Direct Mail

Hey fundraisers, have you ever had an idea for a direct mail piece, an email subject line, a special event, a premium/freemium or anything else that was so crazy there's no way it should work—only it did? If so, we want to hear from you!...

At 12:01 a.m. on Sunday, First Class stamps will cost 49 cents. USPS says it will also increase postage prices on other products, such as Standard Mail, periodicals and package services. USPS says the postage increases are happening because of the removal of an exigent surcharge...

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...