4. 4
USE MAIL TO SUPPORT MAJOR GIFT
FUNDRAISING
United States Holocaust Memorial Museum – Launch
5. 5
USE MAIL TO SUPPORT MAJOR GIFT
FUNDRAISING
• Select donors targeted by Major Gift Officers
• Mirror themes and case for support in mailing
• Use the same “Targeted Gift Amount” they receive from
the MGO
@lautmandc
6. 6
HAVE THE FIRST ASK BE FOR A
MONTHLY GIFT
Cystic Fibrosis Foundation Renewal
7. 7
HAVE THE FIRST ASK BE FOR A MONTHLY
GIFT
• Select donors targeted by Major Gift Officers
• Mirror themes and case for support in mailing
• Use the same “Targeted Gift Amount” they receive from
the MGO
@lautmandc
9. 9
INVOLVE YOUR DONORS IN YOUR WORK
WITH A SURVEY
• Use a mix of questions that include both “mission” and “What’s
in it for me”
• Make sure you can track and/or capture data
• Use newsletters to provide feedback on survey results
@lautmandc
10. 10
MAKE ROOM FOR PLANNED GIVING
MARKETING EFFORTS
Meals on Wheels Planned Giving Newsletter
11. 11
MAKE ROOM FOR PLANNED GIVING
MARKETING EFFORTS
• Direct mail donors are excellent planned giving prospects – but
they may not see themselves that way
• Need to combine education, lead generation, and stewardship
• Make sure your EIN and preferred bequest language is
EVERYWHERE
@lautmandc
13. 13
USE ACQUISITION TO FULFILL ONLINE
OFFERS
• Facebook and other online ads can generate new names
• Offer inexpensive freemiums (address labels, bumper
stickers)
• Fulfill with acquisition
@lautmandc
14. 14
SIMPLE RECOGNITION CAN GET
GRASSROOTS DONORS INVOLVED IN A
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
Planned Parenthood of DC Capital Campaign
15. 15
SIMPLE RECOGNITION CAN GET
GRASSROOTS DONORS INVOLVED IN A
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
Planned Parenthood of DC Capital Campaign— Fulfillment
16. 16
SIMPLE RECOGNITION CAN GET
GRASSROOTS DONORS INVOLVED IN A
CAPITAL CAMPAIGN
• Direct response donors are often the last to hear about capital
campaigns
• You can involve them in low-level giving with simple recognition – “your
name will appear in the program opening day”
• Make sure back-end is ready!
@lautmandc
17. 17
TOO EXPENSIVE TO MAIL EVERYONE? OFFER IT
ON THE BACK END
Chesapeake Bay Foundation Back-End Calendar Offer
18. 18
TOO EXPENSIVE TO MAIL EVERYONE? OFFER IT
ON THE BACK END
• If you have an anchor premium mailing, but some segments are
causing too much of a net investment – try offering it on the back end!
• Have a fun fulfillment effort ready
• Not recommended for high value donors (PG donors, lapsed high
value) for them the expense of the front end may be worth it.
@lautmandc
19. 19
CLEAR, TARGETED ASKS THAT TRANSLATE
INTO ONE-TIME AND SUSTAINER GIFTS
Heifer Busy Bee
Feeding a Child is as Simple as 1 - 2 - Bee!
3.
BeesHelp
PollinateCrops
4.
Healthy
Crops
Feed Kids
1.
BeesUsePollen to
MakeHoney 5.
Familiesearn income
selling honey
and crops
2.
KidsEat
NutritiousHoney
Control Insert
www.heifer.org/ busybees
You
give
the gift
of a bee
hive
LAUTMAN 202-296-9660
Heifer International
08 2018 Appeal
Version:
8.5” x 11”
70# white gloss text
Prints 4CP with bleeds
20. 20
CLEAR, TARGETED ASKS THAT TRANSLATE
INTO ONE-TIME AND SUSTAINER GIFTS
• Think about how symbolic gifts translate for both one-time giving and
monthly
• Check language carefully to watch restrictive giving
• (bonus – good use of a celebrity!)
@lautmandc
21. 21
CREATE A VISUAL TO SHOWCASE YOUR
WORK
New Israel Fund – Where We Work
23. 23
CREATE A VISUAL TO SHOWCASE YOUR
WORK
Save the Chimps “A Day In the Life” Poster
24. 24
CREATE A VISUAL TO SHOWCASE YOUR
WORK
• Diagrams, maps, blueprints and “a day in the life” are great
ways to help donors visualize your work
• Great approaches for those who don’t go online
• Test, test, test… sometimes inserts can depress results
@lautmandc
26. 26
USE FRONT-END PREMIUMS THAT ARE MEANINGFUL
TO THE AUDIENCE
• Think outside the box – “what matters to this audience”
• Be willing to spend more to make more
• Work as a team with production!
@lautmandc
27. 27
MAKE A BIG SPLASH TO TAKE ADVANTAGE
OF A MOMENT AND GET PEOPLE TO ACT
HRC Summer of Action Online and Offline
28. 28
MAKE A BIG SPLASH TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF
A MOMENT AND GET PEOPLE TO ACT
• Have a big moment coming up? (marches, rallies, big public events)
make it meaningful to people who can’t participate
• Have a look and feel
• Mix actions, merchandize, gifts – make it fun and meaningful to the
audience
@lautmandc
29. 29
TURN SOMETHING YOU “HAVE TO SEND” INTO A
FUNDRAISING MOMENT
House of Ruth Annual Report Mailing
30. 30
TURN SOMETHING YOU “HAVE TO SEND” INTO A
FUNDRAISING MOMENT
• First ask: “Do I really have to send this?” (annual reports often mean
more to the organization than they do to the donor)
• If the answer is “yes” – you can make it meaningful to the members,
and fundraise at the same time
• It’s a moment for donor recognition – “If you give just $200 more, your
name will be printed in this report next year”
@lautmandc
32. 32
PERSONALIZED, MEANINGFUL
CORRESPONDENCE MAKE DONORS FEEL
GREAT WHILE THEY GIVE!
• Digital printing creates a cost-effective way to personalize
postcards, and other material
• Have a call to action (store discount, online action, follow up)
on the postcard to make it interactive
• Donors love these!
@lautmandc
34. 34
WARMLY WELCOME NEW DONORS AND GET
THEM INVOLVED
• Welcome kits (this one is for high-value donors) start the
relationship on the right foot
• Give people something to do as a next step: new donor survey,
petition, event promotion
• Make sure you fulfill your promises!
@lautmandc
35. 35
LET YOUR DONORS KNOW WHEN A NEW GIVING
OPPORTUNITY IS AVAILABLE
USHMM CGA New Rate Mailing
36. 36
LET YOUR DONORS KNOW WHEN A NEW GIVING
OPPORTUNITY IS AVAILABLE
• New CGA rates? IRA roll over extension? Make room in your mailing
schedule to tell the right donors about these opportunities
• Use data to find the right people for whom the offer will have meaning
• These don’t need to be fancy! They are a means to provide information of
value to your donors
@lautmandc
37. 37
SOMETIMES THE BEST IDEAS COME FROM THE DONORS –
LISTEN TO THEM
Pioneers Phone Calendar
38. 38
SOMETIMES THE BEST IDEAS COME FROM THE DONORS
– LISTEN TO THEM
• A phone calendar? Really, Tiffany?
• Yes, donors on Facebook in posts about the previous year’s
calendar said “why can’t we have pictures of things that matter
to us.”
• Make sure you check these things against your fundraising
instincts, but don’t be afraid to consider ideas “just because
you didn’t have them”
@lautmandc
39. 39
USE ACQUISITION TO REINSTATE LAPSED
DONORS
(EVEN NOT VERY LAPSED)
Masonic Home and School of Texas Acquisition
Masonic Home and School of Texas
338 Grapevine Hwy | Hurst, TX 76054 | www.mhstx.org
M ASON I C
Please return the top portion of this form with your check
payable to Masonic Home and School of Texas.
SPECI AL GI FT FORM
M ASON IC
HOMEAND SCHOOL
OF TEXAS
homeMasonic Home and School of Texas
Wehelped Morgan get theautism
therapy sheneeded, and now she
can communicatewith her family.
John Q. Sample
1730 Rhode Island Ave
Suite 301
Washington, DC 20036
John Q. Sample
1730 Rhode Island Ave
Suite 301
Washington, DC 20036
John Q. Sample
1730 Rhode Island Ave
Suite 301
Washington, DC 20036
John Q. Sample
1730 Rhode Island Ave
Suite 301
Washington, DC 20036
John Q. Sample
1730 Rhode Island Ave
Suite 301
Washington, DC 20036
John Q. Sample
1730 Rhode Island Ave
Suite 301
Washington, DC 20036
John Q. Sample
1730 Rhode Island Ave
Suite 301
Washington, DC 20036
John Q. Sample
1730 Rhode Island Ave
Suite 301
Washington, DC 20036
John Q. Sample
1730 Rhode Island Ave
Suite 301
Washington, DC 20036
John Q. Sample
1730 Rhode Island Ave
Suite 301
Washington, DC 20036
John Q. Sample
1730 Rhode Island Ave
Suite 301
Washington, DC 20036
John Q. Sample
1730 Rhode Island Ave
Suite 301
Washington, DC 20036
John Q. Sample 05_18 MHSTX Acq Test
Mrs. Jane Q. Sample
1730 Rhode Island Ave
Suite 301
Washington, DC 20036
9 8 9 9 9 1 2 3 4
SC3 4 5 6 I D3 4 5 6
T
q Yes! I’d like to make a special gift to the 2018 Texas Good Neighbor
Campaign. Enclosed is my contribution of:
q $20 q $25 q $40 q $70 q $150 q Other $______
40. 40
USE ACQUISITION TO REINSTATE LAPSED
DONORS
(EVEN NOT VERY LAPSED)
• Your donors gave for the first time to the acquisition – they may
again!
• Target lapsed donors, or even “at risk of lapsing” donors
• Include them with your acquisition merge/purge
@lautmandc
43. 43
USE PROVEN APPEAL THEMES AS
“PILLARS”
@davincidirect
• “Challenge Match” and “Annual Fund” are classic
appeals that work
• Create a unique look and feel with format, logo and
design
• Position strong appeals your most productive
slots: Nov/Dec/Jan/Feb
45. 45
• Mail a follow-up mailing two to four weeks after original mailing
• Duplicate the look and feel of original mailing, but with smaller,
less expensive Monarch format. Make letter brief and urgent.
• Follow-up typically raises 60% - 90% as much as original
mailing
@davincidirect
REMIND YOUR DONORS TO GIVE
47. 47
• The “Mystery Factor” can pique donor’s curiosity
• Test in acquisition first, against teaser and/or standard OE with
corner card
• Even works with name and address label packages
@davincidirect
TEST A “BLIND OE” TO LIFT
RESPONSE
49. 49
• This Leadership Circle package looks special, with upscale
format and
production values
• Donor society has its own brand, and with tiered levels and
different
levels of recognition and benefits
• These donors get a special acknowledgement, newsletter and
other
cultivation – all with same brand
@davincidirect
CULTIVATE HIGH-DOLLAR DONORS WITH A
DONOR SOCIETY
51. 51
• Positioning the newsletter as an appeal – with a personalized
letter/reply slip and RE – can increase results ten-fold over a
self-mailer
• Make cover letter brief, with a strong call to action
• Use separate reply slip to reinforce the ask
@davincidirect
CHANGE NEWSLETTER SELF-MAILER TO
COMPONENT PACKAGE
54. 54
• This package has an oversized reply slip, which helps
make the case for support
• Use “Localization:” Here a state outline and laser copy
highlight the work being done in the Donor’s state
• Design is bold and patriotic, with Veterans Day
theme/logo
@davincidirect
TEST AN INNOVATIVE FORMAT WITH
“LOCALIZATION”
57. 57
• Benefits must relate to needs and desires of your
audience.
State them clearly!
• In this case, they range from discounts, advance
notice of concerts, and “behind the scenes”
events — to special parking and dining privileges
• Top level includes the prestige of meeting with
renowned conductors and artists
@davincidirect
DEVELOP MEMBER BENEFITS WITH REAL
VALUE
60. 60
• This greeting card format is a change-up in a
program
of mostly #10 renewal packages
• Cover photo is cute and attractive, and relates to
mission
of helping vision-impaired kids overcome
obstacles
• Copy tells donor she is special, she is
making difference, and laser handwriting makes
it look more personal
• Package uses strong “Challenge Match” offer@davincidirect
CREATE A SPECIAL PACKAGE FOR LAPSED
RECAPTURE
63. 63
• Improve retention with a conversion package
that renews first-time donors more effectively
• For MDA, we used a “mini-note card format”
with an anniversary theme
• Package celebrates the donor’s “one year
anniversary of giving” in a positive way, instead
of saying “we haven’t heard from you in a while”
@davincidirect
CREATE A “PRE-LAPSING” STRATEGY
66. 66
• Real handwriting makes the note more personal
• It’s expensive, but worth it for your top donors
• Use live, first-class postage on OE, test it on
RE
@davincidirect
USE REAL HANDWRITING TO ADD THE ULTIMATE
PERSONAL TOUCH
68. 68
• Don’t talk about “ME” (the institutional language that some
organizations use). Talk about how “YOU” the donor make
great work possible.
• Don’t focus on the “millions” who need help, focus on one
person — or one family
• Make it emotional & personal
• Test long copy — it works for many!
@davincidirect
TELL A STORY THAT INTRIGUES DONORS AND
PROSPECTS
70. 70
• For American Fondouk, year-end direct mail appeal was
augmented by year-end email series and lightbox on
their home page
• Visuals of working animals in Fez Morocco match the
mail package and highlight the need for free veterinary
care
• Copy is brief and urgent
@davincidirect
INTEGRATE MESSAGE ACROSS MULTIPLE
CHANNELS
72. 72
• Cute kids and animals are response generators
• Choose photos with eye contact, emotion
• Composition should be simple, no group photos
@davincidirect
USE PHOTOS TO HIGHLIGHT YOUR MISSION
74. 74
• Thanksgiving is a natural for programs to feed the
hungry
• Offer is clear and compelling
• Photos and client quotes reinforce offer
• Prayer card is useful and relates to mission
@davincidirect
LEVERAGE HOLIDAYS THAT RELATE TO MISSION
76. 76
• Clare’s cancer diagnosis is the “hook.” “When Riley
doctors told me ‘you have cancer’ I saw it as a
challenge.”
• The line, “I’m told you’ve been very generous in
helping to save Riley Kids like me,” puts the donor at
the center of the story
• First person approach tested against control — and
won with similar response rate but higher average
gift
@davincidirect
TEST A FIRST-PERSON STORY
78. 78
• Premiums help generate increased response – especially in
Acquisition
• Compelling letter and photos motivate mission-driven folks
• Name label-acquired donors will renew without a premium
@davincidirect
NAME AND ADDRESS LABELS STILL WORK!
80. 80
• Circle the upgrade amount with a little note
saying “this amount would really help”
• Test amounts related to the specific needs
that the donor’s gift will fund
• Test ascending versus descending order,
high ceiling/low floor, and open-ended
@davincidirect
TEST DIFFERENT GIFT ARRAYS
82. 82
• Monthly donor clubs provide regular income you can
count on!
• This one is branded as “Partners in Victory” –
relating to shared goal to defeat diabetes
• Sell donors on the convenience and efficiency of
monthly giving
@davincidirect
PROMOTE YOUR SUSTAINER PROGRAM ONLINE
84. 84
• Bounce back is an inexpensive insert that creates a
touchpoint between donor and your program’s
beneficiaries
• In this case, it’s a card sent from donor to someone in the
hospital during the holidays. Can also be a holiday
ornament with kid’s art if it’s a pediatric program, or a
Thanksgiving card if it’s a food program, etc.
• Donor keeps half and send half back with her gift
@davincidirect
USE A BOUNCE-BACK CARD TO CREATE A
“TOUCHPOINT”
86. 86
• “Operation Backpack” is easy to understand: give kids
in NYC shelters a backpack filled with “back-to-school
supplies”
• Deadline creates urgency
• Here the bounce back goes to a kid living in a
homeless shelter
@davincidirect
MAKE YOUR OFFER SIMPLE & SPECIFIC
89. 89 @rkdgroup
KEEP IT SIMPLE
•Same client, same offer, different
results: Simple, direct carrier lifted net
revenue by 69%.
•If it looks important, it is.
•Less emphasis on branding and
more on direct response can often
result in more income.
91. 91 @rkdgroup
CREATE A TANGIBLE CONNECTION
WITH INSERTS
• As used by VVMF, an insert can build
an emotional bridge with the donor.
• Inserts can emphasize the offer and
amplify the power of a donor’s gift.
• Add an extra layer of urgency with a
insert.
93. 93 @rkdgroup
IMPROVE RESPONSE USING
LOCALIZATION
• Telling a donor or prospect their gift is
impacting locally is one thing. Showing
them is another.
• Regionalization is a powerful technique
to strengthen any annual campaign.
• Use regionalization to make a mailing
personally relevant for the donor.
95. 95 @rkdgroup
MEANINGFUL INVOLVEMENT =
MEANINGFUL GIVING
• Include a “Prepared Especially For” folder to
neatly hold multiple communications and make
the donor feel singular and important.
• Boost the relationship and revenue with
mission-oriented involvement devices, as does
ABS with the Chinese Bible page.
• Use impact oriented photos.
98. 98 @rkdgroup
MULTI-CHANNEL
Go Where Your Donors Live … and Give
• Donors are becoming more
sophisticated in their use of digital
engagement.
• Mobile, social, paid search, traditional
e-communications. Use them all to meet
the donor where she will engage . . . and
give.
• Donors who receive communication by
more than one channel are roughly 2-
1/2x more valuable.
100. 100 @rkdgroup
MORE THAN ONE WAY TO MATCH:
WHAT’S YOURS?
• The matching gift check or voucher is a
well-traveled, proven technique used
successfully by many organizations, but
not all . . .
• Visual emphasis of offer and impact
can out-pull the traditional check
bounce-back.
• Test, test, test.
102. 102 @rkdgroup
USE PHOTOS AT POINT OF SALE TO BOOST
RESPONSE
• A mission-oriented photo on a reply or
bounce-back can lift response.
• It’s better to use no photo than the “wrong”
one.
• Photo subject matter should reinforce what
donor’s gift will accomplish.
• The photo test shown raised 75% more
gross income than the no-photo control
104. 104 @rkdgroup
WHY MAP MAILINGS WORK
• Outer envelope has bulk,
creating intrigue.
• High perceived value.
• Simply an over-sized case for
support.
106. 106 @rkdgroup
TANGIBILITY AND BOUNCE BACKS
• Creates a direct correlation between
the offer and the ultimate benefactors,
poverty-stricken children, in this case.
• Amplifies the urgency to respond now.
• Increases the perceived value of the
bounce-back.
108. 108 @rkdgroup
LABEL ART IS A SCIENCE
• For better results, test label art
featuring regionally iconic visuals.
• Can’t beat the control? Test foil.
Costs more, but response is often
enough to cover the expense and
then some.
• Test label backer creative, especially
in acquisition. The results may
surprise you.
110. 110 @rkdgroup
MORE INFORMATION CAN MEAN
MORE GIVING
• Appearance of a third-party endorsement.
• Journalistic style allows a broader focus
on multiple aspects of both the problem
and the solution.
• The information is relevant to the donor.
• The creative is donor-centric.
• The insert can stand alone as its own
fundraising piece.
112. 112 @rkdgroup
SPECIAL TREATMENT FOR SPECIAL
DONORS
To lift mid-level response consider:
• Closed-face outer envelope, first-class stamp.
• Addition of personalized handwriting on letter
or card.
• Personalized CRE.
• Postage on CRE.
• Personalized reply.
114. 114 @rkdgroup
SIMPLE = SUCCESS
When crafting offer:
• Never give the donor “cause to pause.”
• Offer should fit on the head of a pin.
• CTA should be direct, clear and laser-focused.
• Involvement devices supporting offer and CTA should
be simple, user-friendly, intuitive.
• This test lifted response 34% over the voucher
control.
116. 116 @rkdgroup
LEVERAGE THE POWER OF
DONOR’S GIFT
Increase response when you:
• Include a tangible offer.
• Break down the donor’s giving impact as
finite as possible.
• Use visuals that reinforce offer.
• This 20 cents per meal test lifted response
14% over traditional $1 = 5 meals control.
118. 118 @rkdgroup
TEST A PARTNER CARD TO
INCREASE RESPONSE
• Partner cards generate a feeling of
inclusiveness.
• Showing the card through a secondary
outer envelope window can lift response,
but so can . . .
• A standard third class outer envelope,
capitalizing on the “what’s inside?” factor.
• Test, test, test.
120. 120 @rkdgroup
A LITTLE EXTRA CAN GO A LONG
WAY
A hint of color, a simple teaser, an
executive’s name. Use modest first-class
mailing carrier additions to:
• Lift response.
• Add visual points of interest while
maintaining personal atmospherics.
122. 122 @rkdgroup
BREAKTHROUGH IDEAS CAN BE
EASIEST TO MISS
• What’s your organization’s “story”?
How is it unique?
• What nugget of history or aspect of
outreach might the donor find
interesting and worthy of support?
• What does staff take for granted that
may move a donor or prospect
toward giving?
124. 124 @rkdgroup
THINK DIFFERENT, MAIL DIFFERENT
• Crazy is as crazy does.
• Ask yourself, “What
wouldn’t we do?”
• For a moment, pretend
there is no budget or
deadline
129. 129
THANK YOU!
Tim Kersten
Chief Executive
Officer
RKD Group
tkersten@rkdgroup.
com
972.664.2316
Tiffany Neill
Partner/Owner
Lautman, Maska,
Neill and Company
tneill@lautmandc.com
202.296.9660, ext. 209
Steve Maggio
President/Chief Creative
Officer
DaVinci Direct, Inc.
steve@davinci-direct.com
508.746.2555, ext. 511
#Bridge19 #60ideas
Don’t forget to visit the Solutions Showcase for more ideas!