will depend on a bunch of facts we've not yet  
>> gathered,
>> for example the cost of renting the snailmail subscriber list.
>>
>> I'm curious as to people's quick gut reactions on direct mail vs  
>> grant
>> writing?
>>
>>
>>
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