Direct Mail

Direct mail dates back to 1,000 B.C. when an Egyptian landowner advertised a gold reward for the return of one his slaves—all finely scripted on a piece of papyrus. For a marketing strategy that ancient, you would think direct mail’s days might be numbered, right? Think again...

The fundamental building block for fundraising is relationships. This is true for major gift officers who sit across from donors to share a meal or a conversation. It is also true for direct response professionals who must skillfully identify the right stories and images to illustrate an organization’s mission to donors who may never witness first-hand the difference their contribution makes...

In a previous blog post, I briefly examined what appears to be a growing sentiment in the nonprofit industry that direct mail fundraising is somehow flawed. Fundraisers have been slow to abandon outdated business practices or to evolve quick enough to react to the mounting challenges facing nonprofits today—and yes, there are many that we must overcome...

A direct mail campaign bases its appeal on honoring the sacrifices of their fellow Americans.

A long-time winning direct mail campaign calls on freedom-loving citizens to make a difference in the lives of others.

Direct mail dates back to 1,000 B.C. when an Egyptian landowner advertised a gold reward for the return of one his slaves—all finely scripted on a piece of papyrus. For a marketing strategy that ancient, you would think direct mail’s days might be numbered, right? Think again. Proactive Marketing released a report comparing direct mail and […]

A cancer hospital raises money with a direct mail package that depends on art from some of its smallest patients.

A humanitarian aid organization’s direct mail piece taps into anger.

The harsh reality of fundraising is that boring is often best. Viral video, Instagram Live, Tinder (OK, maybe not Tinder)—there’s a steady stream of cool, new, exciting channels on which fundraisers can get creative. These channels promise big short-term returns, but they’re not without risk...

Monthly giving is seeing double-digit increases in year-over-year growth, and for good reason. Nonprofits depend on a continuously scalable base of donors and revenue to fund their important missions and services. Among the many options in an organization’s fundraising portfolio, monthly giving offers a more reliable, steady income stream that is resilient to economic ups and downs...