A Blast From the Past: When Ugly Direct Mail Works

FundRaising Success published its first issue in November 2003, which makes this our 10-year anniversary year. To celebrate, we'll be taking a look back at past issues throughout the year.

Designers love to come up with new, innovative, shiny direct-mail packages to capture the aesthetics of their art and draw attention in the mailbox. None of that matters, really, when it comes to direct mail. All that matters is getting the envelope opened and the donor moved to take action. In the October 2011 issue, DM Diagnosis author Kimberly Seville discussed "When Ugly Works" in regard to a Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee mailing.