Raising Money in an Election Year

May 14, 2008

Raising Money in an Election Year

The presidential election and other Congressional contests could cause problems for charities that use direct mail to raise money, according to the Russ Reid Company, a Pasadena direct-marketing consulting company.

As in past election years, the United States Postal Service will process an avalanche of political mail in 2008. In fact, to make sure it’s handled in a timely fashion, the Postal Service puts a label on campaign mail so that handlers can give it priority over many other types of mail, including charity appeals.

With this year’s presidential election, along with races for 435 seats in the House and 33 in the Senate, “the biggest impact on nonprofits who use direct-response fund raising will be clutter,” Russ Reid said in a press release.

The company recommends that charities consider paying more to mail some appeals at first-class rates, which get about the same speed and attention as political mail in election years. Or, as campaigns head into the final six months, those planning a late summer or fall direct-mail campaign might want to do mailings a few weeks earlier than planned to ensure timely delivery.

What challenges or opportunities do you face in this election cycle? What lessons can be applied from previous election years? Use the comment box below to let us know how your organization’s fund raising is affected by the 2008 campaign. (For more on charities and the campaign, see our special section.)

— Holly Hall

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