Events - thank you letters

Linda Kaspar

Hi.  I need help with this request.  We are in the process of a large event - Gala.  We have various donations/payments ranging from Gifts In Kind, Sponsorship for Ads, Raffles, Tickets, etc.  Is there a way I can pull all this info into one thank you letter.  I was told in the past different letters were sent -- too labor intensive and costly.  Any advise is greatly appreciated.

JoAnn Strommen

Linda Kaspar:

Hi.  I need help with this request.  We are in the process of a large event - Gala.  We have various donations/payments ranging from Gifts In Kind, Sponsorship for Ads, Raffles, Tickets, etc.  Is there a way I can pull all this info into one thank you letter.  I was told in the past different letters were sent -- too labor intensive and costly.  Any advise is greatly appreciated.

Are you running the thank you letter through RE (Donor acknowledgements or receipts)?  You have the option to do a conditional merge.  Which letter is printed for each record depends on your entry for one specified field.  Don't know how you're entering these records in RE to tell you what condition to use. 

Not sure what you mean by "too labor intensive and costly."  You still have to set up each of the letter, print and mail.  Not seeing a big change.  Don't know how with such a variety of types you could just use one letter as you'd have to have a lot of info entered on each reccord in RE to pull for specific letter.

You got quite the variety of types. Some that may need tax statement others that definitely don't and maybe some that have benefits.  Perhaps you could group into a couple of letters but, to me, a gift in kind requires a much different letter than to someone who bought raffle tickets (which are not a donation).

My two cents...

Nicole S

JoAnn Strommen:

Are you running the thank you letter through RE (Donor acknowledgements or receipts)?  You have the option to do a conditional merge.  Which letter is printed for each record depends on your entry for one specified field.  Don't know how you're entering these records in RE to tell you what condition to use. 

Not sure what you mean by "too labor intensive and costly."  You still have to set up each of the letter, print and mail.  Not seeing a big change.  Don't know how with such a variety of types you could just use one letter as you'd have to have a lot of info entered on each reccord in RE to pull for specific letter.

You got quite the variety of types. Some that may need tax statement others that definitely don't and maybe some that have benefits.  Perhaps you could group into a couple of letters but, to me, a gift in kind requires a much different letter than to someone who bought raffle tickets (which are not a donation).

My two cents...

 You can also take advantage of if-then-else merge fields to make the letters more custom.

Linda Kaspar

Nicole S.:

 You can also take advantage of if-then-else merge fields to make the letters more custom.

Thanks JoAnn - I do have the variety -- event module is new.  I also agree GIK need a different letter. 

 

Linda Kaspar

Nicole S.:

 You can also take advantage of if-then-else merge fields to make the letters more custom.

 Thanks Nicole - will check knowledgebase.  The tip of if-then-else -- may try it.