1. Keep your donor list clean and up-to-date

When you receive a donation, always thank the donor and update your records to include their information. Make sure that when you send out a newsletter or other communication to your list, you have an unsubscribe link in the footer of your email.

This way, people who are no longer interested in receiving your updates will have an easy way to remove themselves from the list. One mistake I see often is not having an up-to-date contact at the bottom of emails. Suppose someone leaves your organization (voluntarily or otherwise). Make sure to go back and update all contacts with the correct info before sending anything else.

To increase response rates on any direct mail fundraising campaign, it’s important to personalize every aspect of what you’re sending them. Whether it’s going through your database or through a data company like Experian ProFiler. Ensure every letter includes relevant details about where they live, how much they donated last year, what charities they support, etc., so you can show them how their gift will impact lives in their local community.

2. Use every touch point as an opportunity to engage

With so many touchpoints in the fundraising process, it is easy to get overwhelmed. That’s why it is essential to have a strategy. Here are some examples:

• Make them feel connected to the cause.
• Provide a sense of urgency.
• Allow them to learn more about who they are supporting through storytelling.
• Create an emotional connection by telling your story and humanizing your organization.
• Appeal to their self-interests by providing benefits that meet their needs.

3. Write a great offer

The most crucial element of your direct mail fundraising campaign for marketing a Non-Profit is what you offer the donor. What are they going to get in return for their donation? A great offer should be something more than just a one-time gift. It should be an experience, a relationship, or an exclusive opportunity that the donor can’t find anywhere else.

You want them to feel like this is unique and not like every other solicitation they’ve received. You want them to be excited about what it will do for them and not just give money away blindly. If you don’t have a reasonable offer, then work on coming up with one before moving forward with your direct mail campaign.

4. Get creative with your packaging

Please include a list of items that they can purchase. If you are selling a product, include pictures and prices so people can see what they are donating to receive. Include photos or drawings of the people/places that will be helped by donations.

Put your letter in a decorative envelope with stamps. Put an address label on each envelope. Add some incentives. If they donate more than their goal amount, send them stickers or pens with your logo on them.

5. Keep your message clear and concise

Direct mail fundraising campaigns are one of the most cost-effective strategies for Non-Profits. Even if you have a modest budget, with a bit of creativity and a few low cost resources. You can create an effective direct mail campaign. Keeping your message clear and concise is an essential aspect of direct mail fundraising.

Be sure to include all pertinent information on what recipients need to do. Such as make a donation or purchase items from the gift catalog, in order to receive their desired prize or offer. Include any deadlines that might apply as well so there are no surprises at the end of your campaign.

6. Timing is everything

Timing is everything, so if you’re looking to start a direct mail campaign for marketing a Non-Profit, the best time to do it is in the late fall. This way your fundraising letter will arrive just in time for holiday giving season.

Even if this isn’t a good timing for you, don’t fret! There are still plenty of other opportunities throughout the year to send out a direct mail campaign and generate significant income. Springtime is a great time because people often get tired of winter and may be more willing to donate.

Another great time to do this is during tax season. If people have been thinking about donating but haven’t done so yet. There’s no better motivation than saving on their taxes by contributing now rather than waiting until April! Giving Tuesday (November 27) is also an ideal time to raise money as people are starting to think about the holidays. Lastly, another great time for a direct mail campaign is during special events. Such as anniversaries or when someone has won something such as an award or scholarship.

7. Test, test, test!

It’s essential to test your direct mail campaigns before sending them out. You can do this by creating a small mailing list and sending out postcards in your area. If you’re not able to create a small mailing list, send it to friends, family members, or people that might be interested in the topic of your card.

The point of this is to get feedback on what works and what doesn’t work when it comes to direct mail marketing. You’ll be surprised at how much feedback you’ll receive!

Conclusion

In conclusion, while the world has changed a lot in the past few decades, fundraising is still essential to Non-Profits. Hopefully these seven strategies have given you some ideas of how you can improve your organization’s fundraising results!

You can use them on their own or in combination with each other. For example, you could use direct mail as one component of a multi-faceted campaign. That includes social media and email campaigns as well. The point is that there are many ways to get donations without relying exclusively on one strategy. What matters most is that you figure out what works best for your organization and run with it.