When I do decide to send money in, I mark on the return "stub" and on my check - then I highlight so they can't miss it, that I DO NOT want my name put on any mailing list, and I DO NOT want it sold to anyone else. If I start getting many solicitations that can be traced back to their organization that I will stop all future donations. So far this seems to have worked - to some extent - but I'm sure there are the organizations that just do mass mailings and don't care who they are sending to. I know a good one for selling your name was the National Wildlife Federation. I used to belong to them, and after that I got solicitations from every animal organization in the world (or so it seemed). I wrote them a letter complaining, and stopped my donations. And since then the mailings have tapered off immensely, so maybe they got the hint.

Also, I do this on everything I send money in for. If I order from a catalog I tell them to take me off their "sell list." If I order online I tell them the same thing. A lot of these companies/organizations make money by selling their mailing lists, and if you don't specifically tell them to take you off, you're automatically on.

I still get many solicitations and unwanted mail, but I'm sure I get much less than if I didn't let them know.

Just some thoughts, every little bit helps these days.

Oh, and BTW, a few years back I complained to Public Radio about all the interim pleas for more money. I told them I donate when I can (at that time once a year) and to please not waste all that time and effort during the year. Amazingly, I only got my annual renewal after that - so they listened! I guess I was kind of surprised.