Sanky Blog

We want to thank Chuck Pruitt for his excellent response, “Chuck Pruitt Is Mad!” on The Agitator to the tolling of the “direct mail is dead” bell – an old, old story indeed.

We too see that while direct mail continues to be the primary giving vehicle for most current donors, there is huge value in multi-channel givers, and that the rise in online giving, although it may not be as much as some people expected, is nonetheless exhilarating.

As we all know, recent studies show that if you have an email address on file for an offline donor it makes a positive difference in their giving. Reinforcing the need to synchronize channels, coordinate consistent messaging, and tailor content to each appropriate medium. Online fundraising doesn’t replace direct mail but reinforces the repetition of the message.

Our concerns about direct mail fundraising are less about any immediate generational behavior change than about technical problems, such as the financial health of the postal service, increases in list and printing costs, and continued media attention on the rare fundraiser abuses rather than the truly amazing work that most nonprofits accomplish, even in the midst of recession.

By: Judy Maneval, Harry Lynch, Paul Habig of Sanky Communications

It is always important to adequately and appropriately thank donors for their contributions. And in these days of economic malaise, it could not be more vital. This is the time to cement relationships for the better days ahead.

Since there are an unlimited number of good acknowledgment ideas, this will be the first in an occasional series of suggestions on the topic of thanking contributors. This month features offline ideas (i.e. direct mail fundraising) – the next in the series will highlight online techniques.

By: Judy Maneval, President of Sanky Communications

Each June, members of the Direct Marketing Fundraising Association (DMFA) present their best direct mail and email fundraising campaigns for a chance to win the Package of the Year Award. This year, SankyNet submitted an emergency relief e-appeal on behalf of PetSmart Charities®.

We are pleased to announce that SankyNet’s appeal for PetSmart Charities® won first place! The winning campaign helped raise money for a massive rescue of pets displaced by the historic 2007 Midwest flooding.

A key factor in the success of this campaign was the timeliness of the distribution. SankyNet’s team was able to write copy, design and code a custom HTML template, and distribute the email within 24 hours of the story breaking in the news. Even as emergency relief was still arriving in the affected areas, supporters were responding to the call for help.

In addition to winning first place, SankyNet’s campaign for Covenant House’s Bed and Blanket Matching Gift campaign took the “runner-up” position. This campaign also used careful timing and highly compelling creative to increase response rates.

The campaign usually “drops” in early November and reminds donors of how dangerous winter can be for homeless children. This year, however, much of the country experienced unusually warm temperatures in late fall. SankyNet recommended postponing the distribution until the temperatures dropped. Then on the day most of the East Coast and Midwest woke up to its first frost, Covenant House donors found an urgent appeal about the dangers of freezing children in their inbox.

We are truly grateful to work with dedicated organizations such as PetSmart Charities® and Covenant House, and to help them achieve their online fundraising goals. These awards and honors are a testament to their inspirational and life-saving missions.

View all the DMFA awards from Package of the Year.

It’s with great pleasure that SankyNet welcomes UCLA to our list of clients. In the coming months, our creative team will work with this world-renowned university to develop an online planned giving campaign.

We are proud to be lending our many years of online fundraising expertise to one of the country’s leading public research universities whose mission is the creation, dissemination, preservation, and application of knowledge for the betterment of our global society. And through our partnership, we hope to help UCLA create a legacy for generations to come.

In recent years, SankyNet has helped many clients realize the potential of using the Internet to educate donors on the benefits of planned giving. And now more than ever, with increasing market volatility, it is important to let donors know that investing in the future of a non-profit organization is indeed a wise investment.

Please contact us for more information on how we can help you develop an online planned giving cultivation campaign for your organization.