Comments on: Amateur Writing = Amateur Org = No Money from Me

By: Bernadette Powers

Bernadette Powers — Tue, 13 Mar 2007 05:31:55 +0000

Bravo! Maybe it’s all those years I spent with the nuns in Catholic school, but I agree that language matters as does attention to detail. We’re at an interesting juncture in the nonprofit where I volunteer We’re loaded with academic types so writing isn’t an issue but design sure is. The folks who started our venture did a logo and other marketing materials that did indeed betray their amateur origins. Among other things the logo is technically a nightmare. Now the organization has grown and changed and some of us feel the need to present a more professional design face to the world. We’ve even secured the volunteer services of a very talented designer to help us with branding and identity. There’s something of a split between some of the “old guard” and those of us advocating this change. For us internally the split over design may be just the marker for the struggles people are having over change in our organization.
What do you suppose the back story might be behind that Red Cross invitation?

By: Kivi Leroux Miller

Kivi Leroux Miller — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 23:01:31 +0000

Come on, let’s not get into how I spend my time — I already have a substantial list of volunteer projects.

I think we can learn from others’ mistakes as much as we can from others’ successes.

I think the real shame of this story, which I didn’t get into in the original post, is that the corporate sponsors of this event (and there are some big names with big $$ behind them) didn’t step up and offer some assistance to this chapter to help them really pull off the event marketing with style. They deserve the wrath more than the chapter in some ways.

By: Christine

Christine — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 21:55:41 +0000

The Red Cross is 96% volunteer driven, so chances are that a volunteer enlisted the help of the artists (who may work in more than one medium), created the invitation, organized the event and will get very little recognition in the end. He or she may be a teen just starting out and trying to gain experience and raise money for a good cause. I would have much preferred it if the energy spent grilling the poor writer/designer was spent finding a tactful way of offering help to that chapter. It’s that chapter (and those volunteers) that will respond to an emergency if her home burns down, her town suffers hurricane, flood, or earthquake, and Red Cross volunteers who will provide blood to those in the local hospitals. Come on. We’re all in this together.

By: Kivi Leroux Miller

Kivi Leroux Miller — Fri, 09 Mar 2007 19:04:13 +0000

Of course I’m looking to support good causes. But as we all know, there are more good causes than dollars in our bank accounts. We have to make choices, and a number of factors influence those choices. I have no doubt that a nonprofit with sloppy writing can still do amazing mission-related projects, just as a nonprofit with an amazing website might do sloppy mission projects. In general, however, I think the quality of the materials that a nonprofit distributes to its donor base is telling. Whether it says “amateur” or “overworked” or nothing at all is up to each donor to decide.

By: Jason

Jason — Thu, 08 Mar 2007 03:34:05 +0000

When you do happen to donate, are you looking to support good causes, or are you looking to reward good writing & design?

They might be doing amazing things in areas that matter. They might be doing things for their community that make you look like a garden slug.

It seems a tad bit haughty/petty to be smacking someone on the hand with a ruler for their writing habits, when that has absolutely nothing to do with whether their work in other areas is rewardable - work that, in my opinion, matters a whole lot more than the grammar used in an invitation to a fundraiser.

By: Karen Ollivierre-Smart

Karen Ollivierre-Smart — Fri, 02 Mar 2007 16:24:15 +0000

I too can empathize with your impatience with bad grammar. As professionals we need to remind each other of the need to maintain high standards and your article was quite suitable in that regard.

Let’s keep encouraging each other to do and be more!

By: Paul Sapiano

Paul Sapiano — Thu, 01 Mar 2007 00:21:47 +0000

It may well have been a volunteer writing the copy, it’s a volunteer led organization who knows but they make the best use of their resources and the American Red Cross is a 4 Star charity according to Charity Navigator so on the whole, they would use your donation very wisely.

Typos aside. You might get a Tank you letter instead of a Thank you letter though!

Help them out and donate one of your courses to them.