Addressee Field in donor correspondence

Nancy Bailin

Our non-profit has historically addressed our mailings to for example Dr and Mrs. John Doe.  We are exploring the possibility of "updating" this field to reflect the times.  We are considering going to for example, Dr John and Mrs. Susan Doe or maybe Susan and Dr. John Doe.  What is your institution using now for the addressee field?

 

Rachel Cavalier

We've recently switched from Mr & Mrs J Doe to Mr John & Mrs Susan Doe, along with using first names as salutations.


It's....tricky. We have a number of Lords, Ladies, Sirs, Dames etc as well as couples who are both doctors where the gender data isn't necessarily filled out (a holdover from our last database software, that picked gender based on title and obvs, titles like Dr and Rabbi don't work like that). For supporters with knighthoods or peerages, in a number of cases this format is...technically wrong but that's how our director would like it. For Patrons and Friends, I think our Major Gifts team have just reverted those ones back to how Debretts advises.


So - be aware of the weird cases where it might not strictly work out and decide what you want to do about those ones! Also, which way round you want the spouses to be - main supporter first, or always husband first and for same sex spouses, do you go alphabetically, how they tend to sign off correspondence jointly to you or with who you perceive has the closest ties.


 

Elizabeth Hoff

Good Morning, 

We use informal - John and Susan Smith or John and Susan Smith, M.D. The thought process behind it is we do not know how every individual donor would like to be addressed. Our salutations and first names - John and Susan. This also makes the reports so much easier to pull and sort. I don't like to offend anyone especially if there is a name that could be either female or male. In the 13 years I have been in development and managing databases I have received no complaints. If a donor asks that we use a title, Mr, Ms. or Mrs. then I change the address field and make a summary note so others know not to change it. But in cases like Rachel's it sounds like they are more formal because of who they have in their database. It is for sure a tricky one and a touchy one for some. 

Liz 

Aldera Chisholm

I've been thinking of this lately as well. I think it's most important to align this with who you are as an organization. My org's brand is generally considered to be a bit more friendly and playful - and so I feel that addressing our donors very formally doesn't really match who we are, and what our donors expect of us. How you see your name in a communication gives an immediate tone to the rest of the communication. Personally I hate when a solicitation from an org I don't know uses my first name - I don't want them to be that familiar with me yet. But when my chosen charities do it (and get it right!!!!) I feel that they know me and have a good relationship with me.