DJ, thanks for the detailed (if drug-induced) response; a few quick responses:
Thanks to everyone for the comments on our end-year fundraising campaign. As fact-based skeptics, a bit if information may be helpful in avoiding some incorrect conclusions:
1. JREF sends fewer donation appeals than other successful nonprofits. JREF adheres to best-practices in the field of nonprofit messaging. The social science of donor appeals shows that even willing donors generally need a few reminders in order to make the donation. This is counterintuitive, because we all assume that if you care, you will give. But the data shows otherwise -- repetition works.
That's great...but as mentioned above, it'd come across
much better if almost the entire extent of yours or Randi's involvement in this forum wasn't fund-raising appeals. Other than the occasional comment on a JREF issue, or asking us for money, I don't really see you guys involved at all. This communicates a message -- even if not intended -- that "we're only interested in you as a source of money". Please see above where I suggested practical, positive ways that you could be communicating with us more actively, so that a fund-raising appeal would be just one of
many interactions between us and the JREF; not the
only interaction we have with you.
2. All nonprofits do heavy donation appeals at the end of the year, and in the the nonprofit world, about 35% of all donations to a given nonprofit come in at year's end. If you are involved with other successful nonprofits, you know this because you will have received a number of appeals from them during this time period.
As someone who runs his own NGO, I can understand and appreciate this. However, I also make a significant effort to respect our members/donors/mailing list. There is a specific opt-in system, where only those who explicitly want to receive such messages will receive them (and I've found that people respond very positively to this).
As mentioned above, I'm in China, and I run my own NGO. I'm not going to donate to
any U.S.-based organization, for the simple reason that I'm not in the U.S., and you don't really do much here in China. So repeated messages asking me over and over for money...its not that terribly welcome, and honestly seems a little lazy on the JREF's part. Just use a shotgun approach, no strategy or targeting of the appeals at all.
3. The JREF had for many years ran substantial deficits (some years surpassing hundreds of thousands of dollars in a given year) and when I came aboard as president, we reorganized in order to eliminate those deficits, even while expanding programs. Part of the reorganization included the need to raise money from new donors. In 2010, I am happy to say that we had a 42% increase in donations and memberships over 2009 and this year so far we have had around a 25% increase over 2010's donations and memberships, and a 39% increase in the number of donations and memberships this year over last year, which is a positive trend. The increase in support has allowed us to accomplish more to advance skepticism than ever before.
That's great, and I hope this trend continues! And perhaps by listening to feedback, your results can improve further...when a fund-raising strategy is generating
complaints and displeasure with an organization, that's generally an indication that the strategy, however well it may be working, can still be improved.
4. The JREF currently has only 655 paid members. The JREF forum currently has 28,877 members, of which, I'd guess a couple thousand are "active." I would bet that many of these active forum members don't know that the JREF does anything other than host a discussion forum. Relatively few of the members of the forum contribute to the organization, even though there are a couple forum members who are substantial donors in support of the organization's important mission, for which we are very grateful. Even so, I suspect that the donations from these forum members each year do not cover the direct costs to the JREF of maintaining the forum, which can be around $1,000 per month (we have worked to reduce these costs over the last couple years). We provide the forum as a free service in support of the online skeptics community and to provide an online storehouse of skeptical knowledge and discussion on topics of our concern. JREF is obviously not doing it because it benefits JREF financially.
Bingo!
And I'm sorry, DJ...but who's fault is that? Where are the JREF staff who regularly interact with and are involved with the forum members? A generic PM sent to all the members is going to accomplish far, far less than having someone from the JREF who regularly interacts with the forum membership, and keeps them aware of what the JREF is doing. Jeff Wagg used to do this job (and did it very well), but since his departure, the JREF has essentially dropped the ball on this.
A once-a-year generic PM, or mass emails sent to everyone who's ever given you an email address, are not doing
anything to engage members, or attract them to the JREF's work.
5. When our development staff suggested sending Randi's letter as a PM to members of the forum, I approved the decision. I believe the message was sent twice to a small number of people by mistake.
6. Regarding people abroad receiving appeals -- I am happy to say that JREF receives donations to support its important work from all around the world, but if anyone would like not to receive such appeals, they can click the unsubscribe link at the bottom of every email to opt out of either the fundraising emails or all emails including our monthly newsletter.
I don't do that because I
do like getting info about the JREF. I just wish there was more effort to communicate with us about things
other than how much you want our money.
7. Everyone at the JREF cares deeply about this mission, and we recognize that in order to survive as a little nonprofit, we must raise money from those who care as deeply about our mission as we do. We have detailed specifically what your donations will support in previous messages:
http://www.randi.org/site/index.php/component/content/article/37-static/1471 . Raising money is frankly somewhat new for the JREF, and I personally believe it is somewhat of an automatic uphill battle since skeptics may be predisposed against fundraising to start with.
Not to harp on a theme...its not the fundraising that bothers me. Its the mercenary nature of it. "We'll only communicate with you when we want our money" thing. The loss of Jeff Wagg as a JREF representative on these forums is, in my opinion, a major negative for you guys. Now the only time we ever hear from you guys is a short note to clarify specific JREF issues, or a fund-raising appeal.
Fund-raising is, in large part, about building
relationships with your donors. Interacting with them, dialoguing with them, etc. Here in the forums, you guys have a
great chance to do just that...and you don't.
8. Regarding Rand's salary: executive salaries at the JREF have been covered by one single donor. This means that all donations during campaigns like the Season of Reason go to programs and operations and not to executive salaries. Additionally, for those interested, it should be noted that 100% of Randi's speaking fees and honoraria go to the foundation.
I've never had any issue in this regard, and respect James Randi for the incredibly amount of time, work, and personal resources he's put into the JREF.
9. I am currently in bed with the flu and slightly drunk on Nyquil and so ask you to excuse my long response. It reminds me of Churchill's apology for the long letter he sent someone: he didn't have the time to make it shorter.
D.J.
Personally, I'm happy to see this...and if getting drunk on Nyquil is what would get you (or other JREF staff) to be more involved here, then I'd be happy to make a donation to pay for a crate of Nyquil to be donated to the JREF
