How To Solicit — and Not Annoy — Older Donors

In solicitations and other material, charities must be careful about using terms that may offend older people, says Joanne Fritz on About.com’s nonprofit blog.

Using a media guide that advises journalists who write about aging, Ms. Fritz, who has worked at several charities and universities, makes several suggestions.

• Be careful about the terms you use to describe people older than 65. Terms like “old,” “elderly,” or “seniors” can be inappropriate depending on the group of people you’re talking to.

• Don’t highlight their level of activity as out of the ordinary. While a bungee-jumping man at 78 is noteworthy, the fact that people continue to volunteer, garden, or do other activities at an older age is the norm these days.

• Avoid descriptions that are just too cute. For example, don’t call someone “80 years young.”

What do you think? What terms or phrases should fund raisers be careful about when talking to older donors?