National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML)

Donations page for NORML (sort of, one of them) - has steet address
"join" page for NORML
NORML
1001 Connecticut Ave. NW
Suite 710
Washington, DC 20036
norml@norml.org - bad, should have "donations@norml.org".
(888) 676-6765

Online billpay to schedule monthly donations

Design critique

Contact page -- very nice that they are so inviting: "Please contact us!" http://www.norml.org/contact/index.html

Home page says "support" (thier ads by sending money) but what if I think the ads are stupid? Then this page/approach drives me away; the only other alternative is to "join" but I don't want to join, for 16 reasons. I guess I can't send them my money, too bad. Interestingly, at the bottom of this page, http://www.norml.org/about/ads.shtml, the link to the so-called "Join" page is labelled "Contribute" -- which is almost as good as "Donate". They actually have an unusually good, clear distinction between joining and donating -- but it should be even better. This is one of the better donation pages, but the entrypoints suck, esp the home page nav area "Join" link - bad, prevents multiple/random donations.

It was too hard to find the street address to send random donations to. The page is http://www.norml.org/about/print_out.html.

They have a toll-free # for contributing. Good. "To join or contribute to NORML by phone with your credit card, please call NORML's toll free support line at 888-67-NORML (888-676-6765)."

This site doesn't *really* support online contributions, you fill in the HTML form then print and meatmail it. That's why bank site "bill auto-pay" is so cool -- *you* use an online interface, though a meat-realm check gets sent to the org.

Very overbusy and very confusing page: https://banqa.uaqa.com/norml/join/#bottom page - - what to click after click $25 regular membership option button? Can stoned people understand this? Break into several pages or divide into clear sections.

Bad wording: "For those outside of the US, we request a minimum $35 donation for membership. To join online, click here." And where do people *in* the U.S. click? Add paragraph return to form separate sentences.

Bad: amazing, all the contributions to NORML, and all the contributions at stake, yet they have no way of contributing online. That kills online random casual spontaneous donations.

Look at the nicely done, professionally worded solicitation - powerful.

Corporate Gift Matching

In recent years, many supporters have donated via their company's gift matching program wherein the company matches your donation to NORML or the NORML Foundation, often, dollar for dollar.

NORML and the NORML Foundation have received matching gifts from major corporations such as Phillip Morris, Cisco Systems, Microsoft, Sun MicroSystems and Playboy, Inc.

If your employer offers such a program, please consider naming NORML or the NORML Foundation as the recipient of your matchable contribution.

Again, major gifts from supporters of marijuana law reform comprise an important part of empowering NORML and the NORML Foundation to provide a voice for the millions of American adults who smoke marijuana responsibly.

If possible, please give generously to NORML or the NORML Foundation.