John hit the nail on the head. Additionally, in your contract you should spell out your expectations if you are specific on the types of appeals they are doing... current donors, lapsed, acquisition, if you want to withhold major donors, and the reporting you expect back so you can see what their specific results are in each segment... avg gift, response rates, etc. and ask specific questions if they are buying lists for you. You don’t want a ton of demographic lists just to fill a count quota. And they easily will fall into that trap if you let them. You are better off buying (renting) good performers in smaller quantities than trying to hit a big number. And the very important question, is the consultant registered in the states you are mailing to and under your jurisdiction if required. You have to disclose that info in certain states (I’m in Florida and it is very specific)
Sent from my iPhone
Please excuse brevity and misspelling.
Donna Rex
Consultant
donnafund@gmail.com
> On Mar 14, 2019, at 3:34 PM, John Taylor <
johntaylorconsulting@gmail.com> wrote:
>
> Which I argue covers this. As a consultant if we promise a fundraising amount in exchange for our fee, that violets the essence of this nationally recognized standard.
>
> John
>
> John Taylor
> 919.816.5903
>
johntaylorconsulting@gmail.com
>
> Big ideas; small keyboard
>
>> On Mar 14, 2019, at 3:23 PM, Christina Ritchie <
critchie@artsusa.org> wrote:
>>
>> I have, and it doesn’t get at quite this issue, unfortunately. Mainly it focuses on commissions, percentage of donation incentives, and finders fees.
>>
>> Christina Logothetis Ritchie
>> Director of Individual Giving
>> Americans for the Arts
>> 202.371.2830 x2078
>>
critchie@artsusa.org
>>
>>
>>
>>
>> From: Advancement Services Discussion List <
FUNDSVCS@LISTSERV.FUNDSVCS.ORG> On Behalf Of John Taylor
>> Sent: Thursday, March 14, 2019 12:59 PM
>> To:
FUNDSVCS@LISTSERV.FUNDSVCS.ORG
>> Subject: Re: [FUNDSVCS] Consultant contract deliverables
>>
>> Have you looked at the AFP Code of Ethics?
>>
>> John H. Taylor
>> Principal, John H. Taylor Consulting
>> 2604 Sevier St.
>> Durham, NC 27705
>>
johntaylorconsulting@gmail.com
>> 919.816.5903 (cell/text)
>>
>> Serving the Advancement Community Since 1987
>>
>>
>> On Thu, Mar 14, 2019 at 12:49 PM Christina Ritchie <
critchie@artsusa.org> wrote:
>> Hi all,
>>
>> We are hiring a direct response consultant for the annual fund. The consultant will have specific responsibilities in managing mail and digital direct response campaigns over the course of the calendar year. The contract specifies the number of campaigns and the timing of deadlines for each one, etc. The contract does not specify an amount of money to be raised or number of leads to be acquired. I have explained to my head of operations that this is standard in the industry – a consultant will guarantee their work product, but no one can guarantee results.
>>
>> Can anyone point me to a published resource or web page that will back me up that this is standard practice in the field? I have poked around AFP, CASE, and DMFA but haven’t found what I’m looking for. I know *we* know how this works, but I’m looking for a higher authority to demonstrate that.
>>
>> Thanks,
>> Christina
>>
>> Christina Logothetis Ritchie
>> Director of Individual Giving
>> Americans for the Arts
>> 1000 Vermont Ave NW 6th Floor
>> Washington, DC 20005-4940
>> 202.371.2830 x2078
>>
www.AmericansForTheArts.org
>> Follow us: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter
>> Pronouns: she/her/her
>>
>>