Direct Mail

Direct mail fundraisers struggle and sweat over the letter, working to make it persuasive and motivating. In many conversations about direct mail fundraising, it is as if the letter is the only thing that really matters. I have a slightly disturbing secret to tell you. The letter is only marginally important to success in direct…

Last year at this time, I sent $25 donations to 19 organizations. Only one ranked among larger organizations in term of annual income. So, how do I, a small-level donor, feel 12 months later? Would I want to give again (and maybe a larger amount) based on the relationship that was built in 2016?...

I was recently asked for tips for print copywriters interested in writing for digital media. The timing was perfect because I was

USPS prices are going up in 2017. First Class mail goes from 47 to 49 cents on Jan. 22, with other products seeing varying price increases. On Tuesday, the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) approved all postage raises USPS requested, except for special services price adjustments...

If you think you can send one fundraising appeal and then wait for the donations to pour in, you’re in for a rude awakening. Your donors are busy and may put your letters aside to handle later, and then never get to them. Or, they may not see your fundraising email in their ever-growing inboxes.…

Here’s an important stamp date: Sunday, Jan. 22, 2017. That’s when the U.S. Postal Service has told mailers it wants to implement its next rate change. But it’s unknown if the Postal Service will use its annual rate change to seek an end the 47 cent first-class stamp. By law, the USPS cannot raise stamp…

Conversations with a few clients have led me to believe that if you ask 10 different development professionals what makes a good appeal letter, you will get 10 different answers. What really makes a good appeal, though, is its ability to connect people to how they can make an impact in an area they care deeply about. Here's how you can write one that does just that...

People ask me all the time what type of direct mail is most worth studying for ideas. Even before I mention whatever is being mailed in their industry, I recommend the Grand Controls. These are the best packages, the box office champions that have driven the most customer and donor response. A few weeks ago, I pored through my database of 1,672 of them to find the longest-running controls still in the mail today...

Love them or hate them, direct mail premiums have a long track record of lifting response and, at least initially, average gift. But the degree to which they work, and the effort they take to manage, is dependent upon your needs and abilities...

In a mailbox that’s a little less crowded than just a few years ago, there’s still a daunting task at hand for fundraisers: how to stand out to the prospective member or donor. Even with a full box of exciting tools at your disposal, the good ol’ envelope is still just an envelope, right?...