Masterworks » Creative Portfolio

What’s a picture really worth?

admin — Tue, 24 Mar 2009 21:36:57 +0000

Project: General donor cultivation appeal

Purpose: To raise money to provide emotional and spiritual life transformation for at-risk children and teens.

What’s unique: Arresting, emotional photography is often a key to the impact of your fundraising appeal. Here you can almost feel the anguish in this kid’s life.

Results: When donors feel it, results go up.

“And it was so easy to respond!”

admin — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:13:49 +0000

Project: Voter registration drive

Purpose: To encourage Christians to register to vote.

What’s unique: Ask only one thing of your prospect — and make it easy for him to do what you ask. In this case, the package includes two universal voter registration forms acceptable in every state, along with pre-addressed mailing labels to send the forms to your state’s voter registrar.

Results: The compelling question and attractive graphic design on the carrier made it easy for recipients to open the kit and do what was asked of them.

“You” may be the most powerful word YOU can use.

admin — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:12:35 +0000

Project: General donor cultivation appeal

Purpose: To raise funds for people who are hungry, homeless and battling life-controlling addictions.

What’s unique: Sometimes it’s the simple touches that ensure direct mail is what it always should be: one-to-one communication. The red envelope and simulated return address sticker immediately make this package seem like what it is: a Christmas card from a friend.

Results: A high response rate helped this kit return nearly twice the average income for an appeal.

A coordinated attack

admin — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:11:23 +0000

Project: General donor cultivation appeal

Purpose: To raise money to provide school supplies to needy children.

What’s unique: Each fall, Knox Area Rescue Ministries spearheads a “Stuff the Bus” campaign in conjunction with local sponsors and the media to collect school supplies for disadvantaged children.
Results: By coordinating direct mail fundraising with other promotion and advertising for the event, many more donors were aware of the campaign and eager to help by the time they got this appeal.

Don’t get just donors – get high-value donors.

admin — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:10:53 +0000

Project: New donor acquisition

Purpose: To acquire new donors with high long-term value.

What’s unique: Under its previous agency, CityTeam’s new donor acquisition results had fallen so sharply that the organization was prepared to cancel its program altogether.

Results: Proven direct response strategy, innovative new kit formats (such as this package, which mailed in a paper bag) and disciplined testing revived the program. After seeing first-year results, CityTeam decided to triple its acquisition investment.

Donors love it when you have news

admin — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:10:21 +0000

Project: General donor newsletter

Purpose: To raise money for sponsorships to Christian summer camp in the lands of Russia

What’s unique: When ministries are doing something new and unusual, donors want to hear about it. This newsletter invited donors to help sponsor children for a week at summer camp, where they’ll learn about the living God they’ve always been told is dead, unknowable or irrelevant.

Results: With it’s strong offer and fun graphics, this newsletter brought in 5 times the average net income at 5 times the typical ROI.

Everyone loves a discount

admin — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:09:43 +0000

Project: Monthly pledge partner cultivation appeal

Purpose: To raise money for international ministry to men.

What’s unique: Who doesn’t love a discount? This kit included coupons offering men a chance to save $14 on registration to any Promise Keepers conference — for themselves and anyone else they want to invite — and for a free PK conference t-shirt.

Results: “Show me where to sign up!”

Going back to the well

admin — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:09:15 +0000

Project: General donor cultivation appeal

Purpose: Raise money for church construction in the Philippines.

What’s unique: If donors consistently respond well to certain offers, keep going back to the well again. This kit has a dynamite dollar handle: $14.82 builds one square foot of a new church in the Philippines.

Results: No wonder donors keep responding so well!

Here’s what you’ve been waiting for

admin — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:08:47 +0000

Project: Christmas gift catalog

Purpose: To raise money to support family ministry.

What’s unique: Focus on the Family’s donor base has come to expect the organization’s annual Christmas mailing. Just keep it simple and tell them that what they’ve been waiting for is here. Also, in addition to resources such as books and CDs, the package asks for straight contributions (something the organization had not done consistently) as a way of helping deserving families that are in need but cannot afford to support the organization financially.

Results: Providing donors with new ways and reasons to support your organization will increase their giving and build stronger relationships with them.

How’d you like to double your response?

admin — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 00:08:15 +0000

Project: General donor cultivation appeal

Purpose: To raise funds for overseas orphanages

What’s unique: Bounce-backs increase response, sometimes doubling it. This kit included a full-color world map that was signed by the donor and returned — along with a gift — so that orphaned children could have a fun and special learning activity.

Results: Donors responded generously, knowing that the bounce-back color map would be a fun activity.