Direct Mail

With the 2012 presidential election quickly approaching, it's always interesting to look back and see some of the techniques political fundraisers utilize for their respective campaigns. So to kick off our November Mission of the Month — Political Fundraising — here are a few stories from FundRaising Success Gold Awards judge Paul Bobnak, research director of FS sister brand DirectMarketingIQ.

A look at the Direct Marketing Fundraisers Association 2012 Renewal Package of the Year winner: amfAR, the Foundation for AIDS Research December 2011 Appeal.

A look at the 2012 DMFA Acquisition Package of the Year, Covenant House's 'Paint Can' package.

Announcing the 2012 Fundraising Campaign of the Year: Leader Dogs for the Blind's Graduation Poster.

Make sure those thumb-through folks see your important direct-mail components first … so they turn into content-pullers and engage with you.

Introducing the 2012 Grand Control of the Year: the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children's John Walsh Endorsement.

Announcing the Direct Mail Campaigns of the Year: World Vision & The National Humane Education Society, along with The Trust for Public Land and Coast Guard Foundation.

Here are five direct-mail fundraising musts that FundRaising Success Editor-in-Chief Margaret Battistelli Gardner shared during a new Fast15, “Channel Surfing: Top Tips for Making the Most of Direct Mail, E-mail, Social Media and More.”

On Friday, the Direct Marketing Fundraisers Association held its 2012 Package of the Year luncheon, honoring the Package of the Year winners. Here are some notable quotes from the event.

The "Cross-Channel Fundraising Tips and Trends" report is a high-level study of fundraising marketing, as we pulled endless amounts of data from our direct-mail and e-mail archives (the most complete direct marketing archive in the world) and are presenting the current fundraising trends, including comparisons of 2011 to 2010, as well as giving a glimpse of how 2012 is shaping up.