1 - Donating

• Donating directly - If you have the option to leave a note when donating, politely ask they do not add you to their mailing list or rent/sell your name/information. Can even say that future donations are contingent on this.

• Charity Navigator Giving Box - https://www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=content.view&cpid=2013 - Allows you to donate anonymously, get a single tax receipt, donate to multiple chariteis at once, set up recurring donations

• Network for Good - http://www.networkforgood.com/ - You can choose whether to remain anonymous or be identified to the recipient charity.

2 - Opt out programs

• DMA Choice - https://dmachoice.thedma.org/
• National Do Not Mail - http://www.directmail.com/mail_preference/
• Catalog Choice - https://www.catalogchoice.org/

3 - Actively eliminating spam mail

• Call/email the organization and politely ask that they remove you from the mailing list.
• PaperKarma - https://www.paperkarma.com/ - app where you take pictures of unwanted mail and they unsubscribe you
• Mail a letter to the charity - Include the return envolope they sent you while asking for a donation. Ask them to remove your name and address from their mailing list, and to not share your information with any other organizations. It can get more complicated if the charity got your name from a mailing list, in which case you could ask them to confirm where they obtained the mailing list and then contact that company.
• Return junk mail stamped "address correction requested" or "return postage guaranteed." Return junk mail unopened to the sender by writing "Refused. Return to sender." on the envelope. Without this special notation; the post office will not return the mail to the sender.
• If you receive unwanted flyers or mail, call the customer service department of the organization or business responsible and request that your name be removed from their mailing list. Alternatively, send in a written request that is signed and dated. Include a sample of he mailing label so the sender can identify how you are listed in their files.
• Some charities will sell/rent your information. If you receive mail from a charity you never donated to you can contact them and ask where they got your information, and then ask that organization to remove your information from their list.

Additional Information

• Remember to recycle junk mail along with newspapers and whatnot.

• Charity Navigator has a section that shows the organizations Donor Privacy Policy - Details

• More general opt out forms for phone and credit - National Do Not Call Registry - https://www.donotcall.gov/ and Credit/Insurance Opt Out - https://www.optoutprescreen.com/?rf=t

• Relevant articles - CharityWatch - 7 tips for reducing unwanted mail and phone appeals and DrowningInMail - step by step guide to minimizing unwanted mail

Major Marketing Firms

• Register with Valassis every five years, and whenever you move - http://www.valassis.com/
• Contact Harte-Hanks to be removed from the Pennysaver mailing list - Harte-Hanks Direct Marketing, Attn: Consumer Preferences, c/o Pennysaver, 2830 Orbiter Street, Brea, CA 92821, Phone: (800) 422-4116
• Val-Pak Savings Coupons - Val-Pak maintains regional lists, but not a central one. Send your request to the address printed on the envelope you receive. If you receive the blue envelope you can also remove your address from their website at: https://www.valpak.com/coupons/show/mailinglistsuppression
• Sweepstakes Publishers Clearinghouse (800) 645-9242.

https://www.consumer.ftc.gov/articles/0262-stopping-unsolicited-mail-phone-calls-and-email