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April 07, 2008

How to Reduce Complaints About Multiple Appeals

Want to hear fewer complaints from donors about the number of times you ask them for money?

Try converting your charity’s finances from a fiscal- to a calendar-year basis, writes Kelly Kleiman on The Nonprofiteer.

“Very few individuals operate their lives, or plan their charitable contributions, on the basis of your fiscal year: when they give you money in May, they don’t expect you to ask them again in September, and they’re justifiably annoyed when you do,” she writes. “You, by contrast, are justifiably annoyed at their complaints, because you know that May is the end of one year and September is almost midway into another.”

Both fund raisers and donors will feel more appreciated, says Ms. Kleiman, if both parties keep track of their contributions the same way.

What do you think of Ms. Kleiman’s advice?

— Caroline Preston

Monday April 7, 2008 | Permalink

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