Salutation Formats

Jill Freidmutter

I am working toward eliminating duplicate salutation formats and making the list more concise and perhaps even elegant. Is it a better practice to have two different salutation formats for a single constituent and a constituent with a spouse? Or is it better to use the smart formatting option so that one format works for both? (Is there a general reference for RE best practices?) Example: The following salutation format: [First Name] and [Spouse First Name] with

JoAnn Strommen

Jill Freidmutter:
I am working toward eliminating duplicate salutation formats and making the list more concise and perhaps even elegant. Is it a better practice to have two different salutation formats for a single constituent and a constituent with a spouse? Or is it better to use the smart formatting option so that one format works for both? (Is there a general reference for RE best practices?) Example: The following salutation format: [First Name] and [Spouse First Name] with

Jill,

It really depends on your needs and anticipated needs.  We have both.  While I use the joint addressee/salutations probably 95% of the time, I have had times when I just want the single name. 

We actually have 3 formats that utilize the smart formatting to include spouse and have a single name format also:

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  Joint format (Mr. & Mrs. Joe Brown)
  
  
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  Joint informat (Joe & Mary Brown)
  
  
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  Last name, first with spouse (Brown, Joe & Mary - find this very useful for reports and prospect lists, etc.)
  
  

If you're doing clean up, I would sure consider including both formats.

Gina Gerhard

Jill Freidmutter:
I am working toward eliminating duplicate salutation formats and making the list more concise and perhaps even elegant. Is it a better practice to have two different salutation formats for a single constituent and a constituent with a spouse? Or is it better to use the smart formatting option so that one format works for both? (Is there a general reference for RE best practices?) Example: The following salutation format: [First Name] and [Spouse First Name] with

Don't forget married/partnered that have different last names... ?? Sometimes the 'smart' option won't work for these varied types of scenarios.

JoAnn Strommen

Gina Gerhard:
Don't forget married/partnered that have different last names... ?? Sometimes the 'smart' option won't work for these varied types of scenarios.

Yes, definitely need a set of specific formats for those couples with last names. 

Melissa Graves 3

Jill Freidmutter:
I am working toward eliminating duplicate salutation formats and making the list more concise and perhaps even elegant. Is it a better practice to have two different salutation formats for a single constituent and a constituent with a spouse? Or is it better to use the smart formatting option so that one format works for both? (Is there a general reference for RE best practices?) Example: The following salutation format: [First Name] and [Spouse First Name] with

I am not a fan of using the smart formats. People add spouses without looking at add/sals or intending them to change an add/sal. I prefer to force a change on an add/sal. I have worked for several controversial organizations where the donor and spouse disagree on the issue. We often wanted to know the spouse name but not include it in add sals.

I, therefore prefer to have an organized list where single addressee options are first, then married female, then married male, then salutation options for the same three groups. I can then know when someone picks a formula from the wrong list (single person getting a married add/sal, salutation option picked from an addressee list, etc.) and can keep them clean.