The average large nonprofit spends about 10% of their annual fundraising budget on direct mail. This means that a nonprofit with a $1 million fundraising budget would spend about $100,000 on direct mail. However, the actual amount spent on direct mail can vary widely depending on the size and type of nonprofit, as well as the specific goals of the direct mail campaign.
Direct mail is still a tried-and-true method for raising money and engaging with donors. However, it can also be a costly endeavor. Large nonprofit organizations are always looking for ways to decrease the cost of their direct mail campaigns without sacrificing their effectiveness.
Here are some of the strategies that large nonprofit organizations are using to decrease the cost of direct mail:
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- Use data to target their mailings more effectively. By understanding their donors’ demographics, interests, and giving history, nonprofits can target their mailings more effectively. This can help them to reach the right people with the right message, which can lead to higher response rates and lower costs per donor.
- Use variable data printing. Variable data printing allows nonprofits to personalize their mailings with each recipient’s name, address, and other relevant information. This can make the mailings more appealing to recipients and more likely to be opened and read.
- Use online direct mail services or a centralized solution. Online direct mail services and centralized print software solutions can help nonprofits to save time and money on their mailings. These services offer a variety of features, such as design templates, postage discounts, and analytics tools to ensure your campaign is a success.
- Consider other channels. Direct mail is a personable way to reach donors. nonprofits can also use email, social media, and other channels to engage with their donors. By using a multi-channel approach, nonprofits can reach more donors when combined with their direct mail campaigns.
In addition to these strategies, large nonprofit organizations can also save money on direct mail by:
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- Negotiating better postage rates with the USPS. nonprofits that mail a large volume of mail can qualify for discounted postage rates.
- Using recycled paper and other sustainable materials. This can help nonprofits to save money on printing costs and reduce their environmental impact. Most printers stock these materials in an act to save our natural resources.
- Working with a reputable direct mail vendor. A good vendor can help nonprofits to design, print, and mail their direct mail campaigns efficiently and cost-effectively.
By following these strategies, large nonprofit organizations can decrease the cost of their direct mail campaigns without sacrificing their effectiveness. This can help them to raise more money and achieve their mission.
Here are some additional tips for large nonprofit organizations that are looking to decrease the cost of direct mail:
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- Test different mailing lists. Not all mailing lists are created equal. By testing different mailing lists, nonprofits can find the ones that are most effective for their target audience.
- Optimize their mailing copy. The copy of a direct mail piece is just as important as the design. By optimizing their mailing copy, nonprofits can increase the chances of recipients opening and reading their mail.
- Track the results of their campaigns. By tracking the results of their direct mail campaigns, nonprofits can see what is working and what is not. This information can be used to improve future campaigns and get better results.
By following these tips, large nonprofit organizations can decrease the cost of their direct mail campaigns and improve their chances of success.
PrintGizmo from eLynxx Solutions can help nonprofits reduce their printed material spend by up to 40%. With PrintGizmo, you can streamline your print procurement process, negotiate better prices with vendors, and track your spending more effectively.
Take a self-guided tour of PrintGizmo by clicking here. Afterwards, let’s talk more about how our Commerce-as-a-Service software can start saving your nonprofit money on printed materials.
Here are just a few of the ways that PrintGizmo can help nonprofit organizations save money on printed materials:
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- Streamline the print procurement process: PrintGizmo provides a centralized platform for managing all of your print procurement needs. This can help to reduce the time and effort involved in ordering and tracking printed materials.
- Negotiate better prices with vendors: PrintGizmo gives you access to a network of vetted vendors or use your current print vendors. You can use PrintGizmo to compare prices and negotiate better deals.
- Track your spending more effectively: PrintGizmo provides detailed reports on your print spending. This data can help you to identify areas where you can reduce costs.
If you’re a nonprofit looking to save money on printed materials and direct mail, I encourage you to take a self-guided tour of PrintGizmo and contact us to learn more about how our software can help you achieve your goals.
We hope this blog post was informative. Let me know if you have any other questions.
Mike isn’t just the Director of Marketing at eLynxx Solutions – he’s a customer-whisperer, a growth alchemist, and a trend-spotting oracle all rolled into one. His passion lies in igniting interest in eLynxx’s innovative solutions, fueling the company’s customer base, and using client feedback to steer the industry towards a brighter future.
