By: Keith Kappes
Columnist
Carter County Times
It was about three years ago when I wrote a piece questioning the tactics of fund raising professionals who seemed to be changing the rules of engagement for direct mail appeals.
I had made part of my living in that once noble effort for more than 40 years. I began to notice that many charities were increasing the number of direct mail solicitations, also known in the trade as “nuisance appeals” if they exceeded two pleas for cash in the same calendar year.
It also became apparent that the once sacred pledge of donor confidentiality was being breached systematically as my name, address and giving history triggered similar “asks” from others in the begging trade.
For example, as a former soldier, my initial gifts to the oldest veterans outfit now also gets me direct mail appeals from six other military-connected organizations.
Also, my modest giving to the oldest and largest charity fighting cancer has made me the fundraising target of four other anti-cancer groups. And I now get solicited by five other charities battling other diseases.
I’m not a tree-hugging environmentalist but four of those groups frequently ask me to contribute to preserving national parks or keeping certain wildlife from becoming extinct. This year we’re trying to save the bees.
My late wife was a patient at the famous clinic in Cleveland and now they like to keep in touch, as well. But messages from three other huge medical complexes regularly show up in my mailbox. Two groups that send hospital ships to third world countries also know me.
I’m a member of an endangered group called the Democratic Party, but I seldom get mail from their candidates. Instead, I get a constant, 24/7 barrage of text message appeals and a scattering of e-mails from would-be office seekers.
Three years ago, I received direct mail appeals from fewer than 10 charities a week. Today, I sometimes get that many in a single day. As I discard all of that junk mail each day, I find myself worrying if anyone is raising money for solid waste disposal.
Contact Keith at keithkappes@gmail.com.
