Read the mailing preference on a donation form
Paper donation forms often include checkboxes for mail, email and data sharing. Reading each one before you submit helps your preferences get recorded the way you meant.
How to read and save your form preferences
- Read every checkbox before filling in the form. Note whether each box is opt-in or opt-out, because some are pre-checked and you must uncheck them to decline.
- Separate the boxes that affect postal mail, email and sharing your information with other organizations, since each has different consequences.
- Before mailing the form, photocopy it or take a photo of the completed page for your records.
- If the wording is unclear, call donor services before you submit and ask what each box controls. Write down the representative's name and the date.
Pre-checked boxes and sharing permissions
Some forms arrive with sharing or contact boxes already checked, so read each one and uncheck any you do not want before you return the form. A box allowing the charity to share your address with partner organizations is separate from a box controlling its own mailings to you, and checking one does not settle the other. If you are unsure how a charity treats a box, ask donor services before you mail the form. If mail arrives later that you want to stop, you can photograph one ordinary appeal with the sender and your full mailing label visible, and an authorized user can review and submit it to Junk Mail Magic.
Keep a copy of every form you mail
File the copy with your donation records. If your preferences are recorded incorrectly, it lets you describe exactly what you submitted when you contact donor services.
Instructions for the next step
Have an unwanted advertisement ready?
Photograph one piece you are authorized to handle, with the sender and full mailing label visible. Review the details before submitting. The first request is free; the sender controls the response.
Try one request free