Dear Friend,

Two weeks ago we sent an email to over 6,000 people on our list explaining how only 365 donors supported our work last year.

In response to that email, we received just 6 new donations, only two of which were from new donors.

• If you didn't read the letter, please do.  It is reproduced below.
  
• If you did read it and thought about giving or referring friends, but forgot, please do.  We really need your help.
  
• If you read it and had no interest in supporting our work, please tell us why.
  

Thanks.

Below is a copy of the original letter.

"I can only say thank you. You are my best friends;
you have saved my life. You have helped my
three children to gradually get their mom back.
I felt completely lost and didn't want to live anymore.
But you are just great ..." -Jen 

Feb. 2, 2010

Dear Friend,

Why should you be one of our Sustaining Partners?

First, to save lives and souls, today. Second, to contribute to a ripple effect that is transforming future generations.

Jen is just one of the many people who have written to thank us for helping her to escape the culture of death and find healing in the culture of life.

In helping her find healing, you have also helped her children. Plus, her healing will touch countless others. Whether boldly or quietly, her story will touch many friends and relatives who might otherwise believe the lie that abortion is their only option.

The witness of women like Jen is already transforming our country. Fifteen years ago, 33 percent of Americans identified themselves as pro-life. Today, 51 percent say they are pro-life. Plus, over 85 percent believe abortion causes emotional harm to women (including over 60 percent of those who describe themselves as "very pro-choice") and more than half believe coerced abortions are common or very common.

Even many pro-choicers are listening to women like Jen!

Your Support Produces Results!

Over the last 21 years we have published dozens of peer-reviewed studies, and produced hundreds of education pieces and dozens of ads on the ways abortion hurts and exploits women.

This information has permanently altered the abortion debate. It has also caused us to be singled out for disparaging comments by the likes of the New York Times and Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg.

None of this work (or notoriety) would have been possible without the support of good people like you.

But we won't be able to continue without more people like you.

This last fiscal year (ending in July), our total revenue was only $105,701, including $95,895 in donations. But our total expenses were $123,771.

That $18,070 deficit took a huge bit out of our savings. If it happens again in 2010, we may not be able to survive.

But here's the amazing part! Our $95,895 in donations came from only 365 donors.

What a great bunch of donors we have! That's an average of $132 in donations per donor. That's high for any non-profit. (If you are one of those donors, thank you so much!)

But did you notice how few donors we had? Only 365!

Just 365 Donors Educating Millions!

Think about it. Here we are, the nation's leading post-abortion research and education group. Our peer-reviewed medical studies, and our books, fact sheets, and other advertising/outreach materials are relied upon and quoted by the media, pregnancy centers, post-abortion ministries, churches and pro-life groups worldwide.

We have millions of hits per year on our web sites. In fact, our sites are consistently in the top 10 for most Internet searches related to abortion and abortion risks.

Through these efforts, millions of people in the U.S., and around the world, have seen our materials quoted or cited. Hundreds, perhaps even thousands, of students have used our resources for presentations and  papers each year. This information is saving lives, and helping those who are hurting to find healing.

Clearly, our 21 years of leadership in educating the public that most abortions are unwanted, unsafe and unnecessary is helping to redefine the abortion debate.

But only 365 donors? What's going on here?

That's an average of fewer than 8 donors per state! Surely there are far more people who would support our pro-woman/pro-life ministry if they knew more about our work and our needs!

So why don't we have more donors? It's simple. We don't have a development director. Millions may hear about our research or see our materials being distributed by other groups. But millions don't know about our needs, and they have never seen an appeal for financial support.

The simple truth is that fundraising is a full-time job.

My dilemma is this. When I first founded the Elliot Institute 21 years ago, I quickly discovered that developing new research and publishing new material required 90 percent or more of my time. I simply didn't have the time (or the talent) to do as much fundraising as should have been done. So, I did only one major fundraising letter per year and relied mostly on sales of our books and other materials to make ends meet.

That model isn't working anymore.

Although we now do several fundraising appeals throughout the year, our steady decline in income has forced us to cut or scale back on most of our projects. In fact, our biggest research project has been completely halted due to lack of funds.

We Need Your Help ... In Two Ways

First, Can You Help Us To Afford A Development Director?

As the saying goes, it takes money to make money. We need to raise money to hire a development director. Unfortunately, we simply don't have the funds for this in our current budget.

Obviously, we need to raise enough money to cover not only our current expenses, but also for a few months' salary for this new position in order to bring someone on board and give them time to start developing a fundraising plan.

To support our research, outreach and education efforts in the year ahead, we need 5 patrons who can donate $5,000 or more; 20 Sustaining Partners who can donate $100 per month; 50 Sustaining Partners who can donate $50 per month; and 100 Sustaining Partners who can donate $30 per month. Plus, we need another 100 supporting partners making one-time donations of $50 or more.

We especially need ongoing pledge partners -- the "Sustaining Partners" mentioned above -- who make a year-long pledge for regular donations. Sustaining Partners choose the amount and how often they want to give, and we can automate this process through your credit card. (To become a Sustaining Partner, download and mail this form to us or give us a call at 1-888-412-2676).

Please pray about this. Are you able to be a partner in this great work? Can you make at least one donation, or better yet, a pledge for ongoing support?

Second, Can You Recommend Us To At Least One Friend?

Can you be one of our volunteer mini development directors?

Even if you can't donate right now, you can encourage someone else to support our ministry. Surely you know people who care about the women, men, children and families being hurt and exploited by abortion, and being pushed into unwanted and unsafe abortions. Your personal request that they join you in supporting our work will do more to convince them then anything I could send them.

Word-of-mouth endorsements by trusted friends are the most powerful marketing force on the planet.

If everyone on this email list found us just one new Sustaining Partner, we could easily double our efforts in both outreach and advocacy.

Please, please ask a family member, friend, or co-worker to add us to their list of supported charities. Encourage like-minded people among your social networking contacts to support us. You can do so by sending them this link: www.theunchoice.com/elliotinstitute.htm along with a note inviting them to become part of our work. (It's also a good place for you to learn more about our work if you don't know much about us yet!)

Remember, the most important thing to give them is your personal request: "Would you do me the favor of helping to support this ministry this year?"

Please take a few minutes right now -- before you forget -- to make a donation and ask people you know to help support us.

Thank you so much for your prayers and support. You are in our prayers of thanks always.

Sincerely yours for Life in Christ,

David C. Reardon

Director

To make a donation:

1. Click here for a link to make a one-time donation through PayPal;

2. Call 1-888-412-2676 to become a Sustaining Partner or make a one-time donation by credit card; or

3. Mail your donation (and/or Sustaining Partner pledge form) to:
Elliot Institute, PO Box 7348, Springfield, IL 62791.

The Elliot Institute is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization.
Donations are tax-deductible, and receipts
will be provided upon request.