Frequently Asked Questions:
  • How much does Staff Monkey cost?
    That's a great question! Right now I have 2 pricing structures. If you are an individual who has to raise support, the fee is $25 per month (which can most likely be expensed). If you are a part of a larger ministry, like a church, the fee is $50 per month. In both cases, the billing cycle is six months at a time. Back to Top
  • Is there an initial set-up cost?
    There are no initial set-up costs. Back to Top
  • Why are HTML emails better than my cool paper newsletters?
    a) You will save an incalculable amount of time with Staff Monkey - no more folding, stuffing, sticking and licking!

    b) Stamps are $0.42 each... that's like a whole banana. Enough said!

    c) How much more time do you spend with your email each day than you do with your regular mail? Do you think it's any different for your donors? No need to answer - Staff Monkey knows and so do you... Back to Top
  • Why are HTML emails better than my cool plain emails?
    a) Imagine, for a moment, your donor receiving and immediately reading your beautiful, in-color and well-written (actually, Staff Monkey can't guarantee that part) e-letter as it pops up in their inbox! There's no clicking on some file. There's no "go here" directive. Just a wonderful newsletter for them to enjoy... with pictures and everything, right there! We know, good story...

    b) OK, let's get serious then. You will be able to know who is reading your e-mails, who is not receiving them and what links they are clicking on. Can you do that with your current email newsletters?

    c) Staff Monkey sends out each email to each recipient (you can even include their name in the newsletter). No nasty BCC lists. Back to Top
  • Why not send out an email and attach a .pdf?
    a) Because HTML is cooler... honestly, it just is.

    b) Pdf's are often hard for recipients to read. You have to zoom in and scroll around to see everything. And that's if they can even open it! How many times have you heard, "I couldn't open your email"? With HTML emails, it's all right there exactly when opened, no clicking involved.

    c) In Staff Monkey emails, weblinks are easily accessible by the touch of a button (without having to list long web addresses). For example, a recipient who wants to donate to an InterVarsity staff member can go here. Back to Top
  • How will my donors know the e-mails are from me if you are sending them?
    Because your name and email will be in the "From:" field. Every email campaign you send out will be exactly that, from you. No unsightly logos for Staff Monkey or anyone else. No "From" field that reads: "9HD83TFS43JOCP94958@staffmonkey.net". Just you. Back to Top
  • How will I get my donors signed up to receive my newsletters?
    If you already send your donors emails then all you'll need to do is send us an Microsoft Excel file with their email, first name and last name. If you aren't sending them emails yet, you need to ask them if you can start. Send them a self-addressed, stamped postcard. Call them. Or we can even setup an online sign-up form for you where your donors can go and sign themselves up - it's very easy! Back to Top
  • What templates do you have?
    Staff Monkey provides 3 basic templates that we can customize with whatever pictures, web-safe fonts and colors you want! You can see the 3 examples here: prayercard (think postcard, mostly a nice picture... with a paragraph of text), your basic newsletter and a 2-column newsletter format.

    Staff Monkey can often do special graphic work to personalize your newsletters. Back to Top
  • How do I get the pictures and info I want in my emails to you?
    Whenever you are ready to send out a prayer update or newsletter, you will send us an email with an attached Word document containing the text of your newsletter as well as any pictures you want to use in your newsletter in .jpg format. Staff Monkey does the rest. Back to Top
  • Will I get to see the final product before it’s sent out?
    YES!! We will send you a test email (which will be especially important for you to proofread one last time as Staff Monkey doesn't proofread your newsletters). If it looks good you'll email us back and we'll send out your newsletter for whenever you want it sent! Back to Top
  • You said I'll be able to see who is getting my emails?
    YES! A week after you send out your newsletter we'll send you an excel report so you can see the following: who received your email, who didn't, who opened it, who didn't, which URLs were clicked on, who forwarded your emails to whom and who unsubscribed. Back to Top
  • OK, OK... I’m actually, well, a little cheap – really, why should I do this?
    Aside from the reasons given in FAQ #3, #4 and #5, the likelihood that your $25/ month will more than pay for itself is very high. Your donors will be reading your correspondence more frequently and thus be more connected with you and your ministry. Seth and Jill have definitely seen a difference in donor response since they started sending out updates in this manner. Back to Top
  • What?! Are you saying that this will help my fundraising?
    That is exactly what Staff Monkey is saying!

    If you didn't have to print, fold, stuff and lick 300 newsletters every time, you'd actually send out an update every month! But you DO have to print, fold, stuff and lick 300 newsletters so you only get around to it 4 times a year!

    By "getting in front" of your donors every month you'll have a donor base that is better connected to what you are doing on a more regular basis which will inevitably result in those donors giving to the ministry more frequently.

    Staff Monkey is a monthly "subscription" because you need to be sending out correspondence to those people who are enabling you to be on campus every month. Back to Top
  • OK, there's this guy I know who wants to do this, how do I, er... he, get started?
    Just contact us (or have your friend contact us)! There is an initial set-up that we will need to go through together. Its very simple and won't take that long. We can answer all of your other questions then too. Back to Top
  • Do monkey's really love bananas THAT much?!
    We do. We really, really do. Back to Top