Acquisition busting - 'holding' a monthly gift?

For those of you who read this and don't know - I'm about to have my first baby and will be taking 8 or so months of maternity leave. I am VERY excited about our baby girl and the time I'll have at home with her, however with the drop in pay and the increase in expenses, I've had to re-think my spending, including my charitable giving.

I give to a number of charities, but have one particular charity that is close to my heart. They are a child sponsorship organizatin and I've had the opportunity to travel with them to see their work firsthand. Since that trip, I have been a passionate and commited sponsor of 4 children in different parts of the world. Knowing I couldn't continue to give at the same level broke my heart, but as difficult as it was, i picked up the phone yesterday to call and cancel my monthly gift.

I was shocked with the rep on the other end of the phone suggested an alternative. The orgaization would take over my payments for up to 8 months. I would continue to receive my updates, photos, letters (and appeals I'm sure) as though nothing had changed. Then in 8 months time they would contact me to see if I would like to resume payment, and if not, my kids would go back into the sponsorship pool.

Of course I jumped all over it. For me, it was a perfect solution, and I'd imagine for many people who have found themselves in tough economic times during the past year or so, it might have been as well.

On the flip side, I contacted another large Canadian charity with whom I have a monthly gift. They thanked me for my past gifts, canceled my monthly donation and wished me all the best. Its safe to assume that when I get that call from charity 1 in 8 months I'll be ready to re-start my gifts, but its unlikly I'll take the time to call charity 2 and ask them to sign me back up.

I'd like to believe that the first organization has tested this approach and found success or is currently testing it now. And I'm curious to know your thoughts on this 'aquisition busting' approach.

What DM could learn from DRTV

I was feeling a little under the weather this past weekend, and so I spent some time on the couch watching TV. If you have turned on the television recently on a Saturday or Sunday you know there is an endless number of DRTV programs available to you. Having come from the DRTV world, I was happy to have the opportunity to see what new shows were on the air, and what existing shows were still running (and hopefully indicates are still working). As I watched a few different shows it struck me that there is one thing that DRTV does REALLY well, and that is tell stories.

Every week I receive DM pieces from various non-profits throughout North America, and the vast majority are short letters, telling me how wonderful they are, and usually containing a very organizationally focused ask. Rarely do charities tell me a story about an individual who needs my help...the real reason that I would choose to give to that organization.

I know TV has the benefit of being able to show pretty pictures and really give the viewer a look at that persons life, but the stories they tell can almost always translate onto paper.

When you write your next DM appeal, PLEASE tell a story, because at the end of the day, people give to people. Its not about you - its about the lives you are impacting.

Share your message...with ketchup?

I have to say - I had no idea that a pack of ketchup could be so powerful...

I came across this picture earlier today and couldn't wait to post it. It is an advertising campaign done for CALM - New Zealand Campaign against Landmines and its a medium that I didn't actually know existed.

Love it or hate it, you can't help but notice it. And I would guess after tearing into that ketchup pack it would be hard not to think about while chowing down on your burger and fries. This pack won two awards for Publicis Mojo in Auckland in 2006. Gotta love those kiwi's.