Although Facebook, Twitter and other social media are the latest darlings of fundraising, nonprofits shouldn't forget the humble letter and stamp, a new survey says.

While 57 percent of the folks surveyed followed social media, only 6 percent used it to donate money to charities or causes in the past year, according to the survey released last week by Russ Reid, a California company specializing in nonprofit marketing.

Meanwhile, 61 percent of donors dropped checks in the mailbox -- including four of 10 donors under the age of 40.

Another 34 percent donated online, the survey said. And most people contributed to charities in several ways, said Lisa McIntrye, a Russ Reid senior vice president.

The "Heart of the Donor" report was based on interviews with more than 2,000 adults online and by telephone in June.

As nonprofits continue to struggle with the economic downturn, the survey offers insights into the hows and whys of giving in 2010.

Boomers and beyond: Charities seeking big spenders should continue to eye the over-50 crowd. People who were 25 to 39 years old donated an average of $544 a year, compared with $805 a year for the 55- to 69-year-olds and $1,200 for people age 70 or older.

Websites must sing: Most people first turn to an organization's website and other Internet sites when considering a donation, the survey showed. Half talked to a friend and 35 percent contacted a watchdog group or staff at the organization.

Big bucks for managers? Asked if they would rather give more so a nonprofit could employ an experienced manager or spend less on someone with fewer credentials, 40 percent preferred to pay more, 37 percent preferred to pay less, and 23 percent had no opinion.

Lessons from Haiti: Emergencies attract new types of donors. Most likely to support Haiti relief were African-Americans, Latinos, Asians and immigrants. They were among the 6.7 million first-time donors motivated by the disaster.

Jean Hopfensperger • 612-673-4511