How do you get government offices to respond to my email?

Question

By email, I, as the president of a incorporated nonprofit, have offered State Social Services offices in 48 states a free website that may help their clients with information on how to set up a checking account, etc. They may or may not find the website relevant but at least they should send an acknowledgment. The name and their title appears in the subject line, it is NOT a mass emailing, and there are no attachments. Out of 48, only six responded with a thank you. Why don't they respond at all? Is there anything else I could have done to show it wasn't spam or porn?

I know people are skeptical of email but I did everything I thought I could possibly do. Their title and name in the subject. No attachments. And not a mass emailing. These are not volunteers, they are paid staff.

Hey, I got a flash thought. Put a cc to the governors office. Would that work?

State government, not federal.

Email does not ask any question. Just says here is a good website, then describes what it does, then says use it as you see fit.

Answer 1

There are real people receiving those email on the other end. I cannot say what goes on in their office. I do work for the government though and I know first hand that not all of us are like that. Any email I receive is at least acknowledge withing a day. Hopefully I can answer the question in that time as well. I try to have letter answer withing a week.

I know the system is frustrating but know there are some people working for you.

Answer 2

Try making a phone call. E-mail is a poor communication tool when trying to initiate a relationship between two institutions or businesses.
Having said that, most government officials aren't authorized to just up and do something. There is always a process and it's almost never easy. And sadly, because of those known hurdles, a lot of people in government just don't even try anymore.
So it's going to take a concerted effort on your part to get through to them. Having as much information available to them to answer their questions and streamlining the process as much as you can are two big ways to get in the door. That requires you to know the process, so talk to the people who have responded to you and ask how you can make the process smoother for the agencies in other states.

Answer 3

The government is not for the people any more, its for those who can exploit it . Under Six years of Republican control the Government has become bigger and more waste full. Government offices treat citizens as opponents in a battle for the Money allot ed to that agency. Bush did nothing to limit or make it more efficient. What a waste, if we are going to be a socialist country we might as well vote for liberals they will at least focus the money on the people and not on corporations that take the money out of our country to hide it from our high tax rates and expensive labor laws and environmental laws. ETC.

Answer 4

I agree, and Private corporations are even worse ! Have you ever tried to email your health insurance company or one of your utilities? They NEVER ONCE respond or reply.

Once I asked the woman at my insurance company when I finally got a human being on the phone, and she said they just get too many emails, and just put them in files to get back to later ! No wonder American consumers are going down the drain.

Answer 5

Welcome to the wonderful world of dealing with the government. I'm actually surprised that you got 6 responses. My company holds a number of government contracts and I can't even get my own contracting officers to respond to my requests.

Answer 6

A follow up mailing would prove your sincerity.
Too many people are skeptics on email.